Monthly Archives: August 2025

From the ancient religious landmarks of the Holy Land to the innovative technological center of Tel Aviv, tourists and businesspeople from Montgomery and other towns througout Alabama 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)

Algeria remains a mysterious and unexplored country for most Boston area tourists, as well as Boston-based businesspeople 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).

Brazil’s popularity as a retirement destination for foreigners has grown as the government continues to fine-tune its retirement visa program.  Sandy beaches, lush tropical jungles, friendly people, and low prices make South America’s largest country an attractive destination for tourists and retirees from San Diego and others throughout Southern California.

The Federative Republic of Brazil’s culture is shaped by a blend of European, African, and indigenous influences.  The former Portuguese colony is known for shimmering beaches, Amazon rainforests, rugged mountains, and oceanic islands.  Brazil is the only predominantly Portuguese-speaking nation in the Americas.  However, English speakers are rarely found outside the major cities, so language barriers can present a challenge.  High crime in urban areas, poor infrastructure, and political uncertainty also remain persistent problems.

South Korea – the home of “K-pop culture,” the global music, entertainment, and fashion phenomenon – drew more than 25 million foreign visitors in 2024 as more people from Nashville and other towns throughout Tennessee come to experience the “Korean Wave” for themselves.  The United States consistently ranks among the top five sources for visitors, trailing only nearby China, Japan, and Taiwan.

“South Korea is a frequent character in conversations around the world, thanks to its cutting-edge technology, world-class cuisine, chart-topping pop bands, and some of the most exciting movies and TV series being made anywhere,” Lonely Planet reported. (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/things-to-know-before-traveling-to-south-korea)

The Republic of South Korea occupies the southern half of Asia’s Korean Peninsula.  The country is located between the Sea of Japan (known as the East Sea in Korea) and the Yellow Sea, and shares a land border with North Korea (which occupies the remainder of the peninsula).  South Korea also includes two volcanic islands and several rocky islets.  More than 51 million people live in South Korea, almost half of whom reside in the metropolitan area around the capital city of Seoul.

Liberia -- the West African nation founded by free Afro-Americans some 200 years ago – is moving beyond a turbulent recent past to encourage tourism and trade opportunities with visitors from Buffalo and other towns throughout Western New York.  The country is also known as “Little America,” reflecting historic and cultural ties with the United States that continue into the present. 

“This little-known country truly is a land of ‘unique West African discoveries’ – a wildlife attractive adventure for outdoor active explorers and travelers seeking out its incredible and unique water sport and nature experiences,” according to Liberia Tourism’s official website (https://enjoyliberia.travel/).  Lonely Planet added, “Liberia, a lush, green, friendly and vibrant land, offers everything from excellent surf spots and shops selling wares by edgy local designers to days spent lolling in a comfy hammock on the edge of the rainforest while listening to tropical birds sing.” The publication added the country “still hangs on to a confident American spirit mixed with West African roots.  And despite the ravages of the past, it is a fantastic place to travel, full of hope and energy.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/liberia)

The Republic of Liberia – which means “land of the free” – is bordered by Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and the Atlantic Ocean.  The area has been inhabited by indigenous people since the 12th Century.  From the 14^th through the 17^th centuries, Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders built trading posts in the region, which they referred to as the Pepper Coast or the Grain Coast.  In the early 1800s, a movement emerged in the United States to resettle freed and free-born African-Americans back to Africa.  The American Colonization Society (ACS) led the resettlement campaign, believing that African-Americans had a better chance at freedom in Africa than in the Americas.  In 1822, the ACS began sending volunteers to the Pepper Coast to establish a colony.  By 1867, more than 13,000 people from the United States and the Caribbean had relocated to the area.  Today, about five percent of Liberia’s 5.7 million citizens are Americo-Liberians descended from the early ACS colonists.  English remains the official language (although more than 20 indigenous dialects are spoken) and Christianity is the dominant religion.

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.  Dallas-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)

Sierra Leone -- considered West Africa’s best-kept beach destination secret -- is leveraging its natural attractions and resources to attract more tourists and businesspeople from the Jacksonville area. 

