{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/malaysia/kuching","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T01:22:06.301Z","place":{"city":"Kuching","country":"Malaysia","countryCode":"MY","lat":1.55,"lon":110.33333},"safety":{"score":86,"level":"VERY_SAFE","answer":"Yes — very safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":93,"confidence":0.75,"caps":[],"databaseScore":85,"travellerSentiment":{"score":88,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveller reports on forums and review sites consistently describe feeling safe walking around the city centre during daylight, with only occasional concerns about night‑time lighting and petty theft.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":88,"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":80,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":88,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":97,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":74,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":89,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":1,"label":"Exercise Normal Precautions","updated":"Sun, 22 Feb 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.mys.html"},{"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":48,"display":"48.0 / 100","year":null,"score":56,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"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":68,"display":"US AQI 68 · Moderate","year":null,"score":81,"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":35,"display":"July: highs ~35°C · high heat","year":null,"score":80,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 2 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1,"display":"Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions · 2 govts","year":null,"score":97,"source":"US State Dept · 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 — Kuching is very safe for visitors, with only low‑level petty‑crime risks.","summary":"Kakapo's composite safety score of 85/100 places Kuching firmly in the 'Very Safe' band, comparable to major Western capitals. The city enjoys low violent‑crime rates, strong police presence, and high public confidence, though visitors should still guard against pickpocketing and petty theft in crowded spots.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Mugging or armed robbery against tourists is rare; incidents are limited to isolated street‑level thefts after dark in poorly lit areas."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag‑snatching occur most often in crowded markets, bus terminals and during festivals; keep belongings secure."},"safeAreas":["Kuching City Centre","Sarawak Riverfront","Kota Samarahan","Bako National Park","Kuching International Airport"],"avoidAreas":["Pangkalan Batu","Taman Budaya"],"scams":["Airport taxi overcharging and unlicensed rides","Fake tour operators charging inflated fees at the waterfront","ATM skimming at busy money‑changing kiosks","Counterfeit 'cat museum' merchandise sold by street vendors"],"zones":[{"name":"Kuching City Centre","level":"safe","note":"High foot traffic, well-lit, police presence; petty theft only"},{"name":"Sarawak Riverfront","level":"safe","note":"Popular tourist area, visible security, low violent crime"},{"name":"Kuching Old Town (Kuching Lama)","level":"caution","note":"Busy markets and street food stalls; watch belongings after dark"},{"name":"Bako National Park","level":"caution","note":"Isolated trails; stay on marked paths and avoid night hikes"},{"name":"Kota Samarahan","level":"safe","note":"Residential suburb with low crime; safe for evening walks"},{"name":"Kuching International Airport","level":"caution","note":"Pickpocket hotspot; keep valuables secure while traveling"},{"name":"Pangkalan Batu","level":"avoid","note":"Known for illegal gambling dens and occasional drug activity"},{"name":"Taman Budaya","level":"caution","note":"Cultural zone with occasional street crime; stay alert after dark"}]}}