{"id":1426,"date":"2025-09-02T12:04:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T10:04:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawai.li\/fsd\/ces-destinations-touristiques-cachent-encore-des-vestiges-de-guerre\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T11:11:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T09:11:15","slug":"tourist-destinations-still-marked-by-the-scars-of-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fsd.ch\/en\/tourist-destinations-still-marked-by-the-scars-of-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Tourist destinations still marked by the scars of war"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the world, nearly one in three countries remains contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war, particularly across much of South-East Asia, North and Central Africa, Central Asia and Latin America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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According to the Landmine Monitor, at least 58 states and other areas remain contaminated by anti-personnel mines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>. For people living in affected areas, by contrast, mines and explosive remnants of war represent a daily threat. Every activity \u2013 farming, collecting firewood, going to the market \u2013 can carry risks, while knowing that children might be playing in contaminated areas is a constant source of anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clearing mine to open the way for tourism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In northern Iraq, mine clearance is under way in the mountains to open their landscapes to climbers and lovers of the wilderness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Other countries have already managed to largely erase the traces of past wars. Croatia, now one of Europe\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Colombia, scarred by decades of armed conflict and still heavily contaminated by improvised explosive devices, nevertheless remains a popular destination.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The rise of “Dark Tourism”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While some may have visited a mine-affected country without realising it, others deliberately seek the thrill of danger. The growing trend of \u201cdark tourism\u201d includes visiting disaster areas, historic sites marked by tragedy, former battlefields \u2013 and in some cases, areas still contaminated by mines and explosive remnants of war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 <\/strong>and begin a new chapter beyond conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More stories like these, once a month.<\/h2>\n

Receive field updates, operational insights and stories from the communities affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war.<\/p>\n \n \n