4. East Timor: 78,000 tourists
Situated among the Indonesian islands is the former Portuguese colony of East Timor, where 78,000 tourists vacation yearly. What’s interesting about traveling to this location is that though it’s far from well-connected to the rest of the world, it still sees more tourist action than one would expect (no doubt due to it’s close proximity to the top end of Australia). This could also have something to do with major attractions such as Atauro Island, which is great for eco-tourism, scuba diving, and other water-based activities. Check out Tatamailau, the highest mountain there, and Tais Market, where you can really immerse yourself in the country’s culture including tais weaving, created by the women of East Timor.
5. Liechtenstein: 60,000 tourists
With not much to speak of where nightlife is concerned and bordered by more popular hotspots, Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein isn’t a top priority for those heading for vacations in Europe. Located in the Upper Rhine valley of the European Alps, about 60,000 tourists travel there each year to hike, take in great architecture including Gutenberg Castle and Vaduz Castle and to experience the country’s thriving art culture.
6. Tuvalu: 1,000 visitors
Midway between Australia and Hawaii, smack dab in the Pacific Ocean, is the Polynesian island of Tuvalu. It’s unsurprising that only a scant 1,000 visitors make the trip yearly as in order to get there, visitors have to catch a propeller plane from Fiji Airways — that only makes the trip twice a week — or, every now and then a cargo ship—that doubles as a passenger ship—travels between the two nations. This far off the beaten path, one has to really want to go there. Those that do say it’s well worth it, especially for travelers who are interested in eco-tourism and exploration. With a multitude of lagoons, coral reefs, various small islands, and nine coral atolls, this is a snorkeler or scuba diver’s dream vacation. Add that to a rich Polynesian culture that embraces visitors, it’s no wonder why some decide to forget about all the drawbacks of getting there and just go there.
