PASSPORTS AND VISAS 101

Peru’s fast-growing economy and free trade agreements with the United States continue to offer business opportunities for companies in the Raleigh-Durham area and across the Southeast.  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 Raleigh with one transfer in Atlanta or Miami.

Although the Peruvian economy and internal politics of the country have faced difficulties the past three 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.

The Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar is once again open for Oklahoma City area residents after reopening its borders following the pandemic.  Myanmar was largely closed to the outside world until the government began encouraging tourism in 1992.  The nation quickly became an appealing destination for tourists seeking cultural experiences, spiritual awakenings, unspoiled beaches, and spectacular natural beauty.  While the tourism infrastructure is more established in neighboring countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, Myanmar today reflects the natural environments of those countries before decades of Western-style development made their mark.   

Formerly known as Burma, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar gains its independence from British rule in 1948.  After periods of democracy and military rule, a new civilian government took charge in 2011 that began actively encouraging visitors and building tourist infrastructure.  Millions of tourists followed as the decade progressed.  However, the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and another military coup d’état in early 2021 devastated tourism.  While political repression and instability continue, travelers have begun returning to Myanmar since the country reopened in mid-2022.

Pakistan, once a popular hippie backpacking destination, is still mostly off the radar for most mainstream tourists.  However, this country should not be overlooked by residents of Detroit that enjoy international travel because it offers a variety of attractions, including historic and cultural heritage sites, diverse geographic features, and a growing adventure travel sector for mountain climbers, hikers, and water sports enthusiasts.  Forbes magazine ranked Pakistan as one of its 10 “coolest places on earth” in 2019 and among the top underrated travel destinations in 2020. “Pakistan is blessed with abundant natural and historical riches,” Lonely Planet noted. “Incredible mountain landscapes are set against a backdrop of desert forts and stories of sultans and djinns.  In its cities, ancient bazaars are home to intricately etched copper kitchenware alongside pungent spice racks and steaming tea stalls.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/pakistan) The British Backpacker Society has also named Pakistan is the world’s top adventure travel destination, citing its friendly residents and spectacular mountain scenery.

Officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the country boasts several of the most ancient cultures in South Asia.  After 1,000 years of Islamic rule, the region was conquered by Great Britain during the mid- to late 1800s and became part of the British Indian Empire.  During the early Twentieth Century, the Pakistani movement that sought to establish a homeland for India’s Muslim citizens gathered steam.  In 1947, Pakistan gained independence when Britain partitioned present-day Pakistan from India.  The Islamic Republic of Pakistan followed in 1956.

Sri Lanka remains a popular destination for residents of Austin seeking cultural experiences and spectacular natural beauty.  The pear-shaped island nation in the Indian Ocean offers amazing beaches, ancient cities, safari wildlife tours, and modern amenities in a unique South Asian environment.   

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was previously known as Ceylon before 1948, when it was under British rule.  The country’s population of some 22 million includes members of several Asian ethnic groups, primarily the Sinhalese (75%), Tamils, Moors, and Malays.  The two official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.  However, English remains the “link language” that is used for education and commercial purposes.  Buddhism is the official religion of Sri Lanka and has the largest number of practitioners, while Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity are also represented.  Buddhism and Hinduism are also the main influences on Sri Lankan culture, although echoes of the British, Portuguese and Dutch colonial eras still linger.  Despite the lengthy flight time from North America to South Asia, citizens of the United States and Canada rank among the top 10 nationalities visiting Sri Lanka.

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 Dallas-Fort Woth Metropolitan area. 

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.

Algeria remains a mysterious and unexplored country for most Miami tourists, as well as for business leaders across the state of Florida 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).

Cincinnati, the third-most populous city in Ohio, is located in Hamilton County at the junction of the Ohio and Licking rivers.  While some 311,000 people live in Cincinnati, more than 2.2 million people live in the Cincinnati metropolitan area.  Also known as Greater Cincinnati or the Cincinnati Tri-State area, the metro region covers portions of southwest Ohio, northern Kentucky, and southeastern Indiana.  Cincinnati’s core industries include advanced manufacturing, technology, life sciences, business and professional services.  The city is also the top startup hub in Ohio.  Northern Kentucky’s “Automotive Manufacturing Power Alley” is home to more than 40 vehicle parts suppliers that employ 20,000.  Twenty-four Fortune 500 organizations are headquartered in Ohio, five of which are located in Cincinnati: Kroger, Procter & Gamble, Western & Southern Financial Group, Fifth Third Bancorp, and business products provider Cintas. (The total will grow to six when General Electric completes its restructuring and spins off Cincinnati-based GE Aerospace.) Other major regional employers include Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, TriHealth, and the University of Cincinnati.

China continues to be a significant trading partner for Cincinnati companies, with China providing the top source of imports to the city.  Leading imports include medicine, aircraft engine parts, and electronic components.  China is also Ohio’s second largest source of imports and its third largest export market.  Cincinnati’s top two employers also have operations in China.  Kroger is launching a strategic alliance with retailer Alibaba while Procter & Gamble established P&G China almost 40 years ago.

The north-central African nation of Chad is not a common destination for casual tourists from the Charlotte area -- even with considerable natural attractions and cultural treasures. “Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, Chad is home to a variety of ecosystems, ranging from deserts to savannas to wetlands, making it a treasure trove for nature lovers ,” according to the travel site Mister Story (https://www.misterstory.com/p/discovering-the-natural-wonders-of-chad-a-journey-through-its-diverse-ecosystems/). “Chad is a country with a rich and diverse natural landscape that is waiting to be discovered.”

The Republic of Chad is the fifth-largest country by size in Africa yet ranks 18^th in population at 18.3 million.  The landlocked nation is bordered by Cameroon, the Central African Republic,  Libya, Nigeria, Niger, and Sudan.  The country is home to some 200 ethnic and linguistic groups.  Its official languages are Arabic and French, while the main religions are Islam (55%) and Christianity (41%).  Conquered by France in 1920 and merged into the colony of French Equatorial Africa colony, Chad gained its independence in 1960.

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 Minneapolis-Saint Paul 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.

Nashville, the fastest-growing city in Tennessee and fourth-fastest nationwide, is a growing metropolis on the banks of the Cumberland River.  Nashville has a population of almost 700,000 people, while the 14-county Nashville metropolitan area is home to more than two million residents. “Music City USA” is known globally as an entertainment and tourism destination, with recording studios, publishers, the Grand Ole Opry, and the honky tonks of Broadway.  While the music industry has a $10 billion annual economic impact on the area, Middle Tennessee’s economy is also driven by such diverse industries as health care, advanced manufacturing, real estate, finance, and logistics.  Ten Fortune 500 organizations are headquartered in Tennessee, including five based in Nashville: retailers Dollar General and Tractor Supply; medical providers HCA Healthcare and Community Health Systems; and petroleum refiner Delek US Holdings. 

The state’s rapidly-growing automotive industry has also drawn significant foreign investment and multinational corporate offices.  Nissan North America and General Motors rank among metro Nashville’s largest employers, while GM and Ford are building new operations to produce electric vehicles.  Dozens of other automotive suppliers are located in Tennessee, including Bridgestone Americas and Hankook Tires.  In recent years, Chinese companies ranked among the top 10 foreign investors in Tennessee, totaling $600 million.  According to state officials, some 40 China-based companies have operations in Tennessee and employ 5,300.