These are the least visited countries in the world you should travel to

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1 of 24 | Tuvalu - Rising waters are the biggest threat to this small South Pacific nation, where only the main island, Funafuti (shown here), has an airport. There you can stroll along the white sand beaches, which are at risk due to rising sea levels. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 2,000 (Fiona Goodall / Getty Images).

2 of 24 | Kiribati - The distant islands of Kiribati are truly isolated. Neighboring Fiji is relatively close to 2,200 kilometers, and few travelers make the trip. Experience a botaki in a maneaba (meeting room) outdoors. International tourist arrivals in 2016: 6,000 (Justin McManus / The AGE / Fairfax Media / Getty Images).

3 of 24 | Marshall Islands - Bikini was named when the US nuclear tests occurred. UU. in the Bikini atoll of the islands. Although the island is still radioactive, the surrounding waters have become a spectacular dive site. You can dive in a ship graveyard transformed into a mysterious underwater playground. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 6,000. (Credit: Reinhard Dirscherl / ullstein bild / Getty Images)

4 of 24 | Montserrat - The power of the eruptions of the Soufrière Hills volcano in the 90s shaped the landscape of this Caribbean island. Visitors come by plane or ferry from nearby Antigua to see the consequences of the volcano's eruption. There you can see a "Pompeii" of today, then rest on new beaches created with crumbled volcanic stone. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 8,000.

5 of 24 | Niue - From July to October, visitors to this Polynesian island can join trained guides to swim with humpback whales, the size of a bus, one of the few places on earth where possible. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 10,000. (Nick Perry / AP)

6 of 24 | American Samoa - This group of South Pacific islands northeast of Fiji is a 6-hour flight to Honolulu and the only U.S. territory. in the southern hemisphere. The Matafao Peak rises above the Pago Pago port on the island of Tutuila. There you can share with endangered fruit bats in the American Samoa National Park. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 20,000 (Torsten Blackwood / AFP / Getty Images).

7 of 24 | Solomon Islands - Decades after the last skirmishes of World War II, the seabed of the islands is home to sunken seaplanes, tankers and submarines for divers to explore. Discover the history of World War II in a vast archipelago. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 26,000. (Bildagentur Prism / UIG / Getty Images).

8 of 24 | Comoros Islands - Often called "scented islands", the islands of Comoros, located between Madagascar and Mozambique, have beautiful beaches and a history of cultivation of aromatic plants for the development of essences. Here the sun sets over Moroni, the capital. where you can breathe the scented air of an island that is full of flowers. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 28,000. (Tony Karumba / AFP / Getty Images).

9 of 24 | Federated States of Micronesia - Home of UNESCO's Mad Madol, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these 100 islets created by man were created by a great Pacific dynasty with basalt palaces and temples built between 1200 and 1500 after Christ. Visit an ancient ceremonial center that rises from the ocean. International tourist arrivals in 2016: 30,000. (Nicole Evatt / AP)

10 of 24 | Djibouti - Located at the confluence of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti houses white salt beaches that surround the hypersaline lake Assal. Enjoy an off-planet experience without paying for an expensive space flight. International tourist arrivals in 2010: 51,000 (Felix Wong / South China Morning Post / Getty Images)

11 of 24 | Sierra Leone - Although Westerners only remember Sierra Leone for civil war and Ebola outbreaks, this West African country has come a long way. There are dusty beaches, surf breaks and sea turtle nesting. This is Tokeh Beach near Freetown, a photo-postcard of beach vacations off the tourist map. Did we mention that there are pygmy hippos here? International tourist arrivals in 2016: 54,000. (Issouf Sanogo / AFP / Getty Images).

12 of 24 | Guinea - Hire a guide for an unforgettable trip through the rocky landscape in search of rain cascades, sharp canyons and Guinean hospitality. Tone your legs on a walk that unites the culture through the mountains. International tourist arrivals in 2016: 60,000.

13 of 24 | Tonga - There are hidden beaches to explore in the Kingdom of Tonga, a group of islands in the South Pacific where hollow channels in the volcanic rock create spectacular holes. Watch the eruption of the ocean from the rocky coast of Tonga. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 62,000. (Torsten Blackwood / AFP / Getty Images).

14 of 24 | Anguilla - Surrounded by pale sand and topazes, the British overseas territory of Anguilla has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, but there are not many visitors, as tourism has been limited to high-end resorts. Experience the high quality of the Caribbean with plenty of space to relax. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 68,000. (Cedrick Isham Calvados / AFP / Getty Images).

