The world is getting smaller. It took Columbus 2 months and 9 days to get to the Bahamas and never made it all the way. Now we can go around the world in mere hours. If you had the opportunity to choose any country of your choice for a quick visit, I recommend you choose from the list below.

Lets start from the first;

France: 83m Europe


Paris Syndrome is a medical condition which mainly affects Japanese women in their thirties, it strikes down an average of 12 people per year, and has forced the Japanese embassy to open a 24-hour hotline. Many of the million Japanese tourists who visit Paris every year arrive with a highly romanticized idea of the French capital, and the realities of the city can come as a surprise to some.

In 2006 alone, the Japanese embassy was forced to provide a flight, and accompanying medical team for four people for whom the culture shock was too much. Although the difference between Japanese and French cultures is huge, the fact that this is a recognised condition speaks volumes.

Literature, cinema, and TV have all built up an idealised version of the city of lights since before world wars, and as a result France remains by far the most visited country in the world. In 2012 alone the industry accounted for €77.7bn, most of which is spent in Paris and the French Riviera.

Next on the list is US: 67m


As early as the 1850s tourism was an established industry for America, and although it receives a markedly lower number of tourists than our number 1 spot, the amount of revenue per visitor is the highest in the world. For many of America’s states tourism is the largest industry, which meant that the fallout from the tragedy of 9/11 was enormous. The range of available attractions is vast, with over 100,000 different ‘Things to Do’ on Tripadvisor.

Everyone is familiar with the Empire State, the Grand Canyon, and the White House, but delving a little deeper into America’s sights turns up a whole range of oddities like Texas’ 60 tonne Cathedral of Junk, a Voodoo-Enhanced cemetery in New Orleans, and Iowa’s Albert, the world’s largest bull, who stands 30 feet tall and weighs in at 45 tons.

Third on my list is the Republic of China. China: 57m


The country incites a culture shock in many a European or American traveller, but a few simple rules will greatly simplify the trip. Food should never be eaten with the wrong end of a pair of chopsticks, as these are only used to serve. Alcohol shouldn’t be drunk without a toast, and every bill must be fought over, to the extent that it is considered good manners to pull a restaurant bill out of another’s hand.
For the most intrepid travellers, it is possible to cross the length of China and Russia with a trip on the trans-siberian express train. This can take as little as a week, but it can take as long as you want because, unlike a transcontinental flight, it’s possible to get off at several points along the way.

If this was a competition, then Spain: 57m is my next choice.

In a country where the unemployment rate is almost 26%, it is a good thing that Spain’s tourism industry is enjoying annual increases that see it moving up on China. As with many of the European countries, Spain’s history, food, and culture attracts a wide range of tourists from America and the East. On the cultural side Spain has 43 World Heritage Sites, and these are supplemented by its beautiful countryside which places Spain at No.3 on UNESCO’s list of biosphere reserves.

Spain’s most famous activity is of course the running of the bulls, and the (dwindling number of) matador bull fights which still occur outside of the cosmopolitan areas of Madrid and Barcelona. Most famous of all is the Pamplona Encierro, which occurs every year from July 6–14. The origins of the festival are logistical; it was necessary to transport the bulls from the corrals to the ring, and when this was happening young Spaniards would jump in amongst them to show off. In the modern events, participants must be at least 18 years old, run in the same direction as the bulls, refrain from inciting the bulls, and are not allowed to have had anything alcoholic to drink.

And finally Italy: 46m

The Grand Tour was the name given to a trip typically taken by very rich young men from around the 1660s to the 1840s. Young aristocratic gentlemen were expected to see all of Europe’s greatest sights, and it was essentially a way of letting the future elite of a country improve their culture and see a bit of the world. Both Venice and Rome were essential stops on this tour, allowing the young men to study the ancient ruins, and the masterpieces of painting, sculpture, and architecture.

Almost all of the sites which were on the must-see lists of these men are still visited today by Italy’s many tourists. Most of the attractions are now World Heritage Sites, of which Italy has the most of any of the world’s countries. Because of this Italy’s tourism sector is one of its most profitable industries, with an estimated revenue of €136bn.

Source: http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/nation/the-worlds-top-10-most-visited-countries/?view=all

Want to bridge the gap and acquire properties all over the world? In need of a platform that allows you access to property listings all over Africa and the world? Visit www.lamudi.com. for properties in Nigeria, visit www.lamudi.com.ng. For more articles on real estate and related matters, visit www.lamudi.com.ng/journal.

Hmm