Singapore has been listed alongside cities in America and Europe as one of the “top (ten) cities” to visit in 2010 by Lonely Planet – an internationally acclaimed travel guide.

The publication “The Best in Travel 2010″ is Lonely Planet’s fifth annual collection of best places to go and best things to do in the year ahead. Published this week”, it asks its readers to “ditch the image of Singapore as a dull, sterile Utopia – (to) scratch the surface and…discover a strange brew of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western cultures, a rich social stew that’s anything but boring”.

The Online Citizen asked Singapore Tourism Board (STB) how STB felt about Singapore being listed alongside other vibrant cities like Istanbul (Turkey), Vancouver (Canada), Charleston (USA) and Kyoto (Japan) and if this listing will help to bring in more visitors to Singapore.

Mr Chang Chee Pey, STB’s Director of Brand Management responded to TOC’s questions saying, “To be named one of the top ten cities to visit in 2010 by reputed travel guru Lonely Planet is telling of Singapore growing into a global city with a variety of world class tourism offerings. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) hopes this will encourage more potential visitors to come experience Singapore for themselves, especially in 2010, when Singapore will host mega events such as the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games and the FORUMLA ONE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX, and celebrate the opening of integrated resorts Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay SandsTM.”

The cities in the Lonely Planet’s top ten besides Singapore are: Cuenca (Ecuador), Sarajevo (Bosnia & Hercegovina), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Kyoto (Japan), Lecce (Italy), Cork (Ireland), Vancouver (Canada), Istanbul (Turkey), and Charleston (USA).

If this listing will entice more tourists to visit Singapore, it will surely bring much cheer to the economy of Singapore, which is already showing signs of picking-up.

I have been asked by quite a few people regarding safety in Bogotá. Some of the common questions are: “Is it a safe city?” “Will you be kidnapped and made a drug mule?” “Are you crazy?”

That answer to the second question is a definitive “no.” The answer to the third is “probably” but it has nothing to do with my decision to move to Bogotá.

As for the first question, “safe” is a rather ambiguous word. My definition of  “safe”  is any city where the chance of being a victim of crime is unlikely, and 99 times out of 100 the unlikely crime is being mugged, losing your possessions without physical harm.

I would say Bogotá is safe if you do the following two things:

A) Live in the northern parts. There is no cut and dry North/South division, but generally the north is much, much safer.

B) Take cabs late at night.

If you read the travel warning from the U.S. State Department, you would think you were going into a war zone. That is simply not the case. It mentions that this past January, there was one bombing in a warehouse that killed two people. Tragic, yes, but statistically insignificant.

Jens Porup, a former travel writer for Lonely Planet, recently gave a speech to the Bogota tourism board. He pointed out some facts that those who haven’t traveled South America are probably unaware of:

1. Venezuela should have the reputation that Colombia used to rightfully deserve in the 80’s and 90’s. If you go there, be very careful.

2. Contrary to popular perception, you are more likely to be mugged in Peru or Ecuador than in Colombia.

3. Virtually all backpackers that visit Bogotá stay in the historic center, La Candelaria. Ironically, it is quite possibly the most dangerous part of the city for a foreigner to stay.

As a parting thought, I can’t tell you how many people advised me against going to Colombia that had never visited the country! If you want to know what its really like, talk to somebody that has been there…

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