Travel Boycotts/No Travel To Policies

[Infected Mushroom]

This is a thread to discuss "travel boycotts." Specifically, are there any countries that you refuse to ever visit because you disagree strongly with their politics?

A few weeks ago we had a thread where people were talking about how they refused to buy Chinese goods/goods made by Chinese workers because they disapprove of the PRC.

The following real life incident inspired this thread:

I was having a conversation with this colleague of mine (originally from a small Caribbean nation) who said he travelled the world extensively. Before arriving in Hong Kong, he's lived in a lots of different places including France.

Then he brings up that he refuses to travel to the United States EVER.

I was confused. He explained:

"I don't approve of American foreign policy. For this reason, the USA is a country I never visit. Other countries on this list include Russia, mainland China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and parts of Africa. There could be other countries. I also don't like the UAE but I have to stop in Dubai to change flights often."

I was shocked.

Please discuss whether or not you personally maintain a list of countries you absolutely refuse to visit because you disagree very very strongly with the country's domestic or foreign policies.

Do you refuse to visit any countries for other reasons (such as perceived safety)?

Personally, I don't maintain such a list based on politics. Travelling to countries is an apolitical act for me (just like consumerism). I view the USA as an imperial power but I would never maintain a No Travel To America policy.

When travelling to countries, I'm only concerned about safety.

For reasons of safety concerns (real or imagined), I've tentatively written off all countries in Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America.

[Risottia]

This is a thread to discuss "travel boycotts." Specifically, are there any countries that you refuse to ever visit because you disagree strongly with their politics?

Uh.
Of those that I could visit with relative ease, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Belarus, Saudi Arabia because of their politics.

Also Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya... but that's just because I'd prefer to stay alive without having to bribe everyone and their uncle for my life.

[WayNeacTia]

Everyone has the right to be wrong I suppose. If there is a travel advisory, I don't travel to or through a country. Otherwise, who gives a shit about their politics really? Just don't be a dick in their country and you probably won't have problems in most countries.

[Rojava Free State]

The only countries I'll never ever travel to are the congo, Saudi arabia, Iran and North korea. There's plenty of other countries I don't approve of but I'll still travel there as long as it isn't more authoritarian than Nazi Germany or more anarchic than Detroit

[Bluelight-R006]

Only countries I’ll never go to is Syria, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and North Korea, and most African countries. Too politically unrest.

[The New California Republic]

Currently? Not really on the basis of politics, more on grounds of safety. Historically, in my lifetime? Yes. I didn't visit apartheid South Africa because of the aforementioned apartheid shit that was happening there.

I visited Chernobyl last month, with a tour around the NPP, so maybe safety is relative.

However I'm planning a trip to North Korea at some point in the near future, so I guess if a place is interesting enough then it may override some of the ethical considerations somewhat.

[Geneviev]

The only country I choose not to visit is North Korea because it's probably not safe. Other than that, I also refused to visit Bayern before part of my family moved there.

[Aclion]

Seems like a policy for hypocrites. I don't think there exists a country with which I don't have serious objections to domestic/foreign policy, and i'm sure that goes for any person.

[The New California Republic]

The only country I choose not to visit is North Korea because it's probably not safe.

The safety aspect of North Korea seems to be overstated. As long as you obey the rules, say and do all the right things and follow the instructions of the minders, and don't be a horse's ass by doing something monumentally stupid, then the overwhelming majority of people visiting don't encounter problems.

[The Chuck]

North Korea - Simply due to being South Korean. Wouldn't be to hard for "Dear Leader" to go "yoink!" Especially since I'm a US citizen too... Would pretty much let him kill 2 birds with one stone.

[The Free Joy State]

I wouldn't travel to a country if, due to war or other turmoil, advice from the Foreign Office stated that the current risk was unacceptably high.

For countries without Foreign Office advice against visiting, I wouldn't go to Saudi Arabia.

[Geneviev]

The only country I choose not to visit is North Korea because it's probably not safe.

The safety aspect of North Korea seems to be overstated. As long as you obey the rules, say and do all the right things and follow the instructions of the minders, and don't be a horse's ass by doing something monumentally stupid, then the overwhelming majority of people visiting don't encounter problems.

That's the problem. I'm one of those people who would do something monumentally stupid, so it would be a better idea not to go there.

[Bluelight-R006]

The safety aspect of North Korea seems to be overstated. As long as you obey the rules, say and do all the right things and follow the instructions of the minders, and don't be a horse's ass by doing something monumentally stupid, then the overwhelming majority of people visiting don't encounter problems.

