‘Gateway to Hell’ a magnet

TOURISM: BURNING GAS CRATER BECOMES UNLIKELY SYMBOL OF TURKMENISTAN'S OPENING

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From a gas crater dubbed the “Gateway to Hell” to the shimmering marble buildings of its capital, Turkmenistan is tentatively opening up to tourists after decades of isolation.

One of the world’s most reclusive countries, the former Soviet republic adopted strict visa requirements after gaining independence in 1991 and closely monitors travellers.

While this policy remains largely in place, tour agencies in the Central Asian nation have noticed a recent decrease in visa rejections and this year authorities announced plans to expand the tourism sector.

At the archaeological ruins of Nisa, an ancient fortress near the capital, Ashgabat, AFP spotted a Western tour group taking advantage of this tentative thaw.

“I wanted to see what the mystery was about,” said Nick Frey, a 28-year-old US tourist admiring the fortress.

“I think the uniqueness is really what stood out.”