Asia's kidnapping capital

The Abu Sayyaf has been demanding the government call off its military offensive

By CNN's Kirsty Alfredson

(CNN) -- Kidnapping is a lucrative business and it's on the rise.

In Asia, the Philippines tops the list of countries where kidnapping is a high risk despite government efforts to curb the burgeoning industry.

In just a few years, the Philippines has acquired a reputation as the world's kidnap capital, with a growing number of guerilla groups and gangland organizations seeing the practice as a route to easy money.

As Philippine troops chase Muslim Abu Sayyaf guerrillas through the Basilan jungle to rescue hostages they seized in May, it is only the latest in a series of kidnap dramas.

Last year the Muslim extremists attacked a Malaysian dive resort on the island of Sipadan seizing 21 hostages and taking them to a camp on the southern Philippine island of Jolo.

Over the following months all bar one of the hostages were released, allegedly after ransoms of up to $1million per hostage were paid to the kidnappers.

The Abu Sayyaf is one of two groups fighting for a Muslim homeland in the south of the mainly Catholic country, but appears to pursue kidnap as its main business.

'Rarely political'

Many analysts believe that while such groups claim they kidnap for political reasons, the motive, more often than not, is money.

Harry J. Godfrey, managing director of global risk consulting company Kroll, refutes the Abu Sayyaf gunmen are taking hostages as part of their push for a separate Islamic state.

"I think almost all kidnappings fall into the financial gain category," he told CNN.

"Very few are truly politically motivated."

While it is unclear how much money is garnered from the kidnap business in the Philippines, the spate of tourist-related terrorism over the last year has dented hopes of meeting the industry's growth targets, officials say.

Money the real motive

Ian Gilchrist from Hill associates, another risk management consultancy, echoes the view that kidnapping is rarely political.

"Particularly in the Philippines the primary target is usually the Chinese Filipinos as they pay quickly and rarely report it to police," he said to CNN.

"For the kidnappers it is a win-win situation as it is low risk and lucrative."

To counter the rising threat, the business of preventing kidnapping has become a lucrative business.

Gilchrist says people considering taking out protection against kidnapping need to undergo a lifestyle audit.

Often routines are the first things to go as many kidnappers take advantage of knowing what potential hostages are going to do and when.

"Training is also required, to make the principal more aware of their environment, so they are conscious of whether they are under surveillance" he said.

'Gorillas in a suit'

In the Philippines there are two types of security.

There are guards, or as Gilchrist calls them, "gorillas in a suit."

Then there are the international companies staffed by ex-police, military or protective services personnel.

These people can train and equip clients to protect themselves.

Guards can cost between $2,500 and $3,000 a day. Insurance can cost up to $100 000.