PARADISE FOUND
Tired of all the conventional destinations? Head for these fab spots less travelled
WHITE beaches, azure waters, minimal crowds and authentic cultural experiences – a wish list for many when it comes to the perfect holiday and, remarkably, just some features of the world’s least popular destinations.
While France, the US, Spain, China and Italy are the top five most visited countries with tourist arrivals in the tens of millions, some of the most incredible landscapes in the world have largely been avoided in the past year.
For some places, such as Palau in the Western Pacific and Niue in the South Pacific, geography is a major barrier to their being appreciated by millions rather than the few thousand who make the effort to explore their shores.
Here are the 10 destinations that attracted the fewest visitors, as determined in the UN World Tourism Organisation 2014 survey of international arrivals. A Caribbean paradise without the crowds can be found in Dominica, which suffers for its dearth of white sandy beaches and mass resorts.
The volcanic island, not to be confused with Haiti’s neighbour, the Dominican Republic, is in the lesser Antilles and terrific for trekking, relaxing in sulphur springs and snorkelling. But while the locals are beyond delighted to have you there, with tourism a big money-spinner for the nation, a bare minimum take the opportunity. The catch is a lack of direct flights and a wealth of nearby options better equipped to snap up the tourist dollar. better established neighbours St Lucia and Barbados. It has also been made famous by the Pirates of the Caribbean films, which were shot here. While this Caribbean island is postcard-perfect, visiting this British overseas territory east of Puerto Rico is not cheap.
A deputy of sorts to the celebrity hotspot St Bart’s, Anguilla is clinging to its authenticity for dear life as fancy new holiday homes pop up to take advantage of the pristine beaches. With Tonga to the west, Samoa to the north, the Cook Islands to the east and New Zealand 2 400km away, most of the people of Niue have moved away from this beautiful little island due to its isolation. Just 1 400 people live here, but they’re more than welcoming to the few who make the journey to visit.
Referred to as “The Rock” (short for Rock of Polynesia), 20 percent of the island is made up of the pristine Huvalu Forest conservation area, so natural beauty is the best it has to offer. If you’re sick of paying for the internet, it’s free here – Niue became the world’s first wi-fi nation in 2003. Once a popular holiday spot, this Lesser Antilles island has not quite recovered from a series of horrific natural disasters.
Hurricane Hugo hit 90 percent of the island’s structures in 1989. In 1995 it was battered when the previously dormant Soufriere Hills volcano erupted. That volcanic destroyer is now one of its main drawcards, along with remarkable beaches and a distinctive, laid-back atmosphere.