In this article, we present the 15 least friendly countries in Asia. You can also skip the detailed overview of countries with low competitiveness for travel and tourism, including visa approval rates, and go directly to the 5 least friendly countries in Asia.
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), the sustainable development of the travel and tourism sector contributes to the economic development and competitiveness of countries. In its 2019 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, WEF declared Europe and Eurasia to be the most competitive region in the world, followed by Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
Asia is the fastest growing region in the world, with its GDP expected to account for 50% of the global economy by 2040. The economic opportunities the continent offers have attracted a large number of investors and job seekers from around the world to Asia. Additionally, the region is known for its mild climate, unique culture and landscapes, enhancing its reputation as a growing tourist destination.
2023 is set to be a great year for tourism in Turkey, with tourist numbers expected to reach nearly 50 million, up 10.3% year-on-year. This year, Ankara waived the need for travelers from the US, Canada and Mexico to obtain an e-visa for trips of less than 90 days, which is likely to further boost tourism in Turkey. Seeing the country’s appeal as a major tourist destination, two hospitality giants, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:WH) and Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR), have announced expansion in Turkey.
With over 100 hotels in operation and 20 more in development, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:WH) is the largest hotel chain in Turkey. Ramada by Wyndham Karapinar and Days Hotel by Wyndham Istanbul Esenyurt are some of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ (NYSE:WH) recent projects in Turkey. Last September, Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) announced its expansion in Turkey and signed 13 deals, adding another 2,000 rooms to its portfolio in Turkey, including the highly anticipated Fairfield Inn by Marriott. Currently, Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR) operates over 48 properties in Turkey, spanning 8,000 rooms across 21 different brands.
Last year was an exceptional one for the United Arab Emirates, with over 17 million tourists visiting the country. Dubai, in particular, has established itself as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations thanks to its ultra-modern architecture, luxury shopping, vibrant nightlife and an embracing local culture. As a result, the emirate has seen its real estate and hospitality businesses boom.
A recent UK-based study revealed that Dubai is the most profitable city in the world for Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) landlords. The average nightly rental for an Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) property near the Burj Khalifa is $1,150. According to the study, landlords who list their property on Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) can break even and recoup their investment in about four months on average.
Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are examples of countries that have benefited economically from developing their tourism industry and encouraging international travellers with high visa approval rates. That said, the welcoming and friendly attitude of locals towards tourists, immigrants and expats also plays a key role in defining a country’s friendliness.
There are many countries in the world, and even in Asia, where foreigners cannot travel easily due to unfriendly travel policies and underdeveloped travel and tourism industries. So, this time we will focus on the least tourist-friendly countries in Asia.
methodology
We have drawn on three sources to rank the most unfriendly countries in Asia: our recent article, The 25 Most Unfriendliest Countries in the World, the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019, and the Passport Index’s 2024 Welcoming Countries Ranking.
Each country’s ranking in each of these three sources was analyzed and a score was assigned for each indicator. Finally, the scores for each indicator were tallied to arrive at an overall score. The 15 least friendly countries in Asia are listed in descending order of their overall scores.
If you’re interested, check out Top 15 Friendliest Countries in Asia.
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So, let’s take a look at the list of the most unfriendly countries in Asia.
15. Lebanon
Score: 0.84
We start off with Lebanon, a country located in a conflict-ridden region, with a divided political system and plagued by institutional sectarianism. Yahoo Finance and Insider Monkey recently ranked Lebanon 7th in countries that dislike American tourists. Passport Index ranks Lebanon 43rd on its list of the world’s most welcoming countries, and Beirut allows entry to travelers from 103 countries with a visa on arrival or electronic travel authorization (eTA).
14. Turkmenistan
Score: 0.81
Turkmenistan is one of the most closed societies in the world, with limited press freedom and heavy regulation. Restrictions on individual travel and difficulties in obtaining visas have earned Turkmenistan a reputation as one of the least friendly countries in Asia. According to the Passport Index, Turkmenistan does not allow travelers from any country to enter with a visa on arrival or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), making it one of the least welcoming countries in the world.
13. Brunei
Score: 0.72
Brunei is home to a wealth of beautiful sights, beaches, and rainforests. Despite this, it is one of the least touristed countries in the world. The World Economic Forum ranked Brunei 72nd in the world for tourism and travel. The Passport Index also ranked the Asian country 72nd in its ranking of the most welcoming countries in the world. Only passengers holding passports from 63 countries are eligible for visa on arrival or eTA entry in Brunei.
12. Uzbekistan
Score: 0.70
Despite being home to many historical sites in Central Asia, Uzbekistan attracts few foreign tourists due to its underdeveloped tourism and travel infrastructure. In 2023, more than 3 million foreigners visited Uzbekistan for tourism purposes. Uzbekistan is one of the most unfriendly countries in Asia.
11. Tajikistan
Score: 0.66
Tajikistan is another Central Asian country that makes it onto the list of Asia’s most unfriendly countries. Most people would have a hard time pointing out Tajikistan on a map, as it is one of the least visited countries in the world and is often overshadowed by larger nations like China, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. Tajikistan offers entry visa services to travelers from 87 countries and ranks 57th (out of 92) on the Passport Index’s list of the world’s most welcoming countries. WEF ranks Tajikistan 104th out of 140 countries in travel and tourism competitiveness.
10. Myanmar
Score: 0.65
Myanmar is one of the most unfriendly countries in Asia. The country has earned its unfriendly reputation due to its long history of political instability, human rights violations, and military coups (still ongoing). Strict travel restrictions meant Myanmar was only able to welcome 1 million foreign tourists in 2023. According to the Passport Index, Myanmar ranks 88th on the list of the world’s most welcoming countries, with only 11 countries offering visa-free entry (visa on arrival or eTA).
9. Mongolia
Score: 0.59
Mongolia is one of the least welcoming countries in the world, offering visa-on-arrival and eTA services to passport holders of only 67 countries. It is ranked 93rd out of 140 countries in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Tourism and Travel Competitiveness Ranking. Most of Mongolia’s inhabitants still live a nomadic lifestyle, and the tourism industry is underdeveloped and fairly new. Only 600,000 international tourists visited Mongolia in 2023.
8. Kyrgyzstan
Score: 0.58
Kyrgyzstan is one of the least friendly countries in Asia. It ranks 110th in the WEF’s Tourist Friendliness Index and 60th in the Passport Index’s Welcoming Countries Index. That said, the country’s lakes and mountains are a tourist attraction, and the tourism industry is slowly beginning to show signs of growth. In 2023, approximately 7 million international travelers traveled to Kyrgyzstan.
7. Kuwait
Score: 0.52
Next up among the most unfriendly countries in Asia is Kuwait, declared the worst destination in the world for expatriates by Expat Insider in 2022. The country ranked last out of 52 countries surveyed, with expatriates disgusted with the quality of life in Kuwait, calling the locals “unfriendly.” The Passport Index also ranked Kuwait as one of the least welcoming countries in the world, with visa on arrival or eTA entry services only available to passport holders from 58 countries.
6. Iraq
Score: 0.46
Iraq ranks 6th in the list of most unfriendly countries in Asia. It was recently ranked as the 8th most unfriendly country in the world by Yahoo Finance and Insider Monkey. The country has been a high-risk area for quite some time due to prolonged civil war and terrorist activities. It ranks 80th (out of 92 countries) in Passport Index’s list of most welcoming countries.
Click to keep reading to find out the five most unfriendly countries in Asia.
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Disclosure: None. The post Top 15 Most Unfriendly Countries in Asia originally appeared on Insider Monkey.
