Destinations Reborn

When viewing images of Japan's destruction, it's almost impossible to imagine landscapes that now look like war zones ever being inviting again. But the story of destruction and renewal is as old as Jerusalem. From the grapevines cropping up in Chile's Maule Valley following last year's massive quake, to the boats docking on Montserrat after deadly volcanic eruptions began there in 1995, destinations felled by nature do have a way of springing back. "Tourism is one of the healthiest and simplest injections of funds into places that don't necessarily have a business plan," says Robert Young Pelton, author of The World's Most Dangerous Places. Here are four comeback spots where tourism has helped speed recovery.