If your idea of a perfect holiday is getting away from traffic, crowds and the constant noise of modern life, Bhutan may be the place to go. Bhutan has been ranked the quietest country in the world in the latest Noise-Free Nations Index by South African tour operator Go2Africa. The Noise-Free Index was developed using data from global databases, studies and government reports.
In a world that rarely seems to switch off, silence is becoming increasingly valuable. And according to the latest Noise-Free Nations Index, Bhutan offers more of it than anywhere else.
Bhutan scored 89.44 out of 100 in the ranking, which measured environmental tranquillity using seven indicators, including population and tourist density, rural and protected land, and motor vehicle, airport and railway density.
According to Go2Africa, Bhutan’s extensive forests, mountains, and sparsely populated highland areas contributed to its strong score. The country’s large proportion of protected areas was also taken into account.
Bhutan’s controlled tourism model was another factor highlighted in the assessment, with measures including the Sustainable Development Fee and requirements for visitors to use licensed local tourism services.
Bhutan is followed by Namibia at 86.69, Botswana at 80.86, Zambia at 80.64, Gabon at 80.61, Venezuela at 80.20, Chad at 79.82, the Central African Republic at 78.18, Mongolia at 75.53, and Bolivia at 75.40.
At the other end, Singapore recorded the lowest Quiet Score at 6.78. The Maldives followed at 8.48, while Barbados, Qatar and Lebanon completed the bottom five.
The interest in quieter destinations comes as concerns grow over the effects of noise pollution.
According to the World Health Organisation, noise can affect sleep and heart health, while traffic-related noise results in the loss of at least one million healthy life-years annually in Western Europe alone. The WHO ranks noise pollution as the second-largest environmental threat to health, after air pollution.
Kelzang Chhophyel
Edited by Sonam Pem
