Tourist attractions no one visits anymore

Syria: What happened to the Aleppo Citadel?

Aleppo (pictured, its famous citadel), Damascus, and Palmyra were gems of historical tourism. Their ruins are not only Roman: they are also those of a nation devoured by wars, sanctions, and rubble. But there is hope: it seems that, after the fall of the Assad dynasty and years of conflict, Syria may recover and once again be a beautiful tourist destination.

Ukraine: Closed due to war

Kiev (pictured) and Odesa offered cathedrals, coastlines, and culture. Today, they only offer air-raid shelters. The war turned city tours into evacuation routes. Very sad.

Yemen: From incense to hell

Before, it was a destination for the intrepid. Shibam (pictured), with its mud-brick skyscrapers, was a World Heritage Site. Today, only military drones and forced diplomatic visits remain.

Afghanistan: The invisible legacy of Buddha

The two gigantic Buddha statues, in the Bamiyan valley dating back to the 6th-7th centuries and recognized as a cultural heritage by UNESCO, were tourist icons. Then came the Taliban and dynamite. Today, the visitors are NGO archaeologists and journalists with helmets. And even they don't want to go.

Libya: Sun, sea, and Gaddafi

Tripoli (pictured) and Leptis Magna promised Roman history and views of the Mediterranean. Local militias prefer Kalashnikovs over tourism, and travel agencies no longer even mention the country. It wasn't a major tourist destination before, but it could be visited without great risk to life. Now the situation is absolutely uncontrollable.

Venezuela: Did it really decline so much?

In the picture, Angel Falls, a wonder of Venezuela, was for a long time a beach and nature tourism destination. Did it really decline so much because of the economic crisis, insecurity, and other turbulences? Some say yes, but it still enjoys abundant tourism in some of its areas.

Myanmar: Silence in the temples

Bagan (pictured) was a spectacle of thousands of temples at dawn. Since the military coup in 2021, only dust visits this place and the photos now come with travel warnings. Authorities from numerous countries advise against setting foot in what was formerly Burma.

Haiti or the impossible country

Haiti could have had it all: culture, beaches, history. But chronic poverty, earthquakes, and gangs have ruined the charm. Another sad destination.

Sudan in conflict

The Nubian pyramids were a peaceful alternative to Egypt, but the civil war preferred another kind of visitor: the displaced.

Iran: From Persepolis to pariah nation

Iran has charms to uncover for visitors, but harsh political and social repression does not make this country a particularly friendly destination for tourists.

Nicaragua: From surfing to silence

San Juan del Sur was a paradise for affordable surfing, but after years of political repression, it raises doubts among travelers. And security does not help either.