There’s a whole cohort of travelers that pride themselves on taking a long detour off the beaten track to places often deemed unsafe — and where there’s demand, the market will always step in to supply. Take, for example, French travel agency Clio which is promising “safe” cultural excursions to war-ravaged Syria, set to encompass Damascus, Latakia, Palmyra, and Krak des Chevaliers. Or British tour operator Regent Holidays, which has been taking visitors out to North Korea since 1985, for fascinating but undeniably prescriptive experiences.

The question of safety is paramount, but the ethics also give pause for thought. Myanmar, languishing in isolation for decades, boasts Buddhist temples, untouched architecture, a magnificent river, and delicious food, but it is run by a government accused of committing ethnic cleansing on its minority Rohingya citizens. Somalia was renowned in the 1960s for its wide boulevards, beautiful parks, white sand and waterfalls, but having for years been embroiled in armed conflict and instability between its government and militant terrorist groups, its aim of reviving its tourist industry is challenging to say the least. In such precarious situations, there are thorny issues to consider, and questions not easily answered.