The surprising places where tourism is growing fastest

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the world’s fastest growing travel destination is Sierra Leone which saw a 310% increase in overseas arrivals in 2016, compared with the previous year.

Five other surprising nations where tourism is booming – at least in percentage terms, if not quantity – include South Korea, Moldova, Kiribati (comprised of 33 coral atolls stretching along the equator), Madagascar and Slovakia.

The top 10 fastest growing travel destinations are:

1. Sierra Leone +310%
2. Nepal +39.7%
3. Iceland +39%
4. South Korea +30.3%
5. Moldova +28.6%
6. Chile +26%
7. Vietnam +24.6%
8. Japan +21.8%
9. Liechtenstein +21.7%
10. Kiribati +21.6%

The 10 countries where visitor numbers have fallen fastest

1. Egypt -42.1%
2. Afghanistan -36.7%
3. Turkey -28.5%
4. PNG -25.9%
5. Suriname -25.6%
6. Palau -14.9%
7. Haiti -14.5%
8. Belgium -13.2%
9. Aruba -10%
10. Laos -9.8%

Read more: