SOME OF THE MOST VISITED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

CROATIA

11.6 MILLION

Starting off our list of the world’s most tourist countries is

Croatia, a Mediterranean country which welcomed 11.6 million

visitors in 2014. Most of these tourists came to enjoy Croatia’s

long Mediterranean coastline dotted with inlets and bays

throughout. Due to this natural beauty, the service sector is

Croatia’s largest economic driver, especially during the

summer when many Europeans make the short trip to the

(mostly) still-cheaper-than-Italy country.

SINGAPORE

11.9 MILLION

Ranked by Forbes as Asia’s most influential city, Singapore is a

city-state group of islands which is one of Asia’s most

economically prosperous and important zones. Formerly owned

by the East India Company then by the U.K., Singapore has

strong ties with its former colonial power. Beyond this,

it has made a tremendous name for itself, including as the

“Easiest Place to Do Business” according to the World Bank and

BERI’s “City with the Best Investment Potential”. Most of

Singapore’s tourists come for business purposes.

HUNGARY

12.1 MILLION

World War I took a heavy toll on Hungary, with the country losing

71% of its land area and 58% of its population. Despite its time

under the Eastern Bloc, Hungary has a highly successful and

growing economy. Cheap prices and beautiful natural features

such as the world’s second largest thermal lake and large

grasslands have made Hungary an increasingly common

Euro trip destination. With over 12 million visitors,

Hungary is the 23rd most visited country in the world.

UKRAINE

12.7 MILLION

The largest country in Europe, Ukraine has long been a global

breadbasket, providing a significant amount of global grains

due to its fertile territory. Ukraine commands Europe’s second-largest

military, especially called on in the past two years since the

outbreak of civil war in 2013 and the deposition of former President

Viktor Yanukovych. Despite the war (and in-part because of it),

Ukraine was the 22nd most visited country in the world in 2014.

JAPAN

13.4 MILLION

Japan can claim plenty of “bests”, including the world’s largest

metropolitan area (Tokyo) with more than 35 million inhabitants.

Boasting the highest life expectancy in the world, Japan is an

economic powerhouse drawing in hoards of working people to

do business with the technologically advanced island nation as

well as leisure tourists to visits its breath-taking scenery

including the famous cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji

(and maybe eat a bit of sushi and drink some sake).

NETHERLANDS

13.9 MILLION

The Netherlands received 13.9 million tourists in 2014, nothing

short of amazing for its small size. The second-largest

exporter of food and agricultural products in the world, this

Dutch-speaking country (with overseas possessions in the

Caribbean) is a powerhouse on the global stage with various

courts and legal institutions located in The Hague and the

largest European port (larger than the next three combined)

at Rotterdam. Many tourists visit for the country’s liberal

policies on a variety of social issues including abortion,

same-sex marriage, and soft drugs.

SOUTH KOREA

14.2 MILLION

South Korea’s rapid development is nothing short of a miracle,

growing its economy by at least 10% each year from 1962-1994.

One of the Asian Tigers, South Korea has become one of the

most advanced countries in the world, especially in economy,

human rights, and innovation. Besides this, it has been

rapidly exporting its pop culture, often referred to as K-Pop,

around the world, a major reason for its influx of tourists

from Asia.

MACAO (CHINA)

14.6 MILLION

Officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the

People’s Republic of China, Macao is the most densely

populated area in the world. The last European colony in Asia,

Macao was ceded by the Portuguese to China in 1999.

(The area was originally leased to the Portuguese in 1557 by

Ming Dynasty China as a trading port.) Today, Macao has

the second highest life expectancy in the world and is mainly

driven by its primary industry, gambling, which brings in most

of its nearly 15 million tourists annually, making it the

18th most tourist country.

CANADA – 16.5 MILLION

Finally gaining full sovereignty from the U.K. in 1982, Canada is one

of the most economically developed countries in the world.

One of the only countries to border three oceans (Atlantic, Pacific

and Arctic), Canada is an expansive country (second-largest in

the world) whose economy, tourism and otherwise, is strongly

based on natural resources and its natural beauty.