The Least-Visited Country In The World Is The Closest Thing To Paradise

Need a secluded retreat? Here’s the place for it.

The South Pacific island nation is an undiscovered gem

Why is this Polynesian paradise the least visited place in the world?

The island paradise of Tuvalu is nestled in Polynesia, north of Fiji and about halfway between Australia and Hawaii.

Tucked away in the South Pacific, Tuvalu is a picture-perfect collection of nine islands, sitting about halfway between Hawaii and Australia.
If you’ve always dreamed of a private island getaway, this might be the next-best thing: An island hardly anyone visits.
That’s right, according to a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, there’s a tropical island that gets fewer than 2,000 visitors each year. (Here’s how to rent a private island for just $300 a night.)
Tuvalu’s tourism organisation notes its “spectacular marine environment”, “magnificent lagoons” and its “distinctive Polynesian culture” with “unique social organisation, art, crafts, architecture, music, dance and legends”.
The island of Tuvalu in the South Pacific promise to be an unspoiled sanctuary for however long you decide to stay—and since it’s an average 87 degrees year-round, we’ll assume that might be a while.
(These are the 12 best island destinations in the U.S.) Expect pristine beaches, a low crime rate, and a thriving marine ecosystem of atolls, lagoons, and coral reefs.
It’s baffling to think such an idyllic part of the world isn’t luring many people to its shores. So why don’t more people visit this lovely island?
For one, it’s really hard to get to.  Tuvalu is one of the smallest and most remote nations in the world. It has a population of just 11,000 and the United Nations classifies it as one of the least developed countries in the world.
Air Fiji sends flights in just three times a week, each leaving from Nadi International Airport in the Republic of Fiji, another South Pacific Island. Second, its own population is dwindling, and the U.N. has it listed as one of the islands the most likely to disappear into the ocean in the 21st century.
But if you like the idea of a tiny island that few are patient enough to get to, Tuvalu might be your next favorite destination. Don’t forget to do these 16 things before your flight—paradise awaits!
All the more reason to visit sooner rather than later.
 
(Source: Readers Digest 07 September 2017)