Article: The Joy of Visiting Emerging Tourist Destinations

[Kelstarama]

I'll be visiting South Africa and then Israel/Jordan/Egypt in the northern summer, this is by far the most adventurous trip I'll be doing. Let's hope I don't get mugged/stabbed/murdered. Considering doing a few days in Namibia

Just listen to local advice and be sensible in South Africa and you will be fine. Namibia is really worth a visit if you have the time.

 

[stm1sydney]

Uzbekistan was our best and most enjoyable trip so far, and we have been to many places.

 

[cgichard]

I mentioned my 3 visits to Georgia in an earlier post, but forgot about my two earlier visits to Iran in 2007 and 2008, the first of which was preceded by Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan by choice (and I have good strong memories of it), and Turkmenistan because it was the only route for road traffic from Uzbekistan to Iran. We (a tour group again) were required to stay a minimum number of days (5, maybe?) in Turkemistan. Our guide there was a Russian woman who had been dismissed from her quite senior post at the main museum because she was not a native citizen; so it was galling for her to have to take us round that museum, but there were few tourist attractions.

My main memory of that trip is being stuck in no-man's-land between Turkmenistan and Iran. It was quite a distance between the two customs check points - rough ground over which we had to trundle our cases - and by the time we reached the Iranian frontier the customs officials had just gone off for an extended lunch. So we were stuck in the hot sun, no shade or refreshments, and no toilets, though we improvised behind spindly bushes with one person standing guard.

The first place we visited in Iran was "the holy city" of Mashad, which was an extreme experience of a different kind. I recall sweltering in an ancient raincoat that was the only long and non-fitted garment I had, until we were taken to a shop to buy more usual Islamic garb.

 

[Forg]

I still have “The Five Stans” on my list to do, possibly in 2025 now.

My (female) better-half visited Kazakhstan for work a few years back, not really knowing what to expect but thinking it’d be something halfway between Russia and Turkey. Not so … as a female travelling solo, Turkey (well at least Istanbul) is no better than the rest of the middle-east for how cough every male person treats you in general & you’re always actively made aware you’re a 4th-class citizen … Russia at least isn’t sexist, except for Secret Police everyone is treated like cough by everyone else. ”Is potato”.

But apparently, despite the ‘stan, Kazakhstan wasn’t like that. Everyone was warm, friendly & welcoming; not jockeying behind you once you turn your back to be the first to stab you in it. Of course it’s always possible the people she was working with were careful to hide that stuff from her, but there’re always times when you’re by yourself in a hotel or just going for a quick walk that you’re exposed to the local culture un-guarded.

 

[RooFlyer]

But apparently, despite the ‘stan, Kazakhstan wasn’t like that. Everyone was warm, friendly & welcoming; not jockeying behind you once you turn your back to be the first to stab you in it.

I won’t wouldn’t think ‘despite the Stan’ necessary comes into it. Afghanistan sure, but all the ‘5 Stans’ were ok when I visited with a group - as is no harassment or being uncomfortable discussed by the ladies. I never felt unsafe walking around, City or country, day or night.

Ditto Iran, as it happens. In Tehran, a 70+ Irish lady left the group as we were walking back from dinner 5 blocks to our hotel downtown, after dark. She wanted to check out the former American embassy . No worries! And there are no ‘green men’ at the traffic lights for crossing streets there, either!

 

[Port Power]

My (female) better-half visited Kazakhstan for work a few years back, not really knowing what to expect but thinking it’d be something halfway between Russia and Turkey. Not so … as a female travelling solo, Turkey (well at least Istanbul) is no better than the rest of the middle-east for how cough every male person treats you in general & you’re always actively made aware you’re a 4th-class citizen … Russia at least isn’t sexist, except for Secret Police everyone is treated like cough by everyone else. ”Is potato”.

But apparently, despite the ‘stan, Kazakhstan wasn’t like that. Everyone was warm, friendly & welcoming; not jockeying behind you once you turn your back to be the first to stab you in it. Of course it’s always possible the people she was working with were careful to hide that stuff from her, but there’re always times when you’re by yourself in a hotel or just going for a quick walk that you’re exposed to the local culture un-guarded.

It is my understand that the “other” Stans are lovely places to visit and foreigners are, indeed, welcomed. The tour directors in Perth who put these tours together are very particular and have sourced excellent local tour guides. Every review I have read is glowing with praise of the local people. Although a small group tour, the ladies never felt ignored or uncomfortable.

 

[henleybeach]

I won’t wouldn’t think ‘despite the Stan’ necessary comes into it. Afghanistan sure, but all the ‘5 Stans’ were ok when I visited with a group - as is no harassment or being uncomfortable discussed by the ladies. I never felt unsafe walking around, City or country, day or night.

Ditto Iran, as it happens. In Tehran, a 70+ Irish lady left the group as we were walking back from dinner 5 blocks to our hotel downtown, after dark. She wanted to check out the former American embassy . No worries! And there are no ‘green men’ at the traffic lights for crossing streets there, either!

