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DO YOU like a crowd-free holiday? This list of countries might be a destination. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 2023 names the 10 countries least visited by tourists throughout the world. So, there are no crowds or traffic jams there.
The report notes that these destinations receive few tourists for various reasons, ranging from their locations being difficult to reach to their countries being too small. However, these countries actually offer golden beaches, clear waters and blissful isolation. So, for those who want a crowd-free holiday, this is the place.
The following is a list of countries visited by the least tourists:
1. Tuvalu, 3,700 visitors per year
Located 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) north of Fiji in the west-central Pacific Ocean, just below the equator, Tuvalu has been named the least visited country in the world. The country welcomes only 3,700 visitors per year.
The three coral islands and six atolls that make up the country have a total land area of about 10 square miles, making it the fourth smallest country in the world. The country has attracted the attention of TikTok tourists in recent years, but sadly the island is expected to be one of the first countries in the world to disappear due to climate change.
Tuvalu is difficult to reach as there are no direct international flights, and only three flights a week depart to the island. The way to reach Tuvalu is to fly from Fiji, according to World Travel Guide. Tourists can find direct flights to Fiji from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, each flight lasting between three and five hours.
2. Marshall Islands, 6,100 visitors per year
The Marshall Islands, which consists of 29 coral atolls and five single coral islands, is the second least visited country in the world, with only 6,100 people per year. In fact, the islands are famous for their marine life and diving opportunities with at least 160 species of coral to be found, according to the local tourism board. This country also has an interesting World War II history, as it was once a Japanese base before it was taken over by the US Navy.
World Travel Guide reveals that United Airlines flies to the city of Majuro and Kwajalein Island. Fiji’s Naura Airlines also flies there.
3. Niue, 10,200 visitors per year
Located in the South Pacific, Niue only sees around 10,000 visitors per year. With only 1,500 residents, the country is relatively quiet. The tourism board says there are no crowds, no queues, no traffic lights, and a rhythm of life that many people miss.
There is currently only one flight to and from Niue per week, namely from Auckland, New Zealand, to Niue International Airport, Hannan (IUE). From November 2023 to January 2024 there will be only two flights per week. Each flight takes about three hours. From the airport, tourists only need five minutes to get to the main city.
4. Kiribati, 12,000 visitors per year
Consisting of 32 atolls and one coral island, Kiribati is located between Australia and Hawaii. It is the only country in the world that touches all four hemispheres.
Lonely Planet once wrote that this country is worth visiting. “Whether you like fishing, bird watching, diving or surfing, this remote destination is worth a visit,” Lonely Planet says of the remote island nation.
World Travel Guide notes that the national airline in Kiribati is Air Kiribati, but it only operates domestic flights. To get there, foreign tourists can fly directly from Fiji to Tarawa, Kiribati, with Fiji Airways. Alternatively, fly from neighboring Nauru to Tarawa with Nauru Airlines.
International travelers can expect a long journey. From London to Tarawa, the journey can take up to 35 hours or more.
5. Micronesia, 18,000 visitors per year
The Micronesian islands scattered in the North Pacific Ocean, between the Marshall Islands and Palau, receive only 18,000 visitors per year. The local tourist board describes it as one of the most remote and beautiful places in the world.
The island nation with a population of only around 100 thousand people is home to several ethnic groups, divided into four states, Yap, Kosrae, Chuuk and Pohnpei. To get there, tourists can use flights Brisbane – Chuuk, and Cairns (Australia) – Guam.
Apart from these five countries, the United Nations World Tourism Organization 2023 report also lists Montserrat in sixth place with 19,300 annual visitors, Solomon Islands in seventh place with 29,000 annual visitors, São Tomé and Príncipe in eighth place with 34,900 annual visitors, Comoros in ninth place with annual visitors are 45,000, and Guinea-Bissau is tenth with 52,000 foreign tourists per year. [sources/photo special]