That's the problem. I'm one of those people who would do something monumentally stupid, so it would be a better idea not to go there.

Better be safe than sorry I’d say. I also tend to forget the rules. :/

[Geneviev]

That's the problem. I'm one of those people who would do something monumentally stupid, so it would be a better idea not to go there.

Better be safe than sorry I’d say. I also tend to forget the rules. :/

We should probably both not travel to North Korea, then.

[Agarntrop]

I probably wouldn't rule out visiting any country on ethical reasons alone, but many I would boycott for my own safety. These are:

• Afghanistan
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• eSwatini
• Ethiopia
• Gambia
• Gaza Strip
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Iran
• Iraq
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Liberia
• Libya
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Mozambique
• Myanmar
• Nicaragua
• Niger
• Most of Nigeria
• North Korea
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Syria
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania
• Timor-Leste
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Uganda
• Uzbekistan
• Venezuela
• Yemen
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

May I add this is in their current state, 20 years on this list could be completely different.

[Bluelight-R006]

Better be safe than sorry I’d say. I also tend to forget the rules. :/

We should probably both not travel to North Korea, then.

Knowing I’m a reckless and irresponsible boy, I’d probably dare both of us to go one day.

[Geneviev]

We should probably both not travel to North Korea, then.

Knowing I’m a reckless and irresponsible boy, I’d probably dare both of us to go one day.

Knowing myself, that would probably make me go.

[The Free Joy State]

The only country I choose not to visit is North Korea because it's probably not safe.

The safety aspect of North Korea seems to be overstated. As long as you obey the rules, say and do all the right things and follow the instructions of the minders, and don't be a horse's ass by doing something monumentally stupid, then the overwhelming majority of people visiting don't encounter problems.

This is why I'd have fewer problems with travelling to countries that I'm interested in visiting but object to living in (and, sometimes, buying from).

Take the PRC... I would love to do one of those tourist trails one day, taking in the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, Xi'an, Chengdu and so on. Now, from a tourist perspective, if you go there -- don't stir up trouble, follow along your tour group and follow instructions, then you're highly unlikely to get in trouble.

The fact I'd love to see these places I've read about in books and seen in documentaries does not mean that I view the government's actions more positively, or make it a better place to live for the people (the Uighur Muslims spring to mind). It just means that it's easy to toe the line for a few weeks, if it means seeing somewhere you really want to see.

[Rezmaeristan]

The UK. Not sure I want to go a country where you need a loicense for a knife, and where you'll get arrested for defending against armed burglars.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... stice.html

(I know some of you might not trust the Daily Mail, just analyze it at face value)

[Bluelight-R006]

Knowing I’m a reckless and irresponsible boy, I’d probably dare both of us to go one day.

Knowing myself, that would probably make me go.

If we stay there for 2 days, 1 night, we’re likely to survive anyway. We could be overthinking this. Just abide by the laws and not do any extra action, like dancing or taking photos and videos.

We should not go to any country that is facing government corruption, or under active war.

[The Free Joy State]

Knowing myself, that would probably make me go.

If we stay there for 2 days, 1 night, we’re likely to survive anyway. We could be overthinking this. Just abide by the laws and not do any extra action, like dancing or taking photos and videos.

We should not go to any country that is facing government corruption, or under active war.

So, you're not planning to travel anywhere, then?

[The New California Republic]

The fact I'd love to see these places I've read about in books and seen in documentaries does not mean that I view the government more positively, or make it a better place to live for the people. It just means that it's easy to toe the line for a few weeks, if it means seeing somewhere you really want to see.

And that's exactly how I'd view it in the case of NK.

The UK. Not sure I want to go a country where you need a loicense for a knife

You are talking nonsense.

[Ethel mermania]

I go where the boss sends me.

[Bluelight-R006]

If we stay there for 2 days, 1 night, we’re likely to survive anyway. We could be overthinking this. Just abide by the laws and not do any extra action, like dancing or taking photos and videos.

We should not go to any country that is facing government corruption, or under active war.

So, you're not planning to travel anywhere, then?

Nah... not lik—

Oh wait.

Not severe corruption, like about to be overthrown by some unstable rebel group, too. They’re also quite unstable, so there’s no win-win option.

[Agarntrop]

The UK. Not sure I want to go a country where you need a loicense for a knife, and where you'll get arrested for defending against armed burglars.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... stice.html

You remind me of the average YouTube commenter.