The fastest growing tourist destination in the world has been revealed, and the answer may surprise you! Sierra Leone has topped the list, with a whopping 310% more visitors in 2016 compared with 2015.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has released its list of the top growing tourist destinations in the world, and the West African country of Sierra Leone has come in first place, welcoming 310% more visitors in 2016 compared with 2015.
Following an outbreak of Ebola, the country was declared Ebola-free at the end of 2015 – something which no doubt contributed to the sharp rise in visitors the following year. Sierra Leone is home to stunning beaches, rainforests and awesome National Parks, and in 2016 it’s estimated that 74,400 people took advantage of the country’s hidden beauty – compared with 24,000 in 2015.
In second place is Nepal, with visitor numbers up by 39.7%, followed by Iceland, which saw an increase of 39%. The latter’s popularity has been increasing for a number of years now, in no small part thanks to its prominence in TV series Game of Thrones – if you’re planning a trip this year, check out our tips for visiting Iceland.