What are the friendliest countries in the world?

'Best of' lists — By Bob Riel on March 16, 2010 at 4:36 pm

It’s a subjective question, obviously, and the answer may well depend on just where you have or haven’t traveled. Personally, I was struck by the hospitality of some Muslim cultures in the Middle East, particularly Jordan and Turkey. While traveling there, I had a cab driver buy me tea and saw people offer to give up seats in restaurants so my wife and I could have a better view of the local scenery. Every day, we were amazed by the hospitality of many of the individuals that we met.

So I was intrigued to run across this recent Lonely Planet story, which tries to come up with a list of the world’s friendliest countries. Turkey is on there, Jordan is not. It’s an interesting exercise, which has already provoked a few dozen comments by LP readers. Here is an excerpt:

Welcome to Thailand

Ireland – Centuries of turmoil have certainly taken their toll on the Irish: they’ve been left with a deliciously dark sense of humour and a welcoming attitude towards strangers. That famous ability of the Irish – to find craic (fun times with convivial company) in boom or bust times – means you’re always in for a treat. These days, after the end of the ‘Troubles’, a cautious optimism reigns supreme, infecting the land once again with the sense that anything’s possible.

Malawi – Malawians describe themselves as ‘the friendliest people in Africa’, living in the ‘warm heart of the continent’. Anyone who’s visited will know that the rare (for Africa) cohesion of the country’s ethnic groups is solid evidence for this, as is the people’s propensity to welcome you into their homes as well as their nation. Malawi is small, poor and without a lot of facilities, but with a greeting like that who needs Western-style comfort?

Thailand- Southeast Asia’s most-visited country is bound to offer a welter of stereotypes and clichés. Here are some: dazzling islands and beaches; lush and balmy weather; great shopping and great food; the ‘France of Asia’. Here’s another one: ‘world’s friendliest people’. Gawd, not another contender (see Fiji and Samoa). Why bother trying to analyse why the Thais are so easygoing and quick to smile? They just are, and that’s all there is to it.

The full article also includes Fiji, Vietnam, Scotland and a few other countries, including the United States. What do you think? What are the friendliest countries that you’ve experienced in your travels?

Photo credit: Wouterhagens via Wikimedia Commons.