“Sweet sands rise from the soft waters of the Atlantic, with the backdrop dressed in sun-stained hues, rainforest green and the red, red roads of the north.” Lonely Planet wrote of Sierra Leone. (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/sierra-leone) The publication added, “You can take your pick from islands, rainforests, and national parks; museums, great restaurants, and cultural activities also beckon.  And if taking it easy is more your speed, well, you’ll fit right in: as Sierra Leoneans will tell you, there’s nothing better than chilling on one of the gorgeous beaches, soaking up the sun – and the natural beauty.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-things-to-do-in-sierra-leone)

The Republic of Sierra Leone is bordered by Guinea, Liberia, and the Atlantic Ocean.  A small country covering about 28,200 square miles, Sierra Leone (Portuguese for “lioness mountain”) is a culturally diverse country of 8.8 million people and 18 ethnic groups.  More than one percent of the population consists of Creoles (descendants of freed African-Americans), freed Afro-Caribbean slaves, and liberated Africans.  English remains the official language, but 98% of people speak the local dialect, Krio.

Bhutan, the world’s most mountainous country, covers some 15,000 square miles in the Eastern Himalayas.  Bordered by India and China's Tibet Autonomous Region, landlocked Bhutan is 98.8% mountains and more than 70% forested.  Officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, the country is known locally as Drukyul.  Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with a king serving as head of state and a prime minister leading the government.  Bhutan is home to some 778,000 residents, ranking it 165^th among the world’s 234 countries and dependent territories.  By comparison, the population of the Greater Tampa Bay area is more than four times the size of Bhutan.

Bhutan and Tibet were among the first countries where Buddhism spread from India in the Seventh Century AD.  Vajrayana Buddhism, Bhutan’s state religion, is led by the Zhabdrung Rinpoche, a spiritual leader similar to Tibet’s Dalai Lama.  The “land of the thunder dragon” is “a place where people can find peace and do business, experience living traditions, and discover wilderness teeming with life,” according to the official Bhutan Travel website (https://bhutan.travel). “In a world that is always on the go, Bhutan provides sanctuary.  Here, you can find earthly pleasures: archery and age-old crafts, dishes of home-made cheese and fearsomely hot chilies, breathtaking treks and restorative hot-stone baths.” Prayer flags are strung across gorges and dot every hillside, Bhutan Travel continued. “From storied cities to soaring mountains, the door to the kingdom is open once again to old and new friends.”

New Zealand – the island nation whose lush forests, snow-capped peaks, and stark landscapes provided unforgettable settings for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “Mission Impossible: Fallout” – is also a popular travel destination for tourists and businesspeople from Raleigh and other towns throughout the Reasearch Triangle.  The United States ranks second only to neighboring Australia as the top source for visitors to New Zealand, which was originally known as Aotearoa, the "land of the long white cloud."

“Spectacular and diverse, New Zealand (Aotearoa) is one of the world's most memorable destinations,” Lonely Planet reported. “From its inspirational Māori cultural experiences to its epic and otherworldly national parks, it can be hard to narrow down what to do.  You can spend your days soaking in the urban energy of Auckland and Wellington, challenging yourself on outdoor adventures around Queenstown, cycling through Central Otago’s historic towns and big-sky landscapes, or trying to spot the country’s iconic kiwi bird on Stewart Island/Rakiura.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/top-things-to-do-in-new-zealand)

India -- one of the most diverse countries in the world for culture, language, religious, and wildlife -- continues to attract a growing number of leisure and business travelers from Phoenix and others living throughout the state of Arizona.  A record 18.9 million foreigners visited the country known as the “Golden Sparrow” last year, with the United States ranking second among international tourists.

“India is a place that overwhelms your senses in the best possible way – nowhere else delivers quite the same barrage of sights, sounds and sensations as this continent-sized country at the heart of Asia,” Lonely Planet reported. (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/things-to-know-before-traveling-to-india). “It would take a lifetime to see all of India,” the report continued. “But with a little preparation, you can learn to navigate the richness of this country, from its snow-capped peaks and velvety beaches to its historic temples and luxuriant palaces.”

The Republic of India, also known as the subcontinent, covers more than 1.26 million square miles in South Asia.  The republic borders Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan, as well as the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.  The country’s Andaman and Nickobar islands also share maritime borders with Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand.  In 2023, India surpassed China as the most populous country in the world and currently has a population exceeding 1.46 billion people.  Eighty percent of its people follow the Hindu religious, while about 14% are Muslims, giving India the largest Muslim population for a non-Muslim country.  More than 120 languages are spoken here, with Hindi and English being the most widely used.