DOT demands HelloSafe correct false safety ranking

The Department of Tourism is demanding accountability from British website HelloSafe after it initially ranked the Philippines as the least safe country for travelers with an index score of 82.32, despite removing the country from its list and replacing it with Sudan.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco criticized HelloSafe for using questionable data without transparency and questioned whether the website prioritized driving travel insurance sales over accurate safety assessments, noting that the Philippines was simply removed from the list 'without clarification or accountability'.

Despite the correction issued by HelloSafe, the initial ranking has already caused significant damage to the country's reputation and disrupted bookings and businesses, harming the livelihoods of millions of Filipinos who depend on tourism.

Frasco emphasized that HelloSafe must correct all references to the erroneous ranking across its platforms and ensure accuracy in reporting tools, including interactive visual assets, while also demanding transparency regarding data sources and methodology.

Hotel operators and industry groups have also condemned the report as misleading and detrimental to their efforts to promote the Philippines as a safe destination.