[Vienna, Austria]VitalyEdush / iStock For many, traveling is a pleasure that can be enjoyed a few times a year. For others, vacation days are lost and never to be seen again. SO AFTER DISCOVERING THAT US EMPLOYEES HAD A STAGGERING 658 MILLION UNUSED VACATION DAYS IN 2015, WE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHICH COUNTRIES EXERCISE THEIR FREEDOM TO TRAVEL THE MOST. The Travel & Tourism Intelligence Center (Tourism IC) released a study two years ago that ranked the most well-traveled citizens in the world. The data, which is still relevant today, was calculated by the number of domestic and international trips taken per year. "It's unlikely that there would be any changes in the top 20 countries, as it's measure in trips per capita, so there's no revised data for this year," says Arnie van Groesen, a travel and tourism analyst at Tourism IC. Based on this comprehensive study, we ranked the top 15 countries in reverse order. In addition, we thew in more information about where the residents in each country prefer to travel as well as the number of paid days of vacation the citizens receive each year, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Find out if your country made the list of passionate travelers. 15. AUSTRIA [VIENNA]VITALYEDUSH / ISTOCK NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 2.7 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 25 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 13 days Austrians are modest travelers, nearly splitting the number of domestic and international trips they take evenly at 1.3 and 1.4 respectively. Domestic destinations include hot spots like Vienna, Lech, and Salzburg, but St. Anton am Arlberg, Eben am Achensee are common picks. International destinations vary based on flight prices, but Italy, Germany, Croatia, and Slovenia are among the places that appeal to the Austrian traveler. 14. SWITZERLAND [Switzerland]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 2.7 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 20 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 0 days The Swiss take a total of 2.7 annual trips per capita, which include 1.1 domestic trips and 1.6 international vacations. In addition to Italy, Spain, and France, the locals plan getaways to Corsica, Croatia, Malta, Turkey, and Greece. And depending on the season, Geneva, Zurich, Interlaken, Zermatt, Lucerne, St. Moritz, and the Montreux Riviera are also popular among domestic travelers. 13. UNITED KINGDOM [london]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 2.9 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 28 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 0 days Believe it or not, citizens in the United Kingdom only take two domestic trips and 0.9 international trips per year. Popular local attractions include Isle of Anglesey, which is where Prince William and Kate Middleton lived for the first years of their married life, Hever Castle, which is Judi Dench’s favorite castle, Isle of Eriska in Scotland, Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales, Brighton, and the chic countryside of Somerset. "When Brits aren't enjoying a staycation, they love to visit Spainor Greece for beach vacations, France for easy weekend jaunts, and the U.S. for everything from theme parks to national parks," says Meredith Pearson of VisitBritain. 12. GERMANY [Kreuzberg Berlin Germany]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 3.1 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 20 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 10 days Per capita, Germans come in next with two domestic trips and 1.1 international trips every year. Within the country, Bavaria, the North and Baltic Seas (for the beaches), and Berlin are a few popular spots, while international travelers jet-set to Spain, Turkey, Italy, Croatia, Austria, Greece, Scandinavia, France, and Greece. "Many people take vacation domestically to the North and Baltic Sea, but Portugal and Bali seem to be very popular right now," says Lisa Hubner of the German National Tourist Office. 11. SPAIN [Oviedo, Spain]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 3.3 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 22 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 12 days Folks in Spain tend to take more domestic trips (3.1) than international vacations (0.2). During the summer, most Spaniards head to places known for their beautiful beaches, including Ibiza, Minorca, Majorca, and the Canary Islands. Residents in northern Spain usually vacation in the south (think Malaga and Almeria). And when the weather cools down, they look for cheap flights, scoring inexpensive deals to cities like London, Paris, and Rome. 10. FRANCE [Adorable little girls with map of Paris background the Eiffel tower travel kids]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 3.5 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 30 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 1 day The French take 3.1 domestic trips and 0.4 international trips annually. Although a trip somewhere within the country is more common, they spend their off-duty hours in international destinations such as Portugal, Corsica, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. "Generally, it depends on what region of France you hail from, but the overlying trend is visiting coast cities," says Mi Mi Chloe Park who does media relations for Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency. For example, it’s not uncommon for Bordeaux residents to take a trip to Biarritz or for Parisians to plan a quick getaway to Normandy. 9. AUSTRALIA [Bondi Beach Sydney Australia]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 3.8 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 20 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 8 days Australians take a total of 3.8 trips per year, which include 3.4 domestic getaways and 0.4 international vacations. Down Under, there’s no shortage of popular beach getaways (Sydney, Melbourne, and Queensland are favorites). "Australians also love to walk or hike in gorgeous natural surroundings like Tasmania, the Twelve Apostles in Victoria, and any national park -- many are located along the coastline of the country," says Julie Earle-Levine of Tourism Australia. And Bali, London, and India are a few popular destinations Aussies visit when making a trip abroad. 