In this article, we look at the 20 most loved countries in Asia, and also discuss the region’s economic and tourist potential that attracts people from across the world. If interested, you can also read our recent piece on the Top 20 Most Respected Countries in Europe.
Each country offers a unique experience. However, there are some countries that you just love, whether it is because of their architecture, landscape, culture, and cuisine, or due to the experiences you have with locals in those countries. Quite often, an important determinant is also the economic opportunities you get offered there. All of these factors combine to have a long-lasting impact on your perception of those countries.
Asia is the fastest growing continent in the world, and by 2040, it is projected to represent more than 50% of the world’s GDP. The region offers immense potential, which has resulted in a mass inflow of job seekers, remote workers, and investors to the continent with an eye on tapping in on the lucrative opportunities offered by Asia. Besides that, the region’s tourism reputation has also enhanced over the last couple of decades, due to its warmer climates, unique landscapes, and diverse cultures.
The United Arab Emirates is one example of that. The Dubai Mall, a shopping mall in Dubai, was recently declared as the most visited place on Earth, as it welcomed over 105 million visitors in 2023. Millions of tourists travel to the country every year to get a feel of the UAE’s vibrant life marked by its glitzy hotels and stunning architecture. There has also been an increase in the number of people from developed countries of Europe and North America moving to the UAE for improved lifestyles, lower taxes, and higher income.
Several large international corporations maintain presence in the UAE and contribute toward the country’s success. This includes Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) which is hopeful of adding a whopping $39 billion to the Emirati economy between 2022 and 2026 through its cloud portfolio, which is likely to create 100,000 jobs as well. The American technology giant is also negotiating with officials in the UAE over the potential use of its cloud-based services in government sectors. Besides that, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) plans on investing another $3.4 billion in the coming years to support data centers and local businesses across the country.
As more and more people shift to the UAE, the real estate business is also booming in the country. A recent study held in the UK declared Dubai as the most profitable city in the world for landlords that place their properties on Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB). The study noted that house owners were charging over $1,000 per night in some properties that were located closer to the Burj Khalifa. The research highlighted that owners who place their properties on Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) in Dubai were expected to breakeven and recover their money after 121 nights of their property being rented out. Another Asian city that made to the list of the profitable cities for Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) business was Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi.
Turkiye is another top destination for tourists, where the number of travelers in 2023 jumped 10.4% compared to the previous year, to total 50 million. The figure is likely to further grow as Ankara this year relaxed travel requirements for tourists from the US, Canada, and Mexico by eliminating the need for them to obtain an e-visa if their visit was shorter than 90 days. Turkiye’s growing appeal as a tourist destination has led to a boom in its hospitality industry, with renowned hotel chains including Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:WH) further expanding their presence in the country.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:WH) recently added the Ramada by Wyndham Karapinar and Days Hotel by Wyndham Istanbul Esenyurt to its list of hotels in Turkiye. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:WH), which is the largest hotel company operating in the country, has over 100 active hotels, and another 20 under development in Turkiye.
On the other hand, in September 2023, Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) announced that it had signed 13 new contracts to expand its presence in Turkiye, with the new projects anticipated to add another 2,000 rooms to its already large portfolio of over 8,000 rooms nationwide. Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) currently runs 48 properties in Turkiye under 21 brands.
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Methodology
To prepare the list of the most loved countries in Asia, we consulted five articles published by Insider Monkey over the past year on the 15 Most Respected Countries in Asia, 15 Friendliest Countries in Asia, 20 most visited countries in Asia, 20 Most Diverse Countries in Asia, and 20 Most Democratic Countries in Asia, and assigned each of these five metrics weights. 75% weight was assigned to the first three articles i.e., on respected, friendliest, and most visited countries in Asia, while 25% was allotted to countries’ diversity and democratic credentials.
It was observed where a country ranked on each metric, and then it was assigned scores accordingly depending on each metric’s weight. The 20 most loved countries in Asia are ranked in ascending order of their overall scores.
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Let’s now head over to the list of the most loved countries in Asia.
