Popular tourist destinations often dominate travel itineraries, leaving many incredible countries overlooked by travellers.
Here is a look at two uncrowded tourist destinations that are worth a visit but that very few tourists visit.
1. Cook Islands
The Cook Islands lie halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii in the South Pacific. A group of 15 Polynesian islands form the Cook Islands. They are named after the British explorer Captain James Cook, who spotted one of the islands in 1773. The UK organised the islands into one political entity in 1915.
The islands share the same time zone as Hawaii and have political connections to New Zealand and also other South Pacific countries.
An interesting fact about these islands is that the local government mandate states that no building may be taller than the tallest palm tree. The same rule applies in the Maldives, where hoteliers are generally only allowed to build on 20% of an island’s land mass and they are not allowed to construct anything taller than the tallest coconut tree. The coconut tree is the national tree of the Maldives, and many locals call it the Tree of Life.
2. The world’s least-visited country
Tuvalu, a tiny island nation in the Pacific Ocean, tops the list as the least-visited country in the world, according to the Times of India. It is a group of nine tiny islands in the South Pacific that won independence from the United Kingdom in 1978. Five of the islands are coral atolls, and the other four consist of land rising from the seabed.
This hidden gem attracts only about 3 700 visitors each year, even though visitors to this destination can enjoy untouched beaches, clear blue waters, and a laid-back lifestyle.
It is one of the smallest and most remote nations in the world, making it an ideal spot for rest and relaxation. The marine environment consists of a vast expanse of ocean interspersed with atolls, magnificent lagoons, and coral reefs.
Tuvalu’s capital, Funafuti, is a tiny coral atoll. The international airport is located on Funafuti Island.
Coconut palms cover most of the islands, and copra – dried coconut kernel – is practically the only export commodity. Increasing salination of the soil threatens traditional subsistence farming, as reported by the BBC.
When you go on holiday, do you prefer uncrowded tourist destinations or destinations bustling with activity?
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