Adventurous Britons travelling abroad risk being kidnapped because they are unprepared for the inherent dangers, according to a report due out today from independent thinktank the Foreign Policy Centre. Tourism to dangerous regions continues to grow, but people lack the knowledge they need to be able to protect themselves.

Backpackers in hot spots often fail to realise they are targets, according to the study, called The Kidnapping Business. It is no longer only diplomats and employees of multinational companies who were in jeopardy.

The report comes just days after the release of a British engineer who was kidnapped and held captive for a month by guerrillas in Bangladesh. Tim Selby, 28, from Jesmond, Newcastle, was kidnapped along with two colleagues while working on a road project for Danish company Kampsax.

The rise of gap-year travelling and adventure tourism has led to a 15% increase in visits to remote and unstable regions, the report says. More companies are also sending employees to dangerous regions.

Confusion also remains over who is responsible for the safety of Britons abroad, as there are no clear rules on where the responsibilities of employers, governments and individuals end. The report therefore sets out a series of recommendations for reducing risks.