FREQUENTED COUNTRIES
Added on: 17th Jun 2016
POLAND
16.6 MILLION
Poland may come as a surprise on this list, but it shouldn’t be,
given the country’s massive development since the dissolution
of the U.S.S.R. in the late 1980’s. The only European Union member
state to have not experienced negative GDP during the financial
crisis, Poland has long had a tumultuous history due to its
prime position in Central Europe but has experienced significant
recent growth. Despite the destruction caused by World War II,
Poland has preserved and rebuilt many important monuments
including 14 UNESCO World Heritage sites. It’s also cheaper
than other primary European destinations.
GREECE
22.0 MILLION
Being an ancient culture (and the cradle of Western civilization)
gives Greece a host of cultural and architectural sites for tourists,
22 million, which was double its national population in 2014.
This heavily-tourist country was an assortment of
independently-ruled city-states before their unification by
Alexander the Great. A major maritime power then and now,
Greece draws in most of its tourists to visit the pristine beaches,
islands, and coastal cities’ historical monuments.
THAILAND
24.8 MILLION
Officially the Kingdom of Thailand, former Siam is the most
popular country on the Southeast Asian backpacker trail.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand – also known as Rama IX,
has been in power since 1946, making him the world’s
longest-serving head of state. An Asian Tiger, Thailand rapidly
developed towards the end of the 20th century largely due to
manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. Thailand’s temples and
beaches are so popular with young European tourists that
travel to Thailand for many European countries is now visa-free.
AUSTRIA
25.3 MILLION
Bringing in just over 25 million tourists in 2014, Austria is one of
the most popular countries to visit in Europe. One of the most
mountainous countries in the world, only a third of Austria is
below 1,640ft (500m) above sea level. Its high level of
economic development has made Austria among the top
fifteen richest countries in the world according to the
World Bank. For Europeans and non-Continentals alike, it’s
a popular classical music and winter ski destination.
MALAYSIA
27.4 MILLION
Did you know Singapore used to be part of Malaysia but was
kicked out in 1965? Modern-day Malaysia is one of the most
economically-prosperous countries in the world, having
achieved an average annual growth rate of 6.5% for nearly
50 years. Though its economy initially advanced due to
natural resources, today Malaysia is strongly building its
medical tourism, finance, and science-based industries,
leading to ever-more visitors to the monarch-led country.
HONG KONG
27.8 MILLION
One of the major business hubs of the world, Hong Kong also has
much to see for those interested in nature and culture.
Holding the title of the most visited city in the world, Hong Kong
is one of the world’s densest and most vertical cities. To get
its citizens around, the country’s transit network is the most
expansive in the world, covering 90% of its residents. Despite
its density, Hong kongers have one of the highest life
expectancies in the world.
MEXICO
29.1 MILLION
Mexico boasts a long history as the founder of multiple
civilizations including the Olmec, Toltec, Zapotec, Maya, and
Aztec. Conquered by the Spanish in 1521, Mexico is the
most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world.
The combination of colonial history and multiple former
civilizations gives Mexican culture a great vivacity and has
endowed the country with numerous important cultural sites
which nearly 30 million tourists flock to each year, making it
the tenth most visited country in the world.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
29.8 MILLION
Occupying over one-eighth of the Earth’s inhabitable land area,
Russia is by-far the largest country on Earth. Its history has
been complicated, first established by the East Slavs,
conquered by the Mongols, and reunified by the Grand Duchy
of Moscow. The third-largest empire in history, Russia has
long-been a cultural and economic megalith, especially
during the 20th century. The ninth most visited country in
the world, Russia brought in almost 30 million tourists in
2014 and will increase since the Russian ruble has
depreciated significantly.
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