Asmara, Eritrea Declared World Heritage Site

In a spot of positive news for Eritrea, UNESCO has designated the capital, Asmara, in its entirety as a world heritage site. Few visitors make it to Eritrea, a country more associated with repression than tourism. Because of stagnant economic development, Asmara still retains much of its 1930s futurist Italian-built architecture that has earned it the moniker of “Little Rome.” But will its new status make it any easier to go there? Sadly, there are almost no direct flights from the region (Sudan Airlines operates, but has no flights to Nairobi), with the easiest way of reaching this closed country from East Africa to fly via the Middle East.