15 of 24 | East Timor - The mountains that once provided refuge for Timorese resistance fighters are now a testing ground for the Timor Tour, a 5-day mountain bike race in the newest country in Asia. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 74,000 (STR / AFP / Getty Images).

16 of 24 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - An international airport was recently opened in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2017, which means that there are not too many outsiders who have discovered it yet. Join an island necklace with pearl-colored beaches. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 76,000. (Chris Jackson / Getty Images).

17 of 24 | San Marino - Italy surrounds the Republic of San Marino, of only 62 square kilometers. Established in 301, the only remaining state of the Italian city is also the oldest surviving republic in the world. Test yourself on the journey of your life. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 74,000. (Marco Bertorello / AFP / Getty Images).

18 of 24 | Dominica - Since 2010, the island's volcanic landscape has attracted the most adventurous travelers to the first long-distance hiking trail in the Caribbean, the 185km course, of the Waitukubuli National Trail. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 79,000. (Chris Jackson / Getty Images).

19 of 24 | Liechtenstein - Located between Austria and Switzerland, the Principality of Liechtenstein is one of the two countries on the planet that are surrounded by two sides. Gutenberg Castle, shown here, and other historic castles watch over all this. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 79,000. (Jan Hetfleisch / Getty Images).

20 of 24 | Vanuatu - In the South Pacific you will be rewarded with the type of island landscape that people use as desktop images. But be careful with the Yasur volcano on Mount Tanna, one of the busiest in the world. You can also see the reckless "land divers" who practice the original extreme sport. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 109,000. (Thierry Suzan / Figarophoto / Redux)

21 of 24 | Saint Kitts and Nevis - A couple of islands with a dreamlike landscape of the Caribbean, Saint Kitts and Nevis (the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton) has magnificent beaches and a relaxed spirit. There you can enjoy the traditional fresh Caribbean cuisine of the garden and the sea. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 114,000. (Chris Jackson / Getty Images).

22 of 24 | New Caledonia - Whether you are sailing, diving or just swimming on the beach, the French overseas territory of New Caledonia is home to magnificent lagoons with an amazing diversity of marine life. Relax in the lagoons of New Caledonia with a pack of dugong. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 121,000. (Theo Rouby / AFP / Getty Images).

23 of 24 | Eritrea - While some parts of this East African country remain risky, there is much to tempt travelers like world class diving, wonderfully diverse cultures and traditional foods. In addition, the capital Asmara is a place of pilgrimage for fans of modernist architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. International tourist arrivals in 2016: 142,000. (Maheder Haileselassie / AFP / Getty Images).

24 of 24 | New Caledonia - Whether you are sailing, diving or just swimming on the beach, the French overseas territory of New Caledonia is home to magnificent lagoons with an amazing diversity of marine life. Relax in the lagoons of New Caledonia with a pack of dugong. International tourist arrivals in 2017: 121,000. (Theo Rouby / AFP / Getty Images).

(CNN) - Parisian bridges are loaded with “love locks,” and thousands of visitors crowd in the churches of Barcelona and in the historic center of Dubrovnik. In Italy, attempts to reduce the impact of tourism in cities range from segregating visitors to imposing fines on those who wear sandals.

Since there are usually a lot of headlines that eagerly document excessive tourism, it is easy to think that the planet is simply full.

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But if you move away from the very worn tourist trails, you will discover another travel story altogether. In much of the world there are places that are eager to receive tourists, and when practiced in a sustainable way, where tourism can even help alleviate poverty.

The contrast between the most visited and least visited places is marked. In 2017, almost 87 million international tourists arrived in France. That same year, just 2,000 international tourists visited the country of Tuvalu, in the South Pacific, where it is easy to find a beach, or even an entire island, for yourself.

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Based on the most recent data compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, this list reflects many of the least visited countries in the world and overseas territories, where you will find precious natural beauty, culture and history without having to go through a scrub of selfiesticks .

Unfortunately it is incomplete and some of the most magnificent places on Earth, including the lush jungle of Guinea-Bissau and the extensive shores of Lake Chad, have been excluded due to the safety recommendations of the US Department of State. However, what remains, shows how gratifying it can be to leave behind the popular sites, whether resting on the beaches of Sierra Leone, exploring the castles of the top of the mountain of Liechtenstein or diving in a shipwreck in the South Pacific.

And if you can't imagine a week in Kiribati or imagine the taste of traditional East Timor cuisine, that's fine. By turning the globe and booking a flight to a country that you don't know much about, you will infuse the trip with a sense of wonder. That, after all, is what you travel for.

Explore the gallery above to see the least visited destinations and the reasons why you should visit them.

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Originally published in May 2019

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