Monthly Archives: December 2022

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 Orlando.

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.

Algeria remains a mysterious and unexplored country for most Atlanta area tourists, as well as Atlanta business leaders seeking commercial opportunities overseas.

Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and several other North African countries, Algeria’s tropical and subtropical climates encompass fertile land in its northern region and the Sahara Desert to the south.  The second largest country in Africa, Algeria is the continent’s fourth largest tourist destination.  The country also offers numerous business opportunities, particularly in the oil and gas, power, infrastructure, IT, and defense sectors (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/algeria-market-opportunities).

Philadelphia is an excellent choice for anyone considering moving to the United States that wants to live in a vibrant city with endless opportunities.  This article will provide a general overview of the city and highlight some of the best neighborhoods to buy real estate for those seeking to own a home.  We will also highlight some of Philadelphia’s best-known attractions that lure not only tourists from other parts of the United States but also immigrants and long-term visitors from around the world.  These features include a dynamic business environment, world-class medical facilities, top-ranked universities, and a profusion of cultural and historical landmarks that underpin the city’s tourism industry.  Collectively, these elements create a strong foundation for Philadelphia’s economy, and by extension bolsters demand for real estate and boosts home values over the long term.

The Republic of Guinea is not a common destination for residents of the Tampa Bay area, but it does provide unique experiences for adventurous travelers and those seeking new commercial opportunities in international trade. “Tarnished by the Ebola crisis and long-term political instability, it is a country most people stay away from,” the World Travel Guide noted  (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/guinea/). “But for travelers who like being far, far from the beaten path, Guinea has many enticements.”

Located on West Africa’s Atlantic coast, Guinea beckons travelers with thundering waterfalls, virgin rainforests, remote hills, and tropical beaches.  It contains five ecoregions: the Guinean montane forests, Western Guinean lowland forests, Guinean forest-savanna mosaic, West Sudanian savanna, and Guinean mangroves.  However, travel outside major cities and tourist resorts can be difficult due to undeveloped transportation infrastructure -- and dangerous due to high levels of crime and corruption.  The impoverished country also faces frequent medical crises, as detailed by the CDC at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/guinea.

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 Denver 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 Charlotte 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.

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 Chicago 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.