Monthly Archives: May 2025

Ghana – considered one of the friendliest places in West Africa – continues to draw travelers from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area with its rich culture, colorful festivals, historical sites, spicy food, brightly-colored artwork, and the cosmopolitan capital city of Accra.

“Ghana is often referred to as ‘Africa for beginners,’ a phrase that underscores its reputation as a welcoming and relatively safe destination for first-time visitors to the continent,” according to World Travel Guide (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/ghana/). “From its vibrant cities to its serene coastlines and diverse wildlife, Ghana offers an array of attractions as varied as an Accra traffic jam: expect sunshine, pristine beaches, unique ecosystems, historical landmarks, and a rich cultural heritage.  While its tropical coastline is enticing, few travelers visit Ghana solely for a beach holiday – there’s far too much to explore.”

The Republic of Ghana, located on the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean, is bordered by Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, and Togo.  More than a thousand years ago, Ghana was divided between the Bonoman and Dagbon kingdoms.  A center for gold trading, the region became known as the Gold Coast during the European Colonial era, which saw British, Dutch, Portuguese, German, and Swedish traders competing for influence.  In 1957, the Gold Coast, Ashanti, the Northern Territories, and British Togoland merged to form Ghana, a dominion within the British Commonwealth and the first colony in sub-Saharan African to gain independence.  Ghana’s official language is English, reflecting its colonial history.  Ghana became a republic in 1960.  After a series of coups, tribal wars, and civil conflicts during the late Twentieth Century, Ghana has emerged in recent decades as one of the freest and most stable countries in Africa.

Australia continues to grow as a popular destination for tourists, businesspeople and students living in the Philadelphia area and other towns throughout the Delaware Valley.  The country offers numerous visas that allow foreign citizens living in the United States and well as U.S. passport holders to visit the Land Down Under – and depending on your nationality, you may be able to get travel authorization within 24 hours!

The Commonwealth of Australia is the largest country in Oceania and the most populous at 27.7 million people (who mostly live in coastal urban areas).  It is also the largest island and sixth largest country in the world, covering almost three million square miles on the continent of Australia, Tasmania, and several other nearby islands.  Due to its unique geographic location in the South Pacific, Australia is a country of vastly diverse climates, landscapes, and wildlife, with lush tropical rainforests in the northeast, mountains to the southeast, deserts in its midsection, and sun-drenched maritime beaches.

“Australia is the unexpected: a place where the world’s oldest cultures share vast ochre plains, stylish laneways, and unimaginably blue waters with successive waves of new arrivals from across the globe,” Lonely Planet reported (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia). “There is no shortage of spectacular places,” the publication added, “from culturally diverse cities with rich Aboriginal history dating back tens of thousands of years to the Great Barrier Reef and the raw outback landscapes in between.”

Vietnam – known for its bustling cities, beaches, rivers, and Buddhist pagodas – has attracted an increasing number of leisure and business travelers from Portland and other cities throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest in the past decade.  More than 17.5 million foreigners visited the “Land of the Blue Dragon” last year, with the United States ranking among the top five countries for inbound tourists.

“Vietnam is coming into prominence as one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia (SEA),” Global Awareness reported (https://globeaware.org/news/globe-aware-news/1726-heres-why-vietnam-is-becoming-more-popular-among-american-tourists). “Its natural wonders and incredible culture are making it into the mainstream, inspiring American tourists to get out of their comfort zone and travel across the world to explore the country.”

Located on the Indochinese Peninsula, Vietnam borders Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand, the Gulf of Thailand, and the South China Sea.  It covers some 128,000 square miles and has more than 100 million residents.  Ruled for centuries by various Chinese and regional dynasties, it became part of French Indochina during the 1800s.  Vietnam endured several armed conflicts during the mid-Twentieth Century.  During World War II, it fell under Japanese control before Communist revolutionary Ho Chi Minh led a revolution and declared independence.  France attempted to reestablish control over colonial Vietnam in the First Indochina War but was defeated in 1954, leading to the country’s partition between communist North Vietnam and democratic South Vietnam.  The North’s guerrilla campaign to reunite the two parts of Vietnam led to the Second Indochina War (known as the Vietnam War in the United States, or the American War in Vietnam) during the 1960s.  After U.S. troops pulled out in the early 1970s, the North Vietnamese took the former South Vietnamese capital of Saigon and reunited the country as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.  Today Vietnam is one of only five Communist states remaining in the world.

Charlotte-based travelers and others throughout North Carolina who avoided visiting Iraq’s cultural, historic, and religious sites over security concerns are now returning to the “cradle of civilization” as government initiatives to improve security and promote tourism have boosted the country’s appeal.  

“Immerse yourself in a journey through time as you explore ancient sites, embrace spiritual sanctuaries, and witness diverse landscapes,” the Iraqi government stated on the website for its new electronic visa. “Indulge in the rich flavors of Iraqi cuisine, and experience the warmth of modern cities.” (https://evisa.iq/en/tourist-guide)

Officially the Republic of Iraq, this West Asian country borders Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the Persian Gulf.  Known as the cradle of civilization, the country’s history spans more than 8,000 years.  Ancient Iraq, aka Mesopotamia – the fertile area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers – gave rise to early cities such as Babylon and Baghdad, regional empires, and innovations including writing, mathematics, calendars, and a code of law.  The region was conquered by several empires, coming under Muslim control in the 600s.  Iraq is best known in modern history for the U.S.-led Gulf Wars of the 1990s that toppled strongman Saddam Hussein.  Civil war between Sunni Muslims (who had ruled the country for decades) and Shai Muslims followed, with the 2010s seeing a variety of militant campaigns within the country.  Decades of conflict have also surrounded Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region of northern Iraq largely populated by Kurds.  However, the 2022 election of prime minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani has brought improved political, economic, and security stabilization to Iraq.