20. Oman
Respect Rank: 14
Visited Rank: 14
Friendliness Rank: N/A
Diversity Rank: 12
Democracy Rank: N/A
Overall Score: 0.155
We begin with Oman, which is one of the most respected countries in the Middle East, due to its expatriate friendly policies, which lure workers from across the world for higher income. Oman has a GDP per capita of over $39,000 per annum. The country is also known for its diversity, with an ethnic fractionalization of 60% – meaning that if two persons were randomly selected in Oman, there’s a 60% chance that they would be of different ethnicities. Moreover, around 2.8 million people visited Oman in 2022, making it one of the most visited countries in Asia.
19. India
Respect Rank: N/A
Visited Rank: N/A
Friendliness Rank: 12
Diversity Rank: N/A
Democracy Rank: 9
Overall Score: 0.157
Next on our list of the most loved countries in Asia is India, which is famed for being the largest democracy in the world. Moreover, it is considered among the friendliest countries in the continent, with a migrant stock in population of 0.4% as it hosts several thousands of immigrants from neighboring Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan. Furthermore, India offers visa on arrival or eTA entry to travelers from 163 countries.
18. Hong Kong
Respect Rank: 7
Visited Rank: N/A
Friendliness Rank: N/A
Diversity Rank: N/A
Democracy Rank: 18
Overall Score: 0.203
Hong Kong is widely respected across the world for its status as a major global financial hub. It has a highly-developed free market economy, offering investors free port trade and low taxation. Moreover, despite the flaws in its political system, it is ranked among the top 20 most democratic countries in Asia.
17. Sri Lanka
Respect Rank: 10
Visited Rank: N/A
Friendliness Rank: 15
Diversity Rank: N/A
Democracy Rank: 10
Overall Score: 0.219
Sri Lanka is one of the most loved countries in Asia, particularly because of its incredible landscape and coastline, coupled with the government’s tourist-friendly policies that offer visa on arrival or electronic travel authorization to visitors from 196 countries. The country’s tourism industry is staging a quick recovery from setbacks caused by the pandemic and internal political turmoil. More than a million tourists visited the island nation in 2023, the first instance of crossing the million-mark in four years.
16. Bahrain
Respect Rank: N/A
Visited Rank: 11
Friendliness Rank: 11
Diversity Rank: 13
Democracy Rank: N/A
Overall Score: 0.223
HSBC recently listed Bahrain as the eighth best country in the world for expatriates, who represent 52% of the country’s overall population. Bahrain’s ethnic fractionalization is also high at 58%. Moreover, it was the eleventh most visited country in Asia in 2022 with 3.71 million visitors. All of these factors combine to make Bahrain one of the most loved countries in Asia.
15. Jordan
Respect Rank: N/A
Visited Rank: 8
Friendliness Rank: 10
Diversity Rank: N/A
Democracy Rank: N/A
Overall Score: 0.230
Next up is Jordan, where 33.9% of the population comprises international migrants, mainly Palestinian and Syrian refugees. The country also ranks 27th in the world for its visa acceptance rates, under which it offers visa on arrival or eTA entry to visitors from 141 countries.
14. Nepal
Respect Rank: 11
Visited Rank: N/A
Friendliness Rank: N/A
Diversity Rank: 1
Democracy Rank: 12
Overall Score: 0.268
Nepal is the most diverse country in Asia, with an ethnic fractionalization of 86%. People from across the world visit this beautiful, mountainous country in South Asia each year to get a feel of the nation’s diversity and culture. Nepal’s largest ethnic group, Chhetri, represents only 17% of the overall population. Moreover, it is also among the most democratic countries in Asia.
13. Vietnam
Respect Rank: N/A
Visited Rank: 12
Friendliness Rank: 3
Diversity Rank: N/A
Democracy Rank: N/A
Overall Score: 0.307
Vietnam is one of the most loved countries in Asia, and attracts visitors from across the world for several reasons. It is affordable, has incredible scenery, and has some of the most amazing foods you will ever have. Besides that, the country is highly welcoming and friendly towards foreigners. Vietnam welcomed over 12.6 million tourists in 2023, which was three times higher than in 2022. The country has a high visa acceptance rate.
