American spends week in Iran after visiting 197 countries and is blown away
Travel vlogger Drew Binsky has visited all 197 countries on Earth, but says he was moved by the welcome he received in Iran, and believes the country has an unfairly bad reputation
Iran has been making headlines this week following the US's bombing of three nuclear facilities within the country. However, YouTuber Drew Binsky, who visited the Middle Eastern nation prior to the recent escalation with Israel, claims he experienced a side of Iran that Western media seldom portrays.
Throughout his journey from the cosmopolitan city of Shiraz to the Kurdish-dominated territory in northern Iran, Drew was greeted with smiles and warm welcomes. Prior to the last Shah of Iran being overthrown in 1979, Iran was surprisingly westernised, with its capital, Tehran, often likened to Paris.
But after Ayatollah Khomeini took power, Drew notes, many have come to see Iran as "a scary place to visit."
Despite this, the globetrotter – who has visited all 197 countries – ranks Iran as one of his "favourite" destinations and believes the country is unjustly stigmatised. At the top of his list of things that surprised him were the people.
"In my experience, the media overlooks the warmth of Persian people," he stated.
"Iranians are really, really friendly and hospitable. You can see wherever we go, people come up to you. They talk to you. They want to know your ideas about Iran, and they are very friendly."
Most locals Drew spoke with had never met an American before. One Iranian woman assured that Americans would receive a warm welcome if they chose to holiday in Tehran.
'Iran is safe,' she said. 'Don't let the news cheat you. If you travel to Iran, it's very economical, very safe, and people are very welcoming and nice to you. So you will have a nice stay in Iran. I can promise.'
Iran undeniably has its dark side. According to the BBC, Iran carries out more executions than any other country except China, and homosexuality is banned. Iranian censorship is considered to be some of the most extreme worldwide.
The Foreign Office advises against all travel to the country, warning UK nationals are at significant risk of "arrest, questioning or detention." The entire country is in the "red zone," with the government urging British nationals already in the country to "consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying."
Yet, Drew remains a huge fan of the country and its breathtaking sights. One local who had welcomed Drew into his home for a traditional Iranian meal said that most Iranians realised there was no genuine reason for Iranians and Americans to fear each other.
He said: "All the problems are between governments." Another Iranian man Drew interviewed echoed his words: "People are people everywhere... the problem is between our governments."
Although one person told Drew he could well have been the only American in Iran, the country's tourism industry has seen a remarkable boom in recent years.
In 2019, the country was listed as the world's third fastest-growing tourism destination, and Iran's tourism saw growth of 43% in 2023, attracting some six million foreign tourists.
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