8. CANADA [MONTREAL]VITALYEDUSH / ISTOCKNUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 4.1 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 10 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 9 days America’s northern friends clinched the number eight spot in the study. Per capita, Canadians take 3.1 domestic trips and 1 outbound or international trip every year. The U.S., Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Cuba are some of the top places they visit when traveling abroad. Specifically, U.S. cities like New York City, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Seattle are popular choices. According to Newspapers Canada, about 45 percent of Canadians travel within the country -- primarily to western Canada (think Ontario and Quebec), . 7. NEW ZEALAND [bungee jump queenstown]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 4.3 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 20 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 10 days The Kiwis in New Zealand take 3.8 domestic trips and 0.5 trips abroad. Only a three- or four-hour flight away, Fiji and Australia are at the top of the list of international vacation destinations for locals. Australia’s coast, particularly the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, is usually the primary destination for most New Zealanders who travel outside of the country. The U.K. and U.S. are favorites for Kiwis heading on a long-haul trip, and the Cook Islands, Phuket, Philippines, and Singapore are popular among the country’s more adventurous travelers. 6. HONG KONG [Hong Kong]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 4.3 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 7 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 12 days Tied with New Zealand, Hong Kong is the only Asian country to make the top 10 in Travel & Tourism Intelligence Center’s study. Residents spend more time on international trips (4.3) than domestic getaways (.03). Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are a few places Hong Kongese enjoy traveling outside of the country. In some way, all three spots satisfy the locals' top travel interests, which include food, wine, shopping, and taking a dip in a hot springs. 5. NORWAY [Oslo, Norway]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 5.2 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 25 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 0 days Taking 3.2 trips within the country and two trips abroad each year, Norway's residents come in fifth for the most-traveled citizens in the world. Many Norwegians still opt for an active vacation at home or a staycation. "Norwegians are getting better at traveling around their own country," says Kristin Krohn Devold, NHO (Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise). Many own cabins in the country's more remote areas and visit them during their time off for long hikes or skiing. 4. DENMARK [denmark]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 5.3 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 25 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 0 days In Denmark, residents plan and take a total of 5.3 trips each year. This includes 3.9 domestic vacations and 1.4 international excursions. Denmark’s winters can be long and the summer weather can be iffy, so it’s not surprising that Danes travel to places like Majorca, Tenerife, Barcelona, Alhambra, Crete, and Malta for their warmer climate. And it's not just about the temps -- direct flights, family-friendly getaway options, and recreational activities like golf and hiking are other reasons that Danes frequent these spots. 3. SWEDEN [Södermalm Sweden]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 6 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 25 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 0 days Per capita, Swedes plan an average of 4.4 trips within the country and 1.6 international vacations per year. They enjoy visiting Spain -- namely, Majorca, Barcelona, and Malaga. Antalya, Sardinia, Sicily, and even New York City are other spots that attract the country's well-traveled citizens. 2. UNITED STATES [grand canyon]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 6.7 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 0 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 0 days Despite the fact there are no laws that give U.S. citizens the right to an allotted number of vacation days, the country is still ranked number two in the Tourism IC’s study. The average American takes 6.5 domestic trips and 0.2 international vacations per year, confirming that most residents prefer to stay close to home. According to U.S. Travel Association’s Economic Review of Travel in America, U.S. residents spent $814 billion traveling within the country in 2015, compared to $110 billion spent traveling abroad. The majority of Americans who traveled abroad in 2016 visited Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, South America, and Central America, according the National Travel and Tourism Office’s U.S. International Air Passenger Statistics Report. Based on the U.S. Travel Association’s Answer Sheet, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan, and China are popular picks for U.S. citizens. And as for domestic travel, Americans continue to head to hot spots like Charleston, New Orleans, Savannah, Santa Fe, Nashville, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York. 1. FINLAND [Helsinki, Finland]VitalyEdush / iStock NUMBER OF TRIPS PER YEAR: 7.5 LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID VACATION: 25 days LEGAL RIGHT TO PAID HOLIDAYS: 0 days Finland rounds out the list for the most well-traveled citizens in the world. Per capita, the average Finn takes 5.8 domestic trips and 1.7 trips abroad. The locals enjoy warmer destinations like the Canary Islands and Turkey -- namely, Las Palmas, Tenerife, Antalya, and Chania, according to Finavia, a company that operates the country's airports and navigation systems. NOW WATCH: The story of Lisa Brennan-Jobs, the daughter Steve Jobs claimed wasn't his
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