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THE TOP LEAST VISITED ISLAND COUNTRIES

Added on: 16th Jun 2016

 

COMOROS

grand comore

Drawing in only 15,000 tourists in 2010, Located between

Madagascar and Mozambique, less than 2% of its total

population came to the country as foreign visitors.

A highly volatile country, Comoros has experienced

multiple coup d’états since its 1975 independence

which keeps tourists at bay. Leisure tourism isn’t really

a considerable factor for the country, one of the

poorest in the world.

 

 

MONTSERRAT

Montserrat_eruption

A British territory, Montserrat is often referred to as the

“Emerald Island of the Caribbean” due to its geographical

resemblance to Ireland. The active volcano of Soufrière Hills

erupted in 1995 and multiple times since, destroying its

Georgian-era capital. Most residents fled the country and

have never fully returned. With most of the southern half

of the island destroyed and the continued threat of volcanic

eruption, Montserrat will likely stay one of the least

touristic islands on Earth.

 

 

DOMINICA

Scotts_Head_(Dominica)

Formerly known as Dominique, Dominica is the youngest

island in the Lesser Antilles, still being built by minor

geothermal volcanic activity. Referred to as the

“Nature Isle of the Caribbean” due to its extensive

natural beauty and rare plant, animal, and bird species,

Dominica has the world’s second largest hot spring:

Boiling Lake. Visitors are taken aback by the lush beach

vegetation and inland rainforests. Dominica doesn’t bring in

a lot of tourists – but it wants to stay that way. After

seeing the natural destruction caused to other islands

which have pushed tourism, Dominica is focusing on

preserving its natural beauty and only scaling up

tourism slowly.

 

 

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE

sao tome

The least visited African island nation, São Tomé and Príncipe

(the two primary islands of the country) were uninhabited

until the Portuguese arrived in the 15th century. (They

later became important trade centres on the Atlantic slave

trade.) A slave-dependent plantation economy soon

developed around sugar, coffee, and cocoa. One of

Africa’s most democratic countries, São Tomé and

Príncipe does not have a developed tourism industry

(only 8,000 visitors in 2010) due to lack of tourism

infrastructure but it is working to diversify its economy

and draw more foreigners to the small nation.

 

 

NIUE

Niue inlet

The fourth least visited island country, Niue could be a good

option for freelancers – since 2003, Niue has provided free

wireless internet throughout the country. (The drawback is

its relative isolation.) Bringing in only 7,000 tourists in 2014,

Niue has made tourism one of three economic sectors to

develop, even offering major tax concessions to foreign

investors looking to sustainably build up the tourism

industry. Most tourists would be expected to visit Niue’s

steep limestone cliffs and coral reefs which

surround over 90% of the island.

 

 

KIRIBATI

Beru_Kiribati

Thirty-four islands spread out over 1.35 million square miles

(3.5m sq. km), Kiribati is the third least visited island

country in the world. The remote Pacific islands gained

independence from the U.K. in 1979, but their fate has

been nearly sealed by climate change. It’s believed

Kiribati will be the first country to be completely underwater

due to rising sea levels. Thus, since the beginning of

the 21st century, Kiribati’s political leadership has

been encouraging locals to migrate to other countries.

 

 

MARSHALL ISLANDS

The_Marshall_Islands_-_Majuro_-_Rusty

In free association with the United States, the Marshall Islands

comprises 29 coral atolls with 1,156 islands and islets.

The country’s few natural resources make having a

diverse economy difficult. Tourism likely won’t become a

major revenue source as, just like Kiribati, the islands are

dangerously threatened by rising sea levels. The

Marshall Islands are thus the second least visited island

country in the world after…

 

 

TUVALU

Tuvalu beach

Tuvalu: the least visited island country in the world. Welcoming

only 1,000 tourists in 2014, Tuvalu used to be part of one

British colony with Kiribati – together known then as the

Gilbert and Ellice Islands – until independence in 1978.

With just over 150 flights into the country each year

(with 68-seats per flight) and minimal accommodation,

Tuvalu has essentially a non-existent tourism industry

with most visitors arriving for business-related trips.

If you’re keen on visiting, catch one of the two passenger

cargo ships – the Nivaga II or Manú Folau – to get from the

main island to the outer atolls once every three to four weeks.

 


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