From the ancient religious landmarks of the Holy Land to the innovative technological center of Tel Aviv, tourists and businesspeople from Little Rock and other towns throughout Arkansas find plenty of reasons to visit Israel.

“At the intersection of Asia, Europe and Africa – both geographically and culturally – Israel and the Palestinian Territories have been a meeting place of cultures, empires and religions since history began,” Lonely Planet reported (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories). “Few places on earth stir up passion the way that Israel does: the breathtaking beauty of its hills and valleys, the eerie stillness of the Dead Sea, the multi-colored canyon of Makhtesh Ramon, and the ancient walls and pathways of Nazareth and Jerusalem” the publication also noted. “The call of the muezzin and the quiet prayers of Orthodox Jews at the Western Wall reflect how the religious devotion of the Muslims, Christians, and Jews who live here runs through every facet of life.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel)

The State of Israel is located in a region of the Mideast also known as Palestine, the Land of Israel, and Canaan.  Israel borders Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, as well as the Mediterranean, Red, and Dead seas.  The country also occupies the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  Israel is the only country in the world where Jews comprise the majority of its population, accounting for more almost three-fourths of its 9.9 million people.  However, with its central location in the volatile Mideast region and continuing armed conflicts both within and outside its borders, the U.S. State Department advises visitors to “reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest.” It also advises no travel to “Gaza due to terrorism and armed conflict” nor to “Northern Israel within four kilometers/2.4 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders due to Israel’s continued military presence and activity.” (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/israel-west-bank-and-gaza-travel-advisory.html)

Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world, has long been a favored destination for residents of Cleveland and other towns throughout Ohio seeking tropical natural beauty and cultural diversity.  The Southeast Asian nation is known for its sparkling beaches, active volcanoes, rugged mountains, extensive coral reefs, and unique wildlife (such as the Komodo dragon).  More than half of Indonesia is still covered by rainforests, enabling one of the world’s most biodiverse environments.

More than 18 million tourists came to Indonesia each year before the COVID-19 pandemic slowed traffic, but travelers are again returning to the islands in large numbers. “The tropical rainforests of Indonesia comprise some of the world’s oldest and richest natural habitats, which support a fabulous variety of fauna and flora, including many species found nowhere else on earth,” according to Insight Guides (https://www.insightguides.com/inspire-me/blog/best-national-parks-indonesia). “The country's multiplicity of islands also encompasses large areas of pristine mangrove forest and swamp, montane forests and savannahs, and thousands of miles of coastline harboring coral reefs.”

The African nation of Sudan is a hidden gem, with huge deserts, hospitable people, and twice as many pyramids than Egypt.  However, few tourists from the New Orleans area visit the country: continuing armed conflict with neighboring countries, domestic unrest, and terrorism have kept Sudan off most travelers’ itineraries in recent years.

Located in Northeast Africa, Sudan borders the Red Sea, the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, and South Sudan.  The White Nile and the Blue Nile merge at the capital city of Khartoum to create the River Nile, the world’s longest river.

The area known as Sudan has been inhabited for several millennia.  From 780 B.C. through 350 A.D., it made up part of the Kingdom of Kush (which also included part of Egypt).  Over time, Egypt took political control of Sudan and introduced cultural influences that remain today.  By 1896, the United Kingdom and Egypt were exercising joint control of Sudan until the new Republic of the Sudan achieved independence in 1956.  Arab Muslims dominated the northern part of Sudan, while African Christians and other groups dominated the south.  Sudan was the largest country in Africa until South Sudan seceded in 2011.  Today Sudan covers more than 720,000 square miles, making it the third largest African nation.  Official languages are Arabic and English.

The rich culture and centuries-old history of Russia have made it an increasingly popular travel destination for tourists from Indianapolis and the state of Indiana in recent years.  The largest country in the world, the Russian Federation crosses 11 time zones, spanning Asia and Eastern Europe to reach the Pacific Ocean near Alaska.  Russia is home to numerous museums, palaces, cathedrals, historic sites, sunny beaches, and majestic ski resorts.

Some 143 million people from more than 190 ethnic groups live in Russia, primarily residing in urban areas and concentrated in the western regions of the country.  The nation’s recorded history dates back more than 1,100 years, including establishment of the Russian Empire in 1721, the Russian Revolution in 1917, the rise and fall of Soviet Union during the Twentieth Century, and the founding of the Russian Federation in 1991.

During the late 2010s, more than 32 million foreign travelers visited Russia.  However, since the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, leisure and business travel has plummeted.  About 8.8 foreigners visited Russia in 2023, just a 3.5% increase over 2022, according to the Russian government. 

Buffalo 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 treasures. “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.

Brazil – the largest country in South America – has something for every tourist, from legendary festivals and vibrant urban culture and to iconic beaches and the largest rainforest and waterfall systems on Earth.  Jackson-based businesspeople and investors are also drawn to the growth opportunities presented by the third-largest economy in the Americas.

“One of the world’s most dazzling destinations, Brazil is packed with steamy rainforests, tropical savannas, wetlands, and exciting cities,” Lonely Planet reported. “The ecosystems found in this giant of South America are home to the largest collection of plant and animal species found anywhere in the world.  But even if exploring the natural world is not top of your Brazil to-do list, plenty of life can be found in the country’s musical metropolises, too.  When it comes to relaxing, Brazil has sand to spare: 2,095 beaches, to be precise, dotting its 7,242km (4,500-mile) Atlantic coastline.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-places-to-visit-in-brazil)