Bucket list destination? Man who has visited every country ranks Dominica among the best

A Norwegian man who has been to every country on Earth has named Dominica among his pick of the best nations.

Gunnar Garfors, a writer and media professional, became the youngest hobby traveller to visit all 198 countries – and at the age of 35 he broke a world record by travelling through five continents in the same day.

And in an article for MensXP, Garfors includes Dominica among his “most wondrous places”, placing it alongside exotic escapes such as New Zealand, Sierra Leone and Vietnam.

“One of the least known islands of the Caribbean so deserves to be seen by more people,” he said of the Nature Island.

“Of course, that would take away some of the charm of the volcanoes, Boiling Lake, the hidden beaches, and the rainforest. Never mind I said anything.”

Airports that can only handle propeller aircraft, he jokes, help it stay a little more off the grid than its neighbours.

'Hidden treasures'

“A place like Dominica gives visitors an authentic experience, something which is more important than ever before. It’s still unspoilt, it has a transformative vibe throughout, and it is home to amazing natural features,” they said.

“While the tourism offerings of places like Jamaica and Barbados are established, we are seeing a shift in consumers looking beyond the popular Caribbean and wanting to experience the lesser known.

“They are looking for new adventures and better stories – which is even more important in the age of social media, Instagram – and Dominica has the hidden treasures and many quirks that make it stand out. More travellers want to carve unique experiences for others to follow.

“We feel that it is now Dominica’s time.”

The other countries making up the list are Uruguay, Norway, Nicaragua, Kiribati, Madagascar and Romania.