While many travellers from Western countries prefer familiar spots in Asia or Europe, Australians are choosing unconventional locations. Despite strong warnings from their government, some wealthy and experienced tourists are opting to visit Afghanistan, Iraq and West Africa. David Smyth, a New South Wales-based travel agent and owner of Forward Travel, known for organising trips to offbeat locations, started offering tours to these countries just a year ago. His decision came after seeing numerous ‘dark tourism’ social media posts from travellers exploring these less travelled spots. Intrigued by the online buzz, Smyth attended the ITB travel trade show in Berlin, where he connected with representatives from these regions and even received a rare opportunity to explore Iraq.
As per the New York Post, he said, “Iraq was such an eye-opener for me. I’m hitting 100 countries and I can genuinely say they were the friendliest people, most welcoming. They’re just so happy. Westerners are wanting to visit their country and not invade it or steal their artifacts. I spent 14 days basically going from Basrah all the way up through Iraq and Kurdistan. From a history perspective, it was just like ‘Oh my God, I can’t comprehend the age,’ you know because it’s the ‘Cradle of Civilization.’ It was just amazing.”
David Smyth explains that although only a small number of travellers are picking Afghanistan, Iraq and West Africa, these destinations are surprisingly popular among older Australians in their 60s and 70s, who have enough time, financial capacity and are passionate about history and culture. The travel agent shares that trips to these regions are not cheap and not suitable for first time travellers, but for those who are willing to pay a premium amount. They are not looking for luxury, instead, they are simply interested in experiencing local life and are comfortable staying in normal houses.
He further mentioned that, due to a lack of content for his newsletter last month, he included a partner company’s 55 day expedition through West Africa, covering areas like the Sahara Desert, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Ivory Coast. Smith said, “I couldn’t believe the response I got. I mean I just put it in as a filler thinking ‘this is out there, 55 days, but no one will want it’. I had three calls within 24 hours.”
For travellers heading to unusual destinations, David Smyth urges them to do thorough research about risks involved, consult experts to discuss the trip in detail and register with the local consulate before traveling. Refraining from going into unfamiliar areas and following the guidance of local experts is also crucial. Smyth’s travel agency collaborated with Global Rescue, which offers specialised services. While they don’t cover things like lost luggage, it offers emergency evacuation if someone gets stuck in a crisis and covers medical expenses. This type of insurance is more costly than standard travel insurance, and it is essential for those visiting high risk areas.
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