The Department of Tourism (DOT) denounced what it called “false” and misleading report by online travel insurance platform HelloSafe that the Philippines was the “least safe country on the planet”.
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the “HelloSafe Safety Index 2025,” which ranked the Philippines at the top of its “least safe cities” list is unreliable and disconnected from on-the-ground realities.
“What was presented as an objective safety index was, in fact, built on questionable data, lacking in transparency, and entirely disconnected from realities on the ground,” Frasco said in a statement.
She also questioned the site’s credibility, noting its focus on selling travel insurance over producing accurate safety assessments.
“The index lacked full methodology disclosure or identifiable data sources, even reusing the same score of 82.32 for different countries within six days,” she said.
Frasco accused HelloSafe of negligence for quietly removing the Philippines from the report’s narrative without explanation or accountability.
While the report has since been edited, the damage has already been done, the she said, citing disruptions to tourist bookings and the broader economic ripple effect.
“The impact of this false narrative is not abstract. It disrupted bookings and businesses. It cast doubt on our destinations. Worse, it harmed the livelihoods of millions of Filipinos who depend on tourism,” Frasco said, demanding the company correct all references to its erroneous data and ensure transparency in its future assessments.
She also reassured travelers that the DOT, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, continues to prioritize safety across all destinations.
