Passports and Visas

The Central African nation of Cameroon is gradually drawing more visitors from Atlanta with its vast geological, climate, and cultural diversity.  Often referred to as “Africa in miniature”, the Republic of Cameroon boasts 27 million citizens, 240 tribes, and three main ethnic groups (Bantus, Semi-Bantus and Sudanese).  Hundreds of African dialects are also present, although French and English are spoken by the vast majority of Cameroonians (70% and 30%, respectively).

Bordered by Chad, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon provides everything you expect to find on the African continent. “Natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannahs,” the presidential website (https://www.prc.cm/en/cameroon/50-country-information) states. “The country is well known for its native styles of music, particularly makossa and bikutsi, and for its successful national football team.”

In the 15^th Century, Portuguese sailors named the area Rio dos Camaroes (Shrimp River), which later became Cameroon in English.  The area became a German colony in 1884, but France and England divided the territory following World War I.  During the era of African independence, the French and British portions became independent countries in the early 1960s and merged in 1961, eventually becoming the Republic of Cameroon in 1984.

Tourists from Chicagoland seeking historic ruins, stunning dive sites, mountain hiking, and upscale beach resorts are discovering the Middle Eastern national of Oman.  Located on the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, Oman shares land and maritime borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Pakistan.

The oldest independent state in the Arab world, the Sultanate of Oman is an absolute monarchy that has been ruled by hereditary sultans for centuries.  From the 17^th Century through the early 20th Century, the Omani Sultanate was an empire that competed with the British and Portuguese empires for influence across the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.  Over time, a series of treaties between the sultans and Great Britain provided the British a greater role in Oman as the Omani Empire declined.  The discovery of petroleum in 1964 transformed the area’s economy into the richest in the world and created a modern petrostate.

Azerbaijan – the South Caucasus country at the crossroads of ancient empires that once ruled Eurasia – is coming into its own as a travel destination for visitors from the Dallas area. “Having long been overlooked by visitors, Azerbaijan's new easy visas, bargain-value hotels and close-packed range of beautiful landscapes are starting to attract significant flows of tourists, though as yet few of them from Western countries,” Lonely Planet reported. (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/azerbaijan )

Stretching from the Caspian Sea to the Great Caucasus Mountains, the culture of Azerbaijan reflects strong Turkish, Iranian, and Russian influences that span centuries.  The ancient Silk Road trading route that connected Europe and Asia runs through Azerbaijan.  During its long history, parts of the country had been ruled by Iran, Turkey and Russia.  After the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the country gained independence as the Republic of Azerbaijan.  However, since then, an extended border war with neighboring Armenia and conflicts with separatist forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh region have plagued the republic.

Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world, has long been a favored destination for Miami area tourists 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.”

Russia – which has drawn tourists from the Atlanta area for decades with its rich history and culture – is the largest country in the world, spanning 11 time zones from Eastern Europe to within 50 miles of Alaska.  The country’s recorded history dates back more than 1,100 years, from the emergence of the Russian Empire, through the rise and fall of Soviet Union, and its recent transformation into the Russian Federation.  The country is home to 30 UNESCO World Heritage sites, plus countless museums, theaters, art galleries, cathedrals, palaces, and other historic landmarks.  It also contains areas of stunning natural beauty, ranging from towering ski mountains to sunny Black Sea beaches to thriving nature preserves.

More than 32 million foreign travelers visited Russia during the late 2010s before the COVID-19 pandemic decimated global travel in 2020.  However, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, only 200,000 foreigners visited that year -- a decline of more than 96%.  While sanctions by the United States, the European Union, and other nations against Russia do not prohibit travel, they have made tourism more difficult by closing foreign airspace to Russian airlines and cutting off access to financial resources such as debit and credit cards.

Denver, known as the “Mile High City” because of its elevation of 5,280 feet, is the capital of Colorado and is one of the fastest growing cities in America with a population approaching three million people.  The region’s growing economy, along with its proximity to numerous outdoor recreational activities, make Denver an attractive destination for those seeking work-life balance.  Denver has a diverse economy and strong foundation of Fortune 500 companies, but also has a robust entrepreneurial scene with startup companies operating in the information technology, healthcare, education, real estate, and gaming industries; the nearby town of Boulder also a booming food tech startup scene.  Denver is not as well known as other American cities for its global connectivity; however, many residents still have a strong interest in international travel and cultures.  There are over 20,000 residents with Chinese heritage living in the Denver area.  Immigrants from China first came to Denver in the late 19^th century to work as laborers in the railroads and mines.  With the recent growth and prosperity of China, many Chinese immigrants are now coming to Denver as international students and stay in the city to work in the area’s healthcare, financial, electronics, aerospace, and energy industries. 

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – the second largest country in Africa and fourth most populous – offers Miami tourists and business travelers a range of natural tropical settings, unique wildlife, and cultural diversions not found in other parts of the continent.  From the mountain gorillas in the rainforest along the Congo River to its active mountain volcanoes, the DRC is one of a kind.

Formerly known as Zaire, the DRC (also referred to as Congo-Kinshasa) covers more than 2.3 million square miles—roughly the size of Western Europe.  It borders Angola, Burundi, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, as well as the South Atlantic Ocean.  With more than 96 million residents, the Central African nation is also the largest French-speaking country in the world.

Tourists from the Tampa Bay area continue to discover the picturesque natural landscapes, cultural diversity, sparkling beaches, and sprawling game preserves of South Africa.  Located at the intersection of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, the country occupies the southernmost tip of Africa.  South Africa draws most of its overseas visitors from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and France.

The Republic of South Africa was previously a Dutch and British colony before gaining independence from the United Kingdom in the early 20^th Century.  Almost 80 percent of its 60 million inhabitants identify as Black Africans, while nearly 10 percent are white.  The nation has 12 official languages, reflecting a multi-ethnic society with numerous cultures and religions.  The most popular sports are association football (soccer), rugby, and cricket.   

The Republic of Lebanon and its capital, Beirut – the “Paris of the Middle East” – continues to draw tourists who enjoy its Mediterranean culture, historic sites, cuisine, and diverse architecture.  Tourism has largely recovered since the end of the Lebanese Civil War in 1990, restoring relative stability to the country, yet the U.S. State Department continues to maintain travel advisories due to persistent regional strife.

Located on the western shore of the Mediterranean Sea, the Republic of Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire for more than 400 years before coming under French rule after World War I.  The country gained independence from France in 1943, which was followed by both civil war and armed conflict with neighboring Syria and Israel.  In recent decades, Lebanon has evolved into one of the most culturally influential countries in the Middle East, and is a destination that should not be overlooked by anyone in the San Francisco Bay Area desiring a deeper understanding of this region.  The republic offers a unique blend of Arabic and European influences, with colorful sites ranging from Roman temples and Malluk mosques to Crusader Castles and broad French-built boulevards.  While Arabic (Levantine Arabic) is the official language, French and English are commonly spoken, reflecting both its colonial history and its emerging role in global commerce.

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.   

While Gabon is not a common destination for the average American tourists, the country has been in the news recently because Charlotte-based Bank of America announced a deal to refinance $500 million of the Gabonese Republic’s debt in exchange for environmental conservation efforts taking place there.  This is the first such “debt-for-nature” transaction in Africa to protect a country’s oceans.  Gabon is also the first country in Africa to get paid by international organizations for protecting its forests.