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Posted: May 13, 2024Categories: Passports and Visas
Read more »Greenville, the center of the most populous metropolitan area in South Carolina, is often considered the economic engine of the Palmetto State. While more than 72,000 people live in Greenville, the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, S.C. metropolitan area is home to more than 975,000 – and more than 1.5 million live in the 10-county Upstate South Carolina region. Major industries powering the Upstate economy include aerospace, automotive, engineered materials, life sciences, and food manufacturing. Top employers include Prisma Health, Michelin North America (headquartered in Greenville), Duke Energy, GE Power, and engineering/construction firm Fluor Corporation. The region is thriving due to its location along the Interstate 85 corridor that connects Atlanta, the Port of Charleston, and East Coast and Midwestern markets.
Upstate SC is also home to more than 575 international companies, of which 11% (55) are based in Japan. According to the Upstate SC Alliance, Japan firms include Jtekt Automotive, Fujifilm, Nippon Carbide Industries (rubber and plastics), Creform (materials handling systems), and Toray Industries (composites). AFL, owned by Fujikura Ltd. of Kyoto City, has been based in Spartanburg County since it was formed in 1984. Tokyo-based Nissan Foods began building a $228 million facility in Greenville County in 2023, while Omron Automation of Kyoto has announced plans in 2024 for a $9.2 million industrial technology center in the Greer, S.C. Overall, Greenville and the Upstate area are major contributors to South Carolina’s $36.4 billion in manufactured and agricultural goods exported globally.
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Posted: May 03, 2024Categories: Passports and Visas
Read more »Salt Lake City, the most populous city in Utah with more than 1.2 million residents, is the seventh fastest-growing city in the United States. Named for the nearby Great Salt Lake (the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere), Utah’s capital was founded in 1847 by a group of Mormon pioneers led by Brigham Young. The city is best known as the worldwide headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which operates in China and 160 other countries. Temple Square -- Utah’s number one tourist attraction -- includes the Salt Lake Temple and the home of the Tabernacle Choir. Three Fortune 1,000 companies are headquartered in Utah: Salt Lake City’s Zion Bancorporation, SkyWest Airlines (St. George), and Nu Skin Enterprises (Provo). Major Salt Lake City employers include the University of Utah, Zion Bank, BIOFIRE Diagnostics, and Kennecott Utah Copper -- which operates one of the world’s largest open-pit copper mines. Health care and social assistance is the largest industry in Salt Lake City, followed by manufacturing; professional, scientific, and technical services; education; and transportation and warehousing.
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Posted: April 28, 2024Categories: Passports and Visas
Read more »The number of foreign visitors visiting Kenya has grown to more than 1.5 million people each year, with citizens of the United States helping propel that surge. Some 220,000 Americans visit Kenya each year – more than those from any other country. Residents of the Charlotte area visit Kenya for African vacations, to pursue business opportunities, to visit family, or to participate in volunteer activities through non-profits and church groups.
From Indian Ocean beach holidays to inland wildlife safaris, the Republic of Kenya saw tourism surge by more than 80 percent in the post-COVID era. “Kenya is a dream travel destination for its abundant wildlife, spectacular beaches, outdoor adventure, culture, and cuisine,” AFAR magazine reported recently. “The country boasts 22 national parks, as well as 28 national reserves, five national sanctuaries, and dozens of community-run conservancies.”
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Posted: April 17, 2024Categories: Passports and Visas
Read more »Sacramento area residents exploring new destinations are among the 80,000 Americans who visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia each year. With casual visitors unable to enter the country in recent decades, international travelers are now exploring the kingdom to enjoy its long-hidden treasurers. “Saudi Arabia offers both natural and historical wonders, from the mountain resorts of Taif and the majesty of ancient Nabatean tombs to the multicolored coral reefs of the Red Sea,” the Saudi embassy stated on its website (https://www.saudiembassy.net/sports-and-recreation).
Before the kingdom began issuing leisure tourist visas in 2019, foreign visitors to Saudi Arabia were primarily religious pilgrims, businesspeople, or government officials. The next five years brought more than 100 million travelers to Saudi Arabia. “The Kingdom's tourism sector has shown remarkable resilience, with inbound spending reaching over USD 37 billion in 2023 and a significant increase in hotel keys across the kingdom,” the UN’s World Tourism Agency stated (https://www.unwto.org/news/un-tourism-applauds-saudi-arabia-s-historic-milestone-of-100-million-tourist-arrivals#). “These achievements are a testament to Saudi Arabia's commitment to creating a prosperous and sustainable tourism sector.” Reform-minded Saudi rulers have prioritized global tourism and relaxed their country’s conservative culture, helping open their society to more foreigners.