Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Colombia are dream destinations for many travellers, with their beaches, tropical forests and rich historical and cultural heritage. Yet behind these idyllic landscapes lies a lesser-known reality: these countries are still contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance. And they are not the only ones – nearly one in three countries worldwide remains affected, particularly across much of South-East Asia, North and Central Africa, Central Asia and Latin America.
According to the Landmine Monitor, at least 58 states and other areas remain contaminated by anti-personnel mines.
For most travellers, the risks remain minimal as long as they stay on beaten tracks. However, accidents are not impossible: in 2019, for example, a German tourist was killed by an anti-personnel mine in northern Myanmar while travelling by motorbike. For people living in affected areas, by contrast, mines and explosive remnants of war represent a daily threat. Every activity – farming, collecting firewood, going to the market – can carry risks, while knowing that children might be playing in contaminated areas is a constant source of anxiety.
CLEARING MINES TO OPEN THE WAY FOR TOURISM
Some countries struggle to attract visitors due to their reputation for insecurity. For them, mine clearance is key to reopening to tourism and generating income for recovery. Iraq, for instance, has immense tourism potential: exceptional historical heritage, major spiritual sites and spectacular natural landscapes. The mountains of Kurdistan, currently being cleared of mines, could soon welcome hikers and climbers in safety.
In northern Iraq, mine clearance is under way in the mountains to open their landscapes to climbers and lovers of the wilderness.
Other countries have already managed to largely erase the traces of past wars. Croatia, now one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations, was once heavily contaminated, with almost 2,000 victims of mines and explosive remnants of war recorded between 1991 and 2020. While not yet completely mine-free, a major clearance effort has secured tourist areas and allowed the country to rebuild its image.
Colombia, scarred by decades of armed conflict and still heavily contaminated by improvised explosive devices, nevertheless remains a popular destination.
THE RISE OF “DARK TOURISM”
While some may have visited a mine-affected country without realising it, others deliberately seek the thrill of danger. The growing trend of “dark tourism” includes visiting disaster areas, historic sites marked by tragedy, former battlefields – and in some cases, areas still contaminated by mines and explosive remnants of war.
To travel safely, it is always best to follow official guidance, stay on marked paths and remain vigilant. Meanwhile, deminers are working every day to secure affected areas, protecting communities and enabling recovery. Their work is essential to ensure these regions can one day welcome travellers safely and begin a new chapter beyond conflict.
