When most of us think of traveling, we envision remarkable destinations steeped in wonderful culture, scenic sights and all the envy-inducing experiences we’re about to embark on. While popular tourist destinations include Italy, Jamaica, Brazil and Thailand, have you ever wondered about those countries that record the least tourist visits each year? We have. Check out a few of our finds, some of which make tempting trips while others scream “stay away”. Have you been to any of these obscure places?
1. Solomon Islands: 24,400 tourists
Despite beautiful landscapes and amazing beaches, there are only about 24,400 tourists visiting the Solomon Islands each year. The archipelago boasts six main islands and over nine hundred smaller ones, which all come together to create a sovereign country gorgeous enough to make the gods weep. Still, it’s not winning any popularity contests, however. Despite having attractions such as Mataniko Falls, Vella Lavella, and the National Museum of the Solomon Islands, tourists seem to prefer its neighbors New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
2. São Tomé and Príncipe: 10,000 tourists
With only 10,000 tourists visiting annually, São Tomé and Príncipe reveal a world of whale watching, exquisite beaches, intriguing Portuguese colonial architecture and more for the lucky few who venture there. There’s much to offer and the bare minimum of tourists to enjoy it with, so the country’s slogan “A well-kept secret” holds all kinds of merit. Located in the equatorial Atlantic and Gulf of Guinea, the local inhabitants bring added charm to the islands, a thing that can be harder to find in more popular destinations.
3. Turkmenistan: 8,697 visitors
Want to knock all the “Stan” countries off your bucket list? Well you can’t do that without checking out Turkmenistan, which has annual tourist visits of just 8,697. While some Turkmen—a Turkmenistan citizen—have settled in the historic cities, many continue in the traditional nomadic ways of their forefathers, living across vast deserts that take up eighty percent of the land mass. While it’s unwise to talk politics with Turkmen, especially as for decades their country was cut off from the rest of the world, you should be okay on topics like food, culture, and main attractions. Across the country, golden statues of Saparmyrat Niyazov, the country’s eccentric ruler until 2006, are scattered monuments (he’s the guy who renamed the months on the calendar after himself!). Tourists eager to explore the Central Asian location are also privy to camel and horse trekking (with Akhal Teke horses), the impressive nature reserve, Darvaza gas craters, and much more.
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.
7. Kiribati: 6,000 tourists
Another place in the Pacific Ocean that is pretty isolated by geographical standards is Kiribati, which sees around 6,000 tourists per year. Tourists are warmly welcome to participate in cultural activities including the remarkable Kiribati dance, which consists of sharp birdlike movements of the head, and slight body movements overall. The popularity and importance of this dance to their culture is evident with the Frigate bird on the Kiribati national flag.
8. Tonga: 45,000 tourists
Intrigued by royal families? How about a visit to one of the last absolute monarchies in the entire world? Found in Oceania, Tonga has approximately 45,000 tourists each year and boasts a culture full of ancient traditions. With over one hundred and seventy islands, most of which are uninhabited, and waterway to waterway lined with incredible coral reefs and marine life, it could be time to dust off your swimsuit and head over there.
9. South Sudan: 5,500 visitors
Civil wars have never been a big sell when it comes to tourism and though South Sudan — which recently split from Sudan — is one of the world’s newest countries, it still has its fair share of problems. Get this though, the 5,500 or so visitors that venture there always praise its people’s hospitality and some even say that it’s one of their favorite destinations. A bevy of must-visit sites, incredible food, diverse culture and ancient cultural history come together to create a destination many say they wouldn’t soon forget.
10. Djibouti: 63,000 tourists
Northeast of Africa, and on the Gulf of Aden at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, lies Djibouti. French soldiers based in the country take over the town on the weekends and it can get pretty rowdy to those unaccustomed. If that’s not your bag, take in attractions like Day Forest National Park, where bird-watching is a big hit, or Lake Abbe, for volcanoes, hot springs and lakes.
