On 26th March Telegraph said that some countries have beautiful scenery, good food, cultural specialties but for many reasons these are the worlds least visited and strange names on the tourist map.
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), there are countries in the continent that receive very few visitors, although there are many beautiful places.
The reason for this situation is: expensive prices, political instability, lack of promotion strategy, even because it is adjacent to a country that is so developed tourism that the country is … inferior.
- Liechtenstein: 77,000 visitors
Liechtenstein is a Central European country, bordered with Switzerland and Austria. Liechtenstein, which is small but considered an economically developed country, is among the lowest in the world for unemployment and foreign debt.
Situated between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein also has beautiful Alps landscape. Many majestic hills suitable for hiking, mountain climbing and cycling.
In addition, the country also houses 12th-century buildings, large museums and galleries that showcase contemporary works of art.
However, the number of visitors to Liechtenstein in 2017 is only 77,000 people, compared to 2016 is 69,000 people.
- San Marino: 79,000 visitors
It seems that being next to a glittering star on a tourist map is not a good thing for San Marino, the country lying in Italy.
Like Italy, San Marino also has a lot of beautiful architecture from the 13th century, but the country only welcomed 79,000 visitors.
- Bhutan: 234,000 visitors
Compared with 210,000 visitors in 2016, international visitors to Bhutan in 2017 will increase by an additional 24,000.
This is a pretty low number with a well-known nation as the happiest place in the world.
The cause is due to inaccessible terrain and undeveloped infrastructure.
- East Timor: 86,000 visitors
Countries in Southeast Asia, East Timor has great potential for tourism development.
While the islands in the east are pristine, surrounded by beautiful coral reefs, the rest of the country are large primary forests.
East Timor also has many buildings built since the country was a Portuguese colony. Especially here Ile Kere Kere Cave and many more cave adds more beauty through paintings which is dating from 13,000 years.
According to the World Tourism Organization, in 2017 only 86,000 international visitors visit East Timor.
- Kiribati: 8,000 visitors
The Republic of Kiribati is a tropical island nation located in the central Pacific, consisting of 32 coral atolls stretching across the equator.
In 2017, the country received only 8,000 visitors.
- Tuvalu: 2,000 visitors
Tuvalu is in the southern Pacific, which is quite safe in the world. This place has very low crime rate, almost no threat of terrorism or war.
However, less fertile land, less mineral and natural resources.
In 2017, this small island only receives 2,000 visitors.
Some other countries in the region are also absent, such as the Marshall Islands (6,000 visitors), Niue (8,000 visitors), Solomon (20,000).
- São Tomé and Príncipe: 8,000 visitors
A traveller named John Gimlette linked the reasons for his departure to São Tomé and Príncipe: “It is too small to look at the map of the world. São Tomé and Príncipe were like tiny dots. next to the great Africa.”
São Tomé and Príncipe have an area of 964 km2, located 225 km off the coast of Gabon (Africa).
Not only São Tomé and Príncipe is poor but the economy of this country depends mainly on the cultivation and exploitation of cocoa. Facilities and services are not as strong as in other continents.
- Comoros: 27,000 visitors
Comoros is an island nation located near Madagascar and Mozambique.
This small country has majestic volcanic landscapes, beautiful coral reefs which is suitable for scuba diving visitors.
However, this is one of the poorest country in the world. Barren land, the economy depends mainly on agriculture and tourism is less developed.
Statistics in 2016 only 27,000 visitors to Comoros.
- Kuwait: 203,000 visitors
Kuwait is not a poor country. Thanks to the world’s sixth oil reserves, the West Asian country is among the fastest growing economies.
Facilities and services also follow.
However, Kuwait does not currently have many international visitors. The reason is that many people are still afraid of political instability here.
The country was invaded by Iraq and Iran in 1990.
- Bangladesh: 125,000 visitors
Bangladesh is a country with long history, rich culture, but slow economic development.
The country’s population density is too large and often surrounded by floods, cyclones.
Tourism is not growing much here. In recent years, the country is actively promoting trekking tours and visits to tea farms.