By Oliver Smith
Seaside charm: Sete, France.Credit: iStock
The fastest growing by % increase in tourist arrivals
The following 10 countries saw the sharpest increase in visitor numbers during 2015, compared with the previous year. The figures come courtesy of the United Nations World Travel Organisation (UNWTO). Some countries have not yet returned data for the fourth quarter of 2015, in which case we have used projections based on performance during the first nine months of the year.
10. Seychelles
+ 18.7% to 276,000
Why go? Because they are among the most beautiful islands on Earth, with white sand beaches frequented by egg-laying turtles and some extraordinarily romantic hotels.
See: View from above: Stunning aerial footage of the Seychelles
9. Chile
+ 20.4% to 4.42m
Why go? To marvel at the colourful houses of Valparaiso, the otherworldly Atacama, and the spectacular mountains of Patagonia.
See: Bucket list: One of the world's greatest one day hikes
8. Thailand
+22.3% to 30.3m
Thailand's growing popularity:
1996 7,244,000
2001 10,133,000
2006 13,822,000
2015 30,342,000
Why go? For beaches, nightlife, temples, fantastic street food and luxury hotels.
See: 20 things that will shock first-time visitors to Thailand
Buddhist temple Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai, Thailand.Credit: iStock
7. Panama
+22.4% to 2.13m
Why go? Panama expert Chris Moss lists five good reasons to go: "The Panama Canal, an astounding feat of engineering and surprisingly beautiful to look at thanks to the surrounding rainforest; the town ofBoquete and nearby cloud forest-covered peaks for hiking, rafting, visiting coffee plantations and hot springs; Bocas del Toro archipelago, where pristine tropical forests lie on deserted beaches, for the moment; and the beaches of San Blas' 378 islands (only 49 inhabited), clichéd tropical perfection (used in the Survivor TV show) but also home to indigenous Kuna communities."
6. Bosnia and Herzegovina
+28.2% to 687,000
Why go? Because Sarajevo is a scandalously underrated city break destination. "Surrounded by green hills and bisected by a river, it is a place of spectacular beauty, and though the scars of the siege of the 1990s are still evident, Sarajevans display heartening resilience and vitality," says Adrian Bridge.
See: Split personalities: The world's great cities that are cut in two
The old bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.Credit: iStock
5. Iceland
+29.8% to 1.29m
How we fell for Iceland:
1996 201,000
2001 301,000
2006 422,000
2015 1,295,000
Why go? To explore the frozen landscapes that feature so prominently in Game of Thrones, and to see Reykjavik, perhaps Europe's coolest capital city.
See: Isolated Iceland's tourist boom
4. Japan
+47.5% to 19.7m
Japan comes of age:
1996 3,684,000
2001 4,772,000
2006 7,334,000
2015 19,784,000
Why go? For peaceful Kyoto, hectic Toyko, flower-filled Hokkaido and beaches that look like they've been airlifted from the South Pacific.
See: 20 things that will shock first-time visitors to Japan
Credit: istock
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