'Dangerous' Tourist Destination Has Grown by 50 Percent

There are certain hotspots around the world that are known as pristine travel spots, and it's not a surprise when those places get packed with tourists each year. For example, according to research from Condé Nast Traveler reveals that New York City is the most visited spot in the United States, as of January 2025, followed by Miami and Los Angeles.

"From the invigorating energy of New York City and the dramatic showmanship of Las Vegas to the monumental sites of Washington, D.C. and the storied history of Boston, America’s bustling metropolises offer something for everyone," they note.

Their information comes from International Trade Administration, a U.S. government agency that's a part of the Department of Commerce, which tracks traveling data and the number of overseas visitors to more than 100 U.S. cities.

A Rising Tourist Spot

But, there's one unlikely area of the world that's growing in tourism, despite it being deemed "dangerous." That area is Somalia, which is Somalia attracting visitors because of its increasing stability.

"Somalia, easternmost country of Africa, on the Horn of Africa," notes Britannica. "It extends from just south of the Equator northward to the Gulf of Aden and occupies an important geopolitical position between sub-Saharan Africa and the countries of Arabia and southwestern Asia. The capital, Mogadishu, is located just north of the Equator on the Indian Ocean."

"About 10,000 tourists visited Somalia in 2024, according to the country's Department of Tourism — a 50 percent increase on the previous year," CNN notes in a report, out on Tuesday, Nov. 17. "That's despite most Western governments still advising against all travel."

James Willcox, the founder of the adventure tour company Untamed Borders, told CNN Travel that demand to travel to Somalia is growing fast. Adding to the ease of traveling to Somalia, on Sept. 1, 2025, the country launched a new eVisa system with the aim to simplify entry procedures and increase visitor numbers.

Budding Tourist Destination Still Has a Cautionary Story

But, it's not all fun and games. The U.S. Department of State has Somalia named as a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" area, saying that there's "crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, kidnapping, piracy and lack of availability of routine consular services." The U.K.'s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office also says that there's a "high threat of kidnap" in the area.

Dylan Harris, founder of Lupine Travel, tells CNN Travel that Somaliland is a safter trip than Somalia. "There are less people interested in Somalia," Harris states, "likely because of the fact Somaliland is currently a lot safer to visit and most of the region is possible to travel around."

So, travelers need to think smart if they're going to Somalia for a leisure trip. But, the country appears to be trending in a more popular direction.