12. Indonesia
Respect Rank: N/A
Visited Rank: 7
Friendliness Rank: N/A
Diversity Rank: 3
Democracy Rank: 8
Overall Score: 0.328
Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country in the world, which earns it significant political clout and influence. Moreover, it is home of pristine beaches in the island of Bali, which can take your heart away, and attract tourists from across the world. Indonesia is also a very diverse country with an ethnic fractionalization of 80%.
11. Thailand
Respect Rank: N/A
Visited Rank: 4
Friendliness Rank: 8
Diversity Rank: N/A
Democracy Rank: 16
Overall Score: 0.341
A list of the most loved countries in Asia would not be complete without Thailand. It is the fourth most visited country in the continent, and also its eighth friendliest. The country received over 27 million tourists in 2023. Thailand, despite its history of military intervention in politics, is considered among the most democratic countries in Asia.
10. Saudi Arabia
Respect Rank: N/A
Visited Rank: 3
Friendliness Rank: 6
Diversity Rank: N/A
Democracy Rank: N/A
Overall Score: 0.347
Saudi Arabia is the third most visited country in Asia. It is home to Islam’s holiest sites, which attract millions of Muslim worshippers from across the world each year. The kingdom has also in recent years focused on developing its tourism potential, and has plans to develop Jeddah and Riyadh enough over the next decade to compete with the likes of Dubai and Doha.
9. Turkiye
Respect Rank: N/A
Visited Rank: 1
Friendliness Rank: 9
Diversity Rank: 16
Democracy Rank: 20
Overall Score: 0.349
Turkiye is among the most loved countries in Asia because of its rich history, culture, tradition, as well as the diversity and hospitality of the local people. More than 50 million tourists visited Turkiye in 2022. The number is set to increase further in the coming years, as Ankara announced this year to eliminate the requirement for US, Canadian, and Mexican tourists to obtain e-visa for travel lasting fewer than 90 days.
8. Israel
Respect Rank: 5
Visited Rank: N/A
Friendliness Rank: N/A
Diversity Rank: 19
Democracy Rank: 4
Overall Score: 0.358
Israel is among the most respected countries in Asia because of the country’s high level of technological capabilities and economic prowess, with the second highest number of startups globally. Moreover, it is also the fourth most democratic country in the continent. Besides, it is the 19th most diverse country in Asia, having an ethnic fractionalization of 38%.
7. Philippines
Respect Rank: N/A
Visited Rank: 15
Friendliness Rank: 4
Diversity Rank: 2
Democracy Rank: 13
Overall Score: 0.415
With 2.65 million tourists in 2022, the Philippines was the fifteenth most visited country in Asia during the year. The country offers loads of exciting places for travelers to explore, with the locals also being extremely welcoming. It is not only the fourth friendliest country in Asia, but also the fourth friendliest in the world. You can read more on this in the 30 Friendliest Countries in the World.
6. South Korea
Respect Rank: 3
Visited Rank: 13
Friendliness Rank: N/A
Diversity Rank: N/A
Democracy Rank: 3
Overall Score: 0.475
South Korea is one of the most respected countries in Asia due to how quickly it has transitioned from an underdeveloped to a high-income country that is categorized for having a highly advanced mixed economy. In 2023, the GDP per capita in the country was measured at $56,710. It is also widely acclaimed for its democratic credentials.
5. United Arab Emirates
Respect Rank: 15
Visited Rank: 2
Friendliness Rank: 1
Diversity Rank: 9
Democracy Rank: N/A
Overall Score: 0.520
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the most friendly country in Asia. Expatriates represent over 88% of the country’s overall population. According to HSBC, it is the fourth best country in the world for expatriates. The UAE in 2022 was ranked as the second most visited country in the world, as it welcomed more than 22 million visitors. The nation is also widely acknowledged for its diversity, with Dubai in particular being the melting pot of cultures.