11. Comoros: 21,000 tourists
Since gaining its independence from France in 1975, there have been twenty coups or attempted coups on Comoros. With just 800,000 living on the island nation, 21,000 visitors join the ranks for a little while south-east of Africa, to take in all this country has to offer. Those itching for nature-infused travel get their fill with sites like the protected Moheli Marine Park, where one can take in the majesty of green sea turtles, and the volcano Mount Karthala.
12. Federated States of Micronesia: 35,000 tourists
Here’s a mouthful: The independent and sovereign island nation of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and a United States associated states, scattered across the Western Pacific Ocean, sees around 35,000 tourists per year. If you’re planning to fly there, the only airlines that make the trip are United’s Island Hopper service and Nauru’s Our Airline. Made up of four states (Kosrae, Chuuk, Yap and Pohnpei) it is often confused with Micronesia, which is the sub-region of Oceania that includes Nauru, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and Palau. When you finally arrive be sure to take in the gems, including vast coral reefs and the Leluh Ruins.
13. Afghanistan: 13,300 tourists
This country’s placement on this list probably isn’t much of a shock, as with terrorist attacks, continuous bombings, and the stamp of being the home of the Taliban, tourists tend to stay clear. Still, about 13,300 visitors make the trip to the troubled destination annually.
14. Guinea-Bissau: 7,500 tourists
Not to be mistaken with Guinea, Guinea-Bissau is one of the poorest countries in all of Africa and has about 7,500 people visiting each year. If their history of civil war, huge foreign debt, and an economy that is heavily reliant of foreign aid wasn’t enough, the Ebola outbreak didn’t make things better, and travelers were advised against making trips there. Those that do so anyway, witness a place painted with incredible landscapes, wildlife freely roaming, and intricate Portuguese architecture in Bissau.
15. Nauru: 160 tourists
The least visited country on this list, Nauru only gets approximately 160 tourists each year (have you even heard of it?). Those intrigued by WWII history are welcome to discover the last vestiges of Japanese occupation on the small island, and view the impressive skeletal remains of its mining infrastructure.
16. Libya: 6,250 visitors
You must have already noticed a pattern in this list, and an obvious one at that. War torn? Civil distress? Tourists aren’t going. This is the same for Libya, which though it is the seventeenth largest country in the world, only sees about 6,250 visitors each year. Those that dare brave the unrest discover mind-blowing attractions like Leptis Magna, which was a major city of the Roman Empire, and Cyrene, founded by the Greeks in the seventh century, which is still a Libyan archeological site today. As only ten percent of the country is not unbearably dry desert, most visitors tend to head to more northern regions on the Mediterranean sea, where the climate is more manageable.
17. Sierra Leone: 44,000 tourists
On the west coast of Africa is Sierra Leone, where around 44,000 tourists visit each year. To get there travelers must face high—and rough— seas to and from the only international airport which is in Freetown, the country’s capital. When there though, there is so much to explore and discover like the Outamba-Kilimi National Park, where one can see elephants and thriving forest life, the Banana Islands for scuba diving, and Tiwai Island, a wildlife refuge, to name a few. Granted, that recent Ebola outbreak didn’t do much for their tourism PR.
18. Marshall Islands: 4,600 tourists
Think about your dream fishing vacation, now multiply that by a hundred. Boasting over one thousand individual islands and islets, Marshall Islands is chock full of expert fishermen and navigators, as many of the inhabitants’ depend on the sea to make their living. American visitors can feel especially at home as the local currency is the US dollar. The 4,600 or so visitors that make the trip each year can be wowed by the world’s largest shark sanctuary. However, while this seems like a dream for vacationers who love being near the water, a few things have made it low on the list of must-visit destinations. These include the fact that it is the world’s most endangered country because of flooding caused by climate change, and radioactivity is a concern, as in the past it was the site for the largest US nuclear weapons test ever. Not exactly real selling features for their tourist brochures.
19. Mauritania: 35,000 tourists
With approximately 35,000 tourists traveling to this African nation each year, it’s far from the least visited on the list. Top attractions include Banc d’Arguin National Park, where visitors can experience fishing, bird watching, and more in this protected nature reserve, and the Chinguetti Mosque, which basks in cultural and ancient tradition. The country’s 75 percent of desert continues to grow, making it a tough sell for vacationers.
