Monthly Archives: October 2022

UPDATED April 26, 2023

Millions of tourists visit the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan each year, enjoying the Arab state’s many historic, cultural, religious and natural treasures.  The Jordanian tourism industry is the largest private-sector employer in the country, accounting for 14% of its economy and drawing more than six million visitors annually, including visitors from the Charlotte area. 

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located between the Red Sea, the Dead Sea, and the River Jordan at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe.  Modern-day Jordan has been inhabited by humans for several millennia.  The area had previously been part of the Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Roman, and Ottoman Empires before achieving independence from British rule in 1946.  The country of more than 10 million is predominantly Arab and the official language is Arabic -- the fifth-most spoken language in the world with more than 230 million.

Many residents of Miami may not know about the hidden treasures of Mozambique, but with the increase in travel to East Africa, more and more people are discovering the African wildlife and tropical beaches of the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”.

The Republic of Mozambique, located in southeastern Africa on the Indian Ocean, is nearly five times the size of Florida by land area.  Portuguese settlers ruled the area for more than 400 years before the country gained independence in 1975.  The official language remains Portuguese, although most residents speak one of the native languages as their primary language.  English-speakers are also common, especially in tourist-friendly regions along the coast and around major cities, particularly in southern Mozambique.  The combination of European and African influences has created unique cultural and culinary experiences.

Sri Lanka remains a popular destination for Orlando area tourists seeking cultural experiences and spectacular natural beauty.  The pear-shaped island nation in the Indian Ocean offers amazing beaches, ancient cities, safari wildlife tours, and modern amenities in a unique South Asian environment.   

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was previously known as Ceylon before 1948, when it was under British rule.  The country’s population of some 22 million includes members of several Asian ethnic groups, primarily the Sinhalese (75%), Tamils, Moors, and Malays.  The two official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.  However, English remains the “link language” that is used for education and commercial purposes.  Buddhism is the official religion of Sri Lanka and has the largest number of practitioners, while Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity are also represented.  Buddhism and Hinduism are also the main influences on Sri Lankan culture, although echoes of the British, Portuguese and Dutch colonial eras still linger.  Despite the lengthy flight time from North America to South Asia, citizens of the United States and Canada rank among the top 10 nationalities visiting Sri Lanka.

While Uzbekistan is likely off the radar for most Denver area residents who are considering international travel, the country is considered the most popular tourist destination in Central Asia and is famous for its cultural sites, architectural treasures, and outdoor activities.  Many of its cities were important stops on the Great Silk Road, the vast caravan trade routes that linked Eastern and Western civilizations from 200 B.C. through the Middle Ages.  Recently, the World Tourism Organization opened its Silk Road Office in Samarkand in coordination with international efforts to promote Silk Road tourism throughout the region.  The city was selected as the 2023 World Tourism Capital by the UN World Tourism Organization. 

The Republic of Uzbekistan was formed in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, ending more than 100 years of Russian rule.  Landlocked Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia with more than 34.5 million people.  Uzbeks make up 80% of a population that also includes Russians and Tartars.  Muslims make up 95% of its citizens, while the Uzbek and Russian languages are the most commonly spoken.

The Dominican Republic continues to grow its reputation as one of the world’s most popular retirement destinations.  In 2022, Travel and Leisure magazine listed Dominican Republic as one of its top 10 global retirement destinations, with Travel + Leisure ranking it third internationally. “For a tropical island retirement, the Dominican Republic is one of the least expensive Latin American countries for retirees,” Travel and Leisure reported.  The country’s appeal to North Americans is easy to understand, International Living added: “The climate is tropical, the lifestyle is easy-going and the beaches are beautiful.  Only a two-hour flight from Miami, this is one of the Caribbean’s busiest tourist destinations.” (https://internationalliving.com/countries/dominican-republic/retire-to-the-dominican-republic/)

The biodiverse mountains and modern infrastructure of Rwanda have made the country one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in Africa.  From gorillas of the volcanic Virunga Mountains and the Great Rift Valley to the savannahs of Akagera and the African Great Lakes, “the land of a thousand hills” provides a variety of man-made and natural experiences for visitors from Dallas.

The landlocked Republic of Rwanda in Eastern Africa was formed in 1962 after decades of German and Belgian rule.  Following civil unrest and war with neighboring Congo during the l990s, Rwanda evolved into one of the safest and most progressive nations in Africa.  The country of almost 13 million is composed of one cultural and linguistic group, the Banyarwanda, and the largest religion is Catholicism.  While the principal language is Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili are also official languages.  However, Western languages are more commonly spoken in cities rather than rural villages.

Tanzania remains a popular destination for Charlotte area tourists seeking a variety of unique adventures.  From the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro to African bush safaris and the tropical islands of the Zanzibar archipelago, “the green land” promises numerous one-of-a-kind natural experiences.

The United Republic of Tanzania, located in eastern Africa on the Indian Ocean, was formed in 1964 by the union of two former British colonies: Tanganyika and Zanzibar.  The country’s population of more than 65 million people blends more than 120 ethnic groups, creating a unique Swahili culture composed of African, Arab, European, and Asian influences.  More than 100 languages are spoken in Tanzania.  Most locals speak Swahili, but English is still used in secondary and higher education, foreign trade, and high court proceedings.

Tourists have begun returning to the African nation of Gabon as the country once again welcomes visitors following the COVID pandemic.  Located on the equator bordering Central Africa’s Atlantic coast, Gabon allows travelers to explore the broad savannahs, dense rainforests, mountain ranges, thundering waterfalls, and coastal plains of the Congo basin.  The nation is home to some of the most diverse flora and fauna in the world, including gorillas, chimpanzees, hippos, elephants, humpback whales, and more than 400 species of trees.   

The Gabonese Republic gained its independence from French rule in 1960.  The country’s population of more than 2.3 million includes 40 ethnic groups.  While most of the indigenous people speak Bantu languages like Fang, French remains the official government language and is spoken by some 80 percent of the residents.  About 70 percent of Gabon’s residents practice Christianity, with 10 percent practicing Islam and the others various indigenous religions.  

The island nation of Cape Verde off the West African coast has been a popular winter getaway for European tourists for decades.  Now residents of Detroit and other Americans from across the country have also begun discovering the tropical archipelago in recent years, with the United States ranking as one of the country’s top 10 sources of visitors.  The nation also leads West African countries in tourism per capita.

Cape Verde (officially the Republic of Cabo Verde) consists of 10 volcanic islands covering more than 1,500 square miles in the Atlantic Ocean.  The archipelago was uninhabited until Portuguese explorers discovered it and made it the first European settlement in the tropics.  Centrally located west of Senegal, Cape Verde emerged as an economic center during the Colonial-era slave trade.  The republic achieved independence from Portugal in 1975.

The Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar is once again open for Atlanta area residents after reopening its borders following the pandemic.  Myanmar was largely closed to the outside world until the government began encouraging tourism in 1992.  The nation quickly became an appealing destination for tourists seeking cultural experiences, spiritual awakenings, unspoiled beaches, and spectacular natural beauty.  While the tourism infrastructure is more established in neighboring countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, Myanmar today reflects the natural environments of those countries before decades of Western-style development made their mark.   

Formerly known as Burma, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar gains its independence from British rule in 1948.  After periods of democracy and military rule, a new civilian government took charge in 2011 that began actively encouraging visitors and building tourist infrastructure.  Millions of tourists followed as the decade progressed.  However, the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and another military coup d’état in early 2021 devastated tourism.  While political repression and instability continue, travelers have begun returning to Myanmar since the country reopened in mid-2022.