{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/malaysia/george-town","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T01:20:42.325Z","place":{"city":"George Town","country":"Malaysia","countryCode":"MY","lat":5.41123,"lon":100.33543},"safety":{"score":85,"level":"VERY_SAFE","answer":"Yes — very safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":92,"confidence":0.88,"caps":[],"databaseScore":85,"travellerSentiment":{"score":86,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveler reports indicate visitors generally feel safe walking during daylight, though some express concern about traffic and occasional scams after dark","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":82,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":83,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":86,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":97,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":74,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":93,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all-but-essential travel to parts","updated":"2026-06-26T15:35:06Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/malaysia"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":1,"label":"Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-07T09:39:27.390000-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/malaysia"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":0.734492430713877,"display":"0.7 / 100k","year":"2023","score":96,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":0.3,"display":"0.3%","year":"2015","score":100,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":72.4670498,"display":"72/100","year":"2024","score":72,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":62.9047385,"display":"63/100","year":"2024","score":63,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":57.9431536,"display":"58/100","year":"2024","score":58,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":69.1273333,"display":"69/100","year":"2024","score":69,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":65.5948635,"display":"66/100","year":"2024","score":66,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":54.6313327,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":24.99,"display":"25.0 / 100 · city-level","year":null,"score":83,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"numbeo_safety_night","label":"Feeling safe walking alone at night","value":69.08,"display":"69 / 100","year":null,"score":84,"source":"Numbeo (city survey)"},{"key":"numbeo_safety_day","label":"Feeling safe walking alone in daylight","value":85.96,"display":"86 / 100","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Numbeo (city survey)"},{"key":"numbeo_worry_mugged","label":"Worry about being mugged or robbed","value":24.08,"display":"24 / 100","year":null,"score":81,"source":"Numbeo (city survey)"},{"key":"numbeo_violent_crime","label":"Violent crime as a local problem","value":21.58,"display":"22 / 100","year":null,"score":83,"source":"Numbeo (city survey)"},{"key":"numbeo_property_crime","label":"Property crime as a local problem","value":29.08,"display":"29 / 100","year":null,"score":76,"source":"Numbeo (city survey)"},{"key":"numbeo_drugs","label":"Drug dealing or use as a local problem","value":23.03,"display":"23 / 100","year":null,"score":82,"source":"Numbeo (city survey)"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":90.5,"display":"90.5%","year":"2021","score":96,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.41,"display":"0.41 / 100k","year":"2024","score":86,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":13,"display":"13.0%","year":"2020","score":71,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":83,"display":"US AQI 83 · Moderate","year":null,"score":74,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":32,"display":"July: highs ~32°C · wet spell","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1,"display":"Level 1 — Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":97,"source":"Government of Canada"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — George Town is safe for visitors who take normal precautions.","summary":"George Town scores very high on official safety metrics, with low violent crime and strong infrastructure, but moderate overall risk due to petty theft and traffic hazards.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Armed robbery against tourists is virtually nonexistent; most incidents involve petty theft in isolated areas"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common in crowded markets, trishaw rides, and heritage streets, especially during peak tourist hours"},"safeAreas":["George Town Heritage Zone","Gurney Drive"],"avoidAreas":["Air Itam (residential highlands)"],"scams":["Tourist-hypnosis scams targeting visitors in heritage areas","Overcharging at unlicensed taxis or tour operators"],"zones":[{"name":"George Town Heritage Zone","level":"safe","note":"Low violent crime, high foot traffic, visible police patrols; stay alert for petty theft after dark"},{"name":"Chinatown (Petaling Street)","level":"caution","note":"Busy night markets attract pickpockets; avoid poorly lit alleys after 11 pm"},{"name":"Gurney Drive","level":"safe","note":"Well‑lit promenade with constant crowds; normal precautions suffice"},{"name":"Batu Ferringhi (Penang’s beach strip)","level":"caution","note":"Tourist‑heavy area; watch for scams and bag snatching, especially late evening"},{"name":"Air Itam (residential highlands)","level":"avoid","note":"Limited lighting and sparse foot traffic; isolated spots can feel unsafe after dark"}]}}