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Top tourist sights Americans can't visit
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As you might realize, there are certain countries that are considered "no-go's" for American travelers, be it for political or economic or other reasons. Publication Foreign Policy took a closer look at this question of prohibited places, recently creating a list of the "Top Tourist Spots Americans Can't Visit," a rundown of the top tourist attractions in otherwise "taboo" locations like Iran, Somalia, Burma and Cuba. Who knew Mogadishu had coral reefs teeming with fish just off the shore? Too bad you're likely to be kidnapped by warlords if you try to visit.While this sort of list is a deterrent for many, others eat common sense for breakfast, bringing back some fascinating stories in the process. It's not that they can't see the danger - these countries can be violent, unstable, and often downright nasty places. But that doesn't mean they have nothing to offer. Many have distinguished histories as centers of culture, great monuments and great natural wonders. As Foreign Policy points out for instance, the vast ruins of Persepolis in Southern Iran offer a breathtaking view of the tombs and palaces of Persian rulers Xerxes I and Darius the Great. In Cuba, the settlement of Baracoa was the colonial home of Spanish Conquistadors, and also one of the first places Columbus set foot in the New World.
Check out the list. Nobody is suggesting you should/can make a visit, but these places can offer us further insight into the many subtleties that truly define a location's identity.
The world's dirtiest cities
Filed under: History, Learning, Somalia, Burma (Myanmar), Iran, North Korea, Cuba
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Melisa Jun 15th 2008 12:45PM
Hmmmm,
Isn't it strange if we in America put any place off limits to a foreinger we would be accused of discriminaton and the ACLU would be on that like white in rice. It's very sad.
L.J. Batchelor Jun 15th 2008 2:07PM
Having visiting Myanmar (Burma) in the past year under the auspices of a private trip planned with Abercrombie and Kent, we found a beautiful country with warm and welcoming people. Our guide was very frank about the problems having been imprisoned himself in the 1988 uprising. The people are very poor,work hard (mostly in agriculture) and are hopeful despite the horrible human rights violations they endure. We kept our dollars out of the institutions,airlines,and other entitiies controlled by the government and tried our best to put them directly into the hands of the people.
At no time did we feel threatened or unsafe. The military was present and watchful. But the other Americans,Germans and Brits we encountered had had no problems.
While I wouldn't go back at the present time, it is definitely a country I would revisit. For some odd reason,the people there are quite up to date on American politics. We heard time and time again from them,how much they wished the US would come and free them from their rulers....
The advantage to visiting some of these countries is to see that we can't "lump" the people together with their governments. Often, the beliefs of the two are not the same though we tend to see them as such. Traveling outside of the US and to a place outside of ones "comfort zone" is a good way to begin to understand the world--perhaps not see things so much in black and white....
Darin Jun 15th 2008 1:05PM
There are many more on the black list but that doesn't mean you (Americans) can't go... Cuba you fly to Mexico and then fly into Cuba and a $20 will get you through customs without the Cuban stamp... Did you know there are Island in Hawaii that no Americans are allowed....? It's true and it's illegal to do that but they have...
gus gus Jun 15th 2008 1:25PM
I think the important thing is that no matter where you go, you will find good and bad people in all situations and places. No one country is the best or worst.
Jeff Jun 15th 2008 1:34PM
Gianni and travelbot obviously have no sense of morality at all. These brain dead idiots obviously don't care about all the terror and slaughter waged by the government of Cuba, or all the terrified, oppressed people who flee Cuba every day trying to find a better life. As long as these bigots don't have to see American tourists, they're fine with funding an oppressive Communist regime.
Stupid, pathetic morons.
TravelBot Jun 18th 2008 2:42PM
Jeff, Jeff, Jeff...
Give your head a shake. Look at all the other countries the U.S. deals with. Look at how many are communist. Don't you think that if a country is going to take the "high road" and not do business with the red menace... that would include all communist nations.
And what has the embargo done to help the people of Cuba. Squat. All it did was empower Castro.
Your view is far too simplistic. But stay in America and keep buying those lead paint covered toys. That'll teach those evil Cubans.
Gina Jun 15th 2008 2:05PM
Us Americans are very educated & intelligent people. We don't lock ourselves in boxes like your Cuban president has done to many of you. You have many teenagers there whom are druggies and drunks just as any other country. We have many beautiful people here in america and if all of you illegals don't stop coming to our country we will have ugly people like your country.
TravelBot Jun 18th 2008 2:46PM
Blame the illegals! Immigrants are the new red menace! Gotta blame someone, anyone, instead of taking any kind of responsibility.
Thanks, Lou Dobbs.
Dusty754 Jun 15th 2008 2:40PM
I think I will just stick to touring in the USA. Loads of things to see and do. Don't have to worry about offending their "culture" either.
Canadian girl Jun 16th 2008 5:17PM
There are always going to be reasons to go or not to go to a country. If you want to get into issues of human rights, safety and "ethics", it's a slippery slope and you'd soon find yourself short of places to travel (even in your own country). When it comes to human rights and other atrocities Canada and the US are far from innocent.
There's a lot of nastiness and name calling in these comments, but no one seems to be addressing the issue of choice. Who should choose where you get to travel? The ban on travel to Cuba is not based on safety concerns -- it's just politics. Tourism is a major source of income for many countries, therefore it is another sanction that can be placed. In some ways, travellers are treated like commodities that can be traded for gain instead of people who wish to learn and understand a new culture.
By virtue of my citizenship, I can choose to travel to Cuba or not depending on my own preferences and political beliefs. U.S. Citizens, does it bother you that your choice has been taken away?
TravelBot Jun 18th 2008 3:05PM
Exactly!
Wait! You're a foreigner! You must be wrong, then.
:)
TB
james Jun 18th 2008 1:58PM
ctmason, are you speaking of Cuba, or the Bush administration?
TravelBot Jun 18th 2008 2:20PM
I think ctmason is talking about China. Which, thanks to people who shop at AMERICAN companies like Walmart, "support a regime that stifles any and all political dissent...tortures those who disobey...murders "enemies" of the regime..well the list is endless...."
I never said anything about dumb Americans, but ctmason certainly seems like a good example.
Cheers!
TB
ctmason Jul 6th 2008 11:50AM
Do you refute that the cuban regime has done what i have mentioned travelbot?
The documented evidence of torture by the castro regime is irrefutable..you probably know this but since you hate america so much its better to live in denial right?
As for china there human rights record is apalling too, but this is about cuba..not them.