The least visited country in the world, a true Polynesian paradise

Tuvalu
Are you looking for a paradisiacal destination away from mass tourism? Well, Tuvalu , or Tuvalu, can be a great choice. It is the second independent nation with the fewest inhabitants in the world (the first is the Vatican City) and one of the most unknown places. In fact, it is considered the least visited country in the world. We are not saying it, but a report prepared by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Despite being the least visited country, Tuvalu has a warm climate, spectacular beaches, an excellent cultural offer and delicious cuisine. We tell you more details about this destination and the surprising facts in the report below!

In 2016 it received 2,000 tourists

As the UNWTO report indicates, in 2016 Tuvalu, which has about 12,000 inhabitants, received the visit of 2,000 tourists. Do they seem few to you? Well, it has doubled the visits it had in 2010. Yes! Yes! As you are reading it! For those who do not know Tuvalu, that is, the vast majority, it is a group of islands located in the South Pacific, between Hawaii and Australia. It is one of the four countries that make up Polynesia and one of the fourteen in Oceania.

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The attractions of Tuvalu

Tuvalu is made up of four coral reefs and five atolls which, as you know, are small ring-shaped coral islands. This heavenly destination is home to numerous species of fish, coral, invertebrates and algae. Without a doubt, the reefs and their spectacular beaches are among the main attractions of Tuvalu. Special mention should be made of the Funati Conservation Area, 33 square kilometers of reefs , channels, lagoons and the ocean. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Tuvalu, you will have to rent a boat to explore its crystal clear waters.

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We must also talk about the archipelago’s cultural richness, and more specifically its music, its traditional dances with flowers and multicolored skirts, and its unique social organization : each family has its own task to carry out for the community: fishing, construction of housing, defense … In addition, we must highlight the hospitality and cordiality of the inhabitants.

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Only one company travels to Tuvalu

One of the main obstacles that tourists find when traveling to Tuvalu is that only one airline, Air Fiji , operates to the country, so you can imagine that the cost is not very cheap. In fact, with a stopover in Suva (Fiji), the price of the flight can reach 6,000 euros. Furthermore, only two planes arrive in Tuvalu a week. As you can imagine, given its small size, it does not have a very abundant accommodation offer. Of course, the simple rooms that can be found in the few hotels in the area are suitable for resting.

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The serious effects of climate change

It is important to note that this independent nation has become a place to study the effects of climate change, as sea levels have risen sharply in recent decades. In fact, the UN considers that this group of islands could disappear in the ocean this century. Due to this progressive rise in sea level, to the continuous typhoons and to the fact that the marine waters are progressively salinizing the crops, it is irremediable that the archipelago ends up flooded.

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As a member of the United Nations, Tuvalu has requested help to survive the disaster. For this reason, an attempt is being made to relocate its population. In this sense, it is important to bear in mind that, although New Zealand has agreed to receive 75 evacuees a year, Australia has rejected the requests of this independent nation.