PASSPORTS AND VISAS 101

The Central African Republic, a landlocked nation at the heart of the continent, is one of the least visited countries for residents of the Tampa 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.

Birmingham, the second largest city in Alabama and center of the state’s most populous metropolitan area, continues to boost its economic growth through foreign investment.  While some 196,000 people live in the city, more than 1.3 million live in the 10-county Greater Birmingham region (or Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan statistical area).  Major industries include automotive; finance and insurance; information technology and analytical instruments; and metals and machinery manufacturing.  Alabama’s two Fortune 500 companies are based in Birmingham: Regions Financial and Vulcan Materials, the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates.  Other top area employers include Honda, Mercedes-Benz, BBVA Compass (digital banking), and EBSCO Industries.  Interstates 20, 59, and 65 intersect in Birmingham, providing access to ports on the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as East Coast and Midwestern markets.

In Birmingham as well as the state of Alabama, Japan is the second largest source of foreign investment, pouring more $10 billion into the state since 1999.  Automotive manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda, and Topre invested $95 million in 2023 alone, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce.  Almost 90 Japanese companies have a presence in Alabama, with the Birmingham Business Alliance stating 22 of those are located are located in “The Magic City.” In 2014, Dai-ichi Life of Japan acquired Birmingham’s Protective Life for $5.7 billion, marking the largest acquisition by a Japanese insurer.  Other Japanese companies in Greater Birmingham include Hayashi Telempu (HTNA), Unipres, and Yorozu Automotive.  Overall, the Birmingham area is a major contributor to Alabama’s $1 billion in annual exports, with aircraft parts, gas engine turbines, computer systems, and firearms leading the city’s exports.

Residents of the Atlanta area looking for lush island beaches, rich cultural attractions, and a relaxed cosmopolitan lifestyle are increasingly drawn to the Kingdom of Bahrain.  An archipelago of 33 islands in the Persian Gulf, Bahrain is located between the northeastern coast of Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the Middle East.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has been a constitutional monarchy since 2002.  Originally the center of the ancient Dilmun civilization, Bahrain has been ruled by Arabs; became part of the Portuguese Empire; and was a protectorate of Great Britain for almost a century before gaining independence 1971.  The country has been famous since ancient times for its pearl fisheries and seagoing trade routes.  In 1932, Bahrain became the first Persian Gulf country to discover petroleum, transforming the country into one of the wealthiest nations in the world.  Its strategic position in the Persian Gulf accounts for the U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) station there.

The number of foreign visitors visiting Kenya has grown to more than 1.5 million people each year, with citizens of the United States helping propel that surge.  Some 220,000 Americans visit Kenya each year – more than those from any other country.  Residents of the Porland area visit Kenya for African vacations, to pursue business opportunities, to visit family, or to participate in volunteer activities through non-profits and church groups.

From Indian Ocean beach holidays to inland wildlife safaris, the Republic of Kenya saw tourism surge by more than 80 percent in the post-COVID era. “Kenya is a dream travel destination for its abundant wildlife, spectacular beaches, outdoor adventure, culture, and cuisine,” AFAR magazine reported recently. “The country boasts 22 national parks, as well as 28 national reserves, five national sanctuaries, and dozens of community-run conservancies.”

Seattle metropolitan 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.

The rich culture and centuries-old history of Russia have made it a favorite destination for tourists from the Phoenix area for decades.  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. 

The northeastern African nation of Eritrea is not a common destination for casual tourists from the Detroit area -- despite its historic cultural treasures and widely diverse natural attractions.  One of the least developed countries in the world, the State of Eritrea is known as one of the most difficult jurisdictions for obtaining a visa -- and for its many undiscovered treasurers. “For such a small country, Eritrea offers an astonishing variety,” World Travel Guide stated (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/eritrea/). “It tends to attract a motley crew of visitors: from archaeologists to architects; scholars to scuba divers; historians to hikers; and cyclists to steam railway buffs.”

Located in the Horn of Africa, Eritrea is bordered by the Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.  The Red Sea forms the country’s 1,212-kilometer eastern border. “Eritrea is known as a land of contrasts, with a diverse range of cooler highland escarpments, arid lowlands, humid coastal plains and desert islands all converging within the 122,000 square kilometers that is home to an estimated 3.5 million people,” according to Peace Through Commerce: Tourism and Development in Eritrea, a government assessment of sustainable tourism opportunities (https://www.iwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Aman-Haile-Sustainable-Tourism-Report.pdf).

Papua New Guinea, the most populous Pacific Ocean country and largest by land mass, is rebounding as a leisure and business travel destination despite concerns about civil unrest and crime.  The country reported 140 million visitors in 2023, a 116% increase over the prior year but still below pre-pandemic levels. (https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-tourism-records-significant-growth-in-visitor-arrivals-for-2023/)  While the country is likely off the radar for most residents of the Atlanta area, Papua New Guinea may be considered by some adventurous travelers as an add-on to an Australia or Southeast Asia itinerary.   

Located just north of Australia, Papua New Guinea occupies the western half of the island of New Guinea, while the eastern half is part of Indonesia.  The northern part of the country was occupied by Germany during the Nineteenth Century and administered by Australia following World War I.  The southern part became British New Guinea in 1888.  The two areas became the Independent State of Papua New Guinea in 1975 and remains part of the British Commonwealth of Nations.  However, for decades since it became a sovereign nation, it has been plagued by civil unrest, corruption, tribal tensions, and political violence. “Reconsider travel to Papua New Guinea due to crime, civil unrest, and piracy,” the U.S. State Department advises (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/papua-new-guinea-travel-advisory.html). “Exercise increased caution due to kidnapping, unexploded ordnance, inconsistent availability of healthcare services, and potential for natural disasters.” Similarly, the British government “advises against all but essential travel to parts of Papua New Guinea.” (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/papua-new-guinea)

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 a stream of businesspeople, charitable workers, and even some adventurous travelers from the Kansas City area.

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.

Peru’s fast-growing economy and free trade agreements with the United States continue to offer business opportunities for companies in the Birmingham area and across Alabama.  Situated in the western part of South America along the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, Peru is bordered by Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.  The country covers 1.3 million square feet spanning three regions: Coast (Costa), Highlands (Sierras) and Jungle (Amazonia).  The multicultural nation of 31.5 million Spanish and Quechua-speaking inhabitants features the cosmopolitan capital city of Lima alongside vast natural reserves and colorful indigenous traditions.  Lima is roughly an eight-hour flight from Birmingham with one transfer in Atlanta or Miami.

Although the Peruvian economy and internal politics of the country have faced difficulties the past four years due to the pandemic, the country has been among the fastest-growing economies in the Americas the past decade, with an average growth rate of 5.9 percent, according to the World Bank. “Peru has solid macroeconomic fundamentals, including a relatively low public debt to GDP ratio, considerable international reserves, and a solid central bank,” the organization stated.  The World Bank forecasts Peru’s GDP will grow by 3.4 percent in 2022.