Agree!
We were in Kazakhstan, and one afternoon Mrs HB wanted to have a look at some shops and I wanted to go for walk elsewhere. We both had no issues separating and meeting back at the hotel 5 hours later. We felt completely safe, in fact I would feel less comfortable doing this in a lot of parts of Europe

 

[Happy Dude]

I've had some fortuitous timing in my travels.

Cambodia in 1998. It was just re-emerging after the 1997 elections that pulled the rug out from under the tourism growth that had been building up since the early 1990's. Border crossings were very new and information was unreliable, so Royal Air Cambodge at USD$150 each way from Don Muang it was. There were only 2 or 3 guesthouses to pick from in Siem Reap but I don't recall seeing any other accommodation. Most people took the fast boat from Phonm Penh up the Tonle Sap. Looking at my photos and those of friends that have travelled there more recently, the amount of people crawling over Angkor temples compared to virtually none in mine is a dead giveaway. The only other place to visit outside of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap that was considered safe was Sihanoukville, and even then it had to be by bus because the train was a no-go. Again, the differences between my photos and more recent ones could not be more stark. There were reports (read gossip amongst backpackers) that Battambung was accessible but I didn't meet anyone that had been there. Needless to say, I have very fond memories of travelling there and consider myself very lucky to have seen the emergence up close.

Iraqi-Kurdistan and Libya in late 2010. Got in just before the Arab Spring and Gadaffi's capture and execution. I had just read Tony Wheeler's "Badlands" and, after arriving in AMM enroute to Petra, decided (on a bit of a whim) to forgo Jordan and found flights to Erbil. The Kurds were flooding back from Germany, UK etc to set up new lives and pretty much the only tourists were soldiers on rec leave from Iraq. The only downside to this decision was that the other place I was considering was Syria and I am genuinely sad that I didn't visit there before ISIS changed it forever.

Libya was a fully guided tour, planned with a lot of input from some forum members, and was specifically timed to avoid the onset of American's who'd just been given permission to enter. The events of 2011 and beyond confirmed my knack of getting the timing just right.

I can't see Bangladesh ever being a mainstream tourist destination, no matter how hard they try. There's too many "better" places in the region. There's not a single reason to visit there over India and Sri Lanka (and even there is pretty ordinary relative to India IMO). I went there only because I wanted to walk across an international border. Still, floating around the Sundurbans and Ganges is interesting enough.

Two places that would be great for mainstream tourism are Pakistan and Papua New Guinea, but whether mainstream tourism would be good for them is an interesting question. I went to Pakistan in 2001, just months before 9/11 (!!), solely after reading an article in The Sunday Times travel section in 1999. Planty to offer there, and in PNG also, but both just need their governments to get it's cough together.

Not sure if I'd consider Cuba as an emerging destination. It's definitely a step back in time and the lack of technology and American products gave a sense of pioneering, but the hordes of Europeans and Canadians on package deals suggested to me otherwise. And that was before Castro's death.

 

[dajop]

IOn my todo list Oman, Ecuador, Colombia, Laos, Albania, Gabon.

Been to Albania twice (2016 then went back two years later with our mothers). An emerging destination which in theory should be verging on mainstream (easy to reach via Corfu + ferry, via Montenegro or via Tirana itself). For some reason the contagion that spread down the Adriatic from Croatia to Montenegro hasn't quite spread as far as Albania.

Plenty of Kosovars, and the odd Russian and Bosnian at the beach resorts near Sarande and Ksamil, but outside these, very peaceful. My favourite beach was Gjipe, which is at the end of a canyon. Anywhere else in Europe it would be over-run. And I'm talking mid July and mid August here - not exactly a quiet period along coastal parts of southern Europe.

Went to a castle, it overlooks water on three sides and mountains behind, and the dog woke up old mate to take our 1 euro admission fee, and had to use the torch on our phones to see some parts, and then went to roof for amazing sea views. Another ruins of a castle (google Himare castle), high over the sea, with stunning mountain backdrop and wandering around during twilight, had the place to ourselves except for a few locals and the donkeys grazing amongst the ruins. Beaches, roman ruins, quaint towns in the hills (we stayed in a place called Gjirokaster, which was extremely touristy, i terms of shops etc, without the hoardes of tourists you would see further up the coast).

Thoroughly recommended. Just don't expect high end luxury resorts (yet anyway) you would see in the Greek Isles, and in Croatia.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I'll be visiting South Africa and then Israel/Jordan/Egypt in the northern summer, this is by far the most adventurous trip I'll be doing. Let's hope I don't get mugged/stabbed/murdered. Considering doing a few days in Namibia

Namibia (& S Afrika) are fine provided you exercise reasonable care. Never felt unsafe.

See my trip report: Kruger and Southern Africa

 

[prozac]

A few yrs ago a female friend traveled by 4WD truck in an organised group from China through the stans, camping out every night. She says the only time she thought she was going to have a fight on her hands was when she ventured away from the group in Iran.