Tourists Flock to Route 66, Kashmir and Gambia as Tunisia Warns "War Is Sending Travel Costs Soaring"

Tourists Flock to Route 66, Kashmir and Gambia as Tunisia Warns "War Is Sending Travel Costs Soaring"

Even as regional conflicts send fuel prices and travel costs skyrocketing in parts of North Africa, tourists are pouring into other destinations worldwide, driving a boom in adventure travel, heritage road trips, and cruise tourism.

Tunisia’s tourism industry is feeling the pressure from wars thousands of miles away. On the island of Djerba, industry officials say rising oil prices have made travel more expensive, frightening off visitors and hurting local businesses [148998]. Local guides report that the cost of getting to the Mediterranean destination has soared, squeezing bookings.

But in other regions, the picture is very different. The historic Route 66 in the United States is marking its 100th anniversary and seeing a surge of international visitors. Travelers from Europe, Asia, and Australia are driving classic cars across the highway to see what they call the “true America” — small diners, old gas stations, and quirky motels [140432]. The route, which crosses eight states, has also become a hotspot for stargazers, with drivers stopping in northern Arizona to take in clear views of planets and galaxies [146993].

Across the Himalayas, community-based tourism is helping to stem urban flight. The Village Ways project in India, now 21 years old, connects travelers with remote mountain communities. Visitors walk between hamlets like Kathdhara — home to just 22 families — guided by locals, supporting traditional life directly through low-impact treks [100125].

In India’s Kashmir region, leaders are betting on snow. After decades of military conflict, the government is pouring investment into ski resorts like Gulmarg, building new hotels, and running direct flights to major cities. The goal is to transform the area’s image from a conflict zone to a winter sports destination [46233].

Meanwhile, in Africa, The Gambia is celebrating a major win for its tourism strategy. The cruise ship *Oceania Sirena* docked at its port on Wednesday, part of a plan to diversify away from beach holidays and attract more ships and spending visitors [130879]. Officials say each arrival is a step toward economic growth.

In Kenya, a single visit from American streamer iShowSpeed has triggered record-breaking online viewership. Tourism Minister Rebecca Miano called the trip a “rare chance for Africa to share its own story,” with millions watching his tour of a national park and interactions with local fans [47845].

Even in established destinations, new attractions are drawing crowds. In Venice, a wooden jetty outside the Gritti Palace hotel — used by Kim Kardashian during a billionaire wedding — has become a must-see spot for fans, reshaping tourist interest in the ancient city overnight [51924]. Social media is also driving demand in Rio de Janeiro, where a single rooftop in the Rocinha favela, dubbed the "Gateway to Heaven," now draws visitors from around the world who wait hours for a photo [101397].

Farther south, in South Africa, a simpler spectacle is drawing crowds: wild seals regularly haul themselves out of the harbor at Kalk Bay to beg for scraps from the fish market, turning a working dock into a front-row seat for wildlife interaction [55467].