The tourism industry is one of the leading contributors to the global economy. Travel buffs across the globe visit several tourist destinations with the urge to explore the heritage and culture of the place. But the growing conflicts across the world have affected several famous tourist destinations. While some of the places lost many of its heritage infrastructures, there are also places that have become completely isolated.
Here's take a look at some of the beautiful tourist destinations suffering war-conflict:
Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan
PoK is one of the major conflict zones of the world. While the mountain state has been a major point of controversy citing to its territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, the scenic beauty of the place is going in vain. With the snow-clad mountains and fascinating landscapes, PoK has the potential to attract a large number of tourists. However, the place is hardly visited by people and thus the locals of the area are also reportedly suffering apathetic condition owing to its poor infrastructure.
The Ancient City of Aleppo, Syria
Aleppo was one of the largest cities in Syria before the Civil War broke out in the country. The 'Ancient City of Aleppo' was known for its heritage infrastructure and was declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1986. The old city with large mansions, narrow alleys, covered marketplace and ancient caravanserais, was set up within a walled enclosure with some cell-like quarters outside it. However, many heritage sites including medieval buildings and the famous marketplace 'Al-Madina Souq' were destroyed and burnt during the clashes between the Syrian Arab Army and the rebel forces of Jabhat al-Nusra in 2012. Also in 2014, the opposition groups of the Islamic Front claimed responsibility for destroying a series of major historic buildings in the state, citing that they were being used as fortified bases by the Syrian Army. Reportedly, about 30% of the Ancient City of Aleppo has been ruined during the clashes.
Taiz, Yemen
Taiz, the third largest city in Yemen, is also considered as the cultural capital of the country. The city, located in the Yemeni Highlands, lies at an elevation of about 1,400 meters above the sea. The place is famous for its historical castle, Al-Qahira Castle or Cairo Castle. However, tourist intervention stopped in the area following the Yemeni uprising. The historical site was used as barracks by the UAE-backed Abu al-Abbas Brigades for a period of four years. However, in Aug 2018, the Yemeni government reopened the castle after regaining control over it.
Virunga National Park, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
This Park, situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is counted as one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. Marked as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO since 1979, it is Africa’s oldest national park and is a home for a several species animals including mountain gorillas, forest elephants, chimpanzees, okapi, giraffes, African wild buffalos, and many endemic birds. However, the biodiversity of the region was highly affected by the increase in poaching and the ongoing Congo Civil War. It suffered a huge decrease in footfall owing the cases of kidnappings and execution of the tourists and forest officials in the region. In fact, the park has been closed to visitors since June 2018 following the incident of the abduction of two British visitors. As per reports, the park is scheduled to reopen in 2019.
Cancún, Mexico
Situated beside the Caribbean Sea, Cancún is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Mexico. The city is known for its beaches and nightlife and thus has attracted several tourists. However, the footfall decreased in the city over the past few years owing to the country's ongoing drug war between the Mexican government and the powerful drug peddlers. Several incidents of violence including murders were recorded in the state.
