Have you ever wondered which countries are the friendliest countries in the world? Every traveler knows they can’t expect the same welcome at every place they visit. There is no doubt some countries have a better reputation regarding their relationship with tourists and visitors than others, or are just friendlier in general.
A bad reputation regarding friendliness undoubtedly affects a city or country’s appeal to tourists, so it’s not surprising that places considered as being touristic destinations have generally developed polite manners for receiving foreigners. It is after all, an important factor for the development and continued growth and appeal of their tourism industry. Furthermore, when choosing a spot to visit, people usually get informed about the country’s customs, manners and traditions. Sometimes, travelers prefer comfort and places that can assure them a relaxing vacation, although some other travelers are more adventurous, and may actively decide to visit places that are off the standard touristic radar, or that could even be considered poor tourist choices.
Countries differ vastly, but it is interesting to take into account, when traveling, the quality of life a particular nation has. A particular country’s quality of life helps evaluate the well being of the individuals constituting its population. And quality of life levels, furthermore, often influence the “friendliness” of a country. Although a warm-welcoming tradition is not only affected by quality of life, the overall well-being of the population is indeed an important factor. Measured with the Human Development index, which indicates income, life expectancy, and education, we have compiled a list featuring the Top 20 Countries With The Best Quality of Life. The list includes places such as New Zealand, Germany, The Netherlands and The United States.
Now though, we wanted to present you a list with the friendliest countries in the world. Just in case you were planning a trip, this information could definitely come in handy. How have we compiled this data? Well, taking a look at the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, produced annually by The World Economic Forum, we can see how locals perceive the welcoming of visitors to their homeland. On a friendliness scale from 1 to 7, each country’s population self-rated how they believe tourists are treated in their country. While such self-rating has to be taken with a small grain of salt, it should ultimately give a fairly accurate model of how friendly people believe their country is.
According to those results, we have compiled this list featuring the ten friendliest countries in the world. Check it out and find out which countries should be included on your “traveler wish list”!
No. 10 Malaysia
Visitors tend to concur when saying Malaysia is a peaceful country, with an efficient government which keeps the cities clean and green. The country has rather cheap food, and everyone tends to be nice and polite.
No. 9 Spain
The local culture is very friendly, and every visitor tends to have a nice time in Spain. Locals enjoy having tourists around, and are used to them, as their major cities receive a large percentage of tourists each year.
No. 8 Ireland
Known for its fun-loving people, Irish people are always ready to party. Along with beautiful landscapes and geographic attractions such as the Burren in the west and the Giant’s Causeway in the north, Ireland is indeed a great place to visit.
No. 7 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yes, Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the friendliest countries in the world. It is increasing its tourism rates rapidly every year, and is one of the most frequently visited countries in South-eastern Europe. A country with unusual architecture, exotic cuisine and unique music, Bosnia and Herzegovina is gaining a pretty good reputation among travelers.
No. 6 Turkey
Turkish people are considered some of the friendliest people around. This country is a delight, with all sorts of natural attractions and exquisite cuisine. Nevertheless, some natural disasters have altered the quality of life in Turkey over the past few years, and travelers might have to check for any warning signs before traveling.
No. 5 Portugal
Considered one of the 20 most popular tourist destinations in the world, Portugal receives about 13 million visitors a year. Portugal is a very peaceful country with a high quality of life, and its people are famous worldwide for their openness and kindness. Warm weather, delicious food, beautiful beaches and medieval castles… this is indeed an amazing place to visit.
No. 4 Morocco
Morocco, located in the North of Africa, has a very developed tourism industry. Moreover, it has a fascinating history, with an Islamic culture, gorgeous shorelines, and dynamic cities. Its residents are helpful and are used to having visitors and travelers around.
No. 3 South Africa
The local community of South Africa has a very welcoming nature. Tourism has been increasing over the past decade, and the overall development of the country is rapidly increasing. Moreover, its exotic views and wild animals offer an incredible holiday spot for the family.
No. 2 New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the most welcoming countries in the world, which was really put on the global tourism map after The Lord of the Rings movies were shot there over a decade ago. The small dual islands of New Zealand have a variety of geographical delights, from volcanic forests and snowy mountains to beautiful beaches and coasts. The local Maori civilization increases the cultural interest of this tourism spot as well. Amazing cities, incredible hiking destinations and great people: New Zealand is indeed a wonderful place to visit.
No. 1 Iceland
Believe it or not, this cold place has the warmest people around. This extreme destination has some of the most breath-taking landscapes in the world. According to the Lonely Planet, travelers to the country should expect “complimentary cakes and cookies, friendly intellectual banter, invites to pub crawls, eager hiking buddies and 50 new Facebook friends when you return home”. This is something that everyone will certainly find very appealing.
