Of course, most of the ethical decisions travelers face aren't as grand as whether or not visiting a particular country could do more harm than good. They are usually as simple as deciding whether to take a photograph in a place where you've been asked not to. Even when you think nobody's looking.

AUSTRALIA
The Draw
The country's most recognizable icon and the world's largest monolith, Uluru, or Ayers Rock, rises 1,142 feet above the desert floor. The view from the top grants exquisite panoramas of the surrounding Outback.

The Drawback
The local Anangu Aboriginal people, who own the national park of which Uluru is the centerpiece, consider the rock sacred and ask that visitors not climb it.

LIBYA
The Draw
Now that the 23-year travel ban has been lifted, Libya, with its spectacular Roman ruins and desert landscapes, has become the hottest new destination on the Mediterranean.

The Drawback
Libya remains on the U.S. State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism, and the agency warns travelers that extremist groups may continue to plan terrorist attacks against American interests in the region.

CUBA
The Draw
Old Havana's baroque Spanish colonial architecture has earned it the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site; glorious beaches, dazzling seas, and rich musical offerings lured some two million visitors to the island last year.

The Drawbacks
A U.S. embargo against dictator Fidel Castro's repressive regime includes a ban on tourist travel to the country. Americans who go without authorization face penalties of up to $65,000.

For more exotic places with thorny ethical issues, see Know Before You Go.