Travel can be transformative. At the same time, it often doesn’t come cheap.
Many of the world’s most desirable destinations – such as the dreamy resorts across the Maldives or Seychelles – cost thousands of dollars to visit. For some travelers, these places can feel out of reach.
However, price isn’t always synonymous with a life-changing travel experience. Safari company Go2Africa recently determined which destinations people are willing to pay up for by looking at a country’s tourist numbers and dividing that by its total tourism revenue in 2024, using data pulled by official tourism boards, ministries and reports.
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“The data shows something most travelers don’t expect: the amount a typical visitor spends in a country is one of the best clues for how expensive your trip will be once you arrive,” said Megan Dominion, spokesperson for Go2Africa, in a statement to USA TODAY. “Checking the average spend per tourist before you book is a simple hack as it instantly tells you whether you’re headed somewhere budget-friendly or somewhere a little more expensive.”
By analyzing a country’s per-visitor spending, the report offers insight into where travelers are willing to spend more – even if less people visit overall – because of the high-value travel experience. On the other hand, if a destination’s cost is low, it doesn’t mean it isn’t worth visiting – the tourism industry could be less commercialized, the usual visit is shorter (like day trips to the Vatican City) or it’s more remote.
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“Travelers should also not just consider how much they’ll spend in a location but where their money goes,” she continued. “In some destinations, spending supports large international operators, while in others it flows directly to local communities and conservation projects.”
Here are the destinations where tourists spend the least and most.
10 countries where tourists spend the most
The Freewinds cruise ship owned by the Church of Scientology is seen docked in l in Castries, Saint Lucia, on May 2, 2019.
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Antigua and Barbuda – $2,664
10 countries where tourists spend the least
This photograph shows a pharmacy sign indicating the current outside temperature of 38 degrees celsius, with the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica in the background.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 10 countries that cost tourists the most to visit, and the least