PASSPORTS AND VISAS 101

For residents of Denver and others througout the Mountain states interested in a lush tropical island with a touch of royalty, the nation of Seychelles should fit the bill for your next travel destination.  Prince William and Kate Middleton famously spent their 10-day honeymoon at a private resort in Seychelles.  Other famous honeymooners include George and Ana Clooney, and Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston.  However, you don’t need to be heir to the throne or Hollywood royalty to enjoy these exotic islands. “With its pristine, palm-fringed beaches and clear, turquoise waters, Seychelles is undoubtedly the romance capital of the Indian Ocean,” Mason’s Travel noted. (https://masonstravel.com/will-kate-ten-year-anniversary-suites-fit-for-royalty)

The Republic of Seychelles consists of 155 islands in the Indian Ocean that lie several hundred miles east of Africa.  It is the smallest country in Africa and the least populated, with some 130,000 residents.  Seychelles’ culture and cuisine is an eclectic blend of French, British, African, Chinese, and Indian influences.  Great Britain and France competing for influence during the Colonial era before Britain took control during the Napoleonic Wars.  Seychelles gained independence in 1976 and later joined the Commonwealth.  English and French are two of its official languages, but the third, Seychellois Creole (a French-based dialect that contains some English words), is the most frequently spoken.  About two-thirds of Seychellois are Christians.

The African nation of South Sudan is the youngest country in the world – and one of the least visited.  Armed conflicts, ongoing humanitarian crises, and lack of tourism infrastructure have kept South Sudan off most tourists’ bucket list.  However, the country does welcome American visitors and businesspeople, charitable workers, and even some adventurous travelers from Cincinnati and other towns througout Ohio and Northern Kentucky may decide to visit here.

Landlocked South Sudan borders the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda.  The geographic area of western and central Africa south of the Sahara Desert is known as the Sudan.  From 1896 to 1954, the United Kingdom and Egypt exercised joint control of the 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.  After two civil wars, South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011.  However, continued ethnic violence and another civil war plagued South Sudan before a new coalition government was formed in 2020.

Ethiopia – the cradle of civilization – continues to welcome tourists from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area seeking historic cultural treasures, exotic natural beauty, and warm hospitality.  Ethiopia’s importance in the origins of mankind was confirmed by the 1972 discovery of “Lucy”, a fossilized 3.2 million-year-old female near the Awash River.  Today, tourism is the largest sector of the nation’s economy after agriculture. While “Lucy” was touring the United States and the United Kingdom in the first decade of the 21st century, visitors from other countries flocked to Ethiopia to explore its deep cultural history.  

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (previously known as Abyssinia) is located in northeastern Africa in the Horn of Africa.  Unique among African countries, Ethiopia resisted colonial rule for centuries -- until a brief Italian occupation during World War II.  Strategically located near the Middle East and Europe, Ethiopia’s access to major regional ports makes it a center of international trade and global influences.  More than 110 million Ethiopians live in a country covering more than 470,000 square miles –an area larger than France and Spain combined.  The population is a melting pot of African and Middle Eastern cultures, comprised of 80 various ethnic group who speak 90+ languages.  Almost two-thirds of Ethiopians are Christians, with most of the remaining inhabitants practicing Islam.  Half of the Ethiopian population was Jewish before Christianity was declared the national religion in the Fourth Century.  Today there are still several synagogues remaining in active use.

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.  Milwaukee-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)

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 Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. 

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.

Australia continues to grow as a popular destination for tourists, businesspeople and students living in Orlando and other towns throughout the Central Florida region.  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 New Orleans and other cities throughout the Gulf Coast of the United States 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.

Equatorial Guinea, one of the smallest countries in Africa (both by land area and population), is also the only Spanish-speaking nation on the continent.  To put it in context with the United States, Equatorial Guinea’s population of 1.7 million people is about one-third the size of the Boston metropolitan area, which has nearly 5 million residents.  This Central African country consists of five islands in the Gulf of Guinea near the equator plus a mainland region bordered by Cameroon and Gabon.  Although one of the wealthiest nations in Africa, most of its people live in poverty while the elites live in opulence. “This is the land of primates with painted faces, soft clouds of butterflies, and insects so colorful they belong in the realm of fiction,” Lonely Planet noted (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/equatorial-guinea). “Yes, Equatorial Guinea has something of a reputation, with a history of failed coups, allegations of corruption, and buckets of oil, but there is plenty to bring you to this country's beautiful black-and-white shores.”

Officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the country was known as Spanish Guinea before gaining independence in 1968.  Spanish, French, and Portuguese are the country’s official languages, but several local dialects are also common.  Dictator Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled since 1979, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the world. “Exercise increased caution in Equatorial Guinea due to crime and health,” the U.S. State Department cautions. “While not common, crime - such as robbery - remains a concern throughout Equatorial Guinea. Police and military checkpoints are common throughout the country.” (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/equatorial-guinea-travel-advisory.html).

The Central African Republic, a landlocked nation at the heart of the continent, is one of the least visited countries for residents of the San Francisco Bay Area.  Despite its vast natural resources, the country is one of the poorest and most fragile countries in the world.  It also ranks as the unhealthiest, the worst country for children, and among the bottom 10 for education and hunger. “It’s never a good sign when you land in a country and the first thing you see are planes from the United Nations, World Food Programme or Médecins Sans Frontiers {Doctors without Borders},” the travel blog Road to 197 reported in 2024 (https://www.roadto197.com/2024/01/14/trip-report-central-african-republic/). “In such situations you realize that things are not good in the country, that the country has serious issues….”

Known as French Equatorial Africa during the European colonial period, the Central African Republic (CAR) attained independence in 1960.  Ruled for 15 years by brutal dictator Jean-Bedel Bokassa, the country has since endured decades of civil war, corruption, and human rights abuses. “Do not travel to the Central African Republic (CAR),” the U.S. State Department warns, citing violent crimes, kidnappings, and armed rebels. “Although there have been no specific incidents of violence or threats targeting U.S. citizens, civil unrest, demonstrations, and election-related violence (including renewed outbreaks of armed conflict) may occur throughout the country.” (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/central-african-republic-travel-advisory.html)  More than 15,000 UN peacekeepers were in the CAR during 2024.

From the ancient religious landmarks of the Holy Land to the innovative technological center of Tel Aviv, tourists and businesspeople from Tampa and the Gulf Coast of Florida 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)