Tourism is the most direct form of consumption through which European citizens' spending reaches the coffers of states with very different political systems. Unlike buying a product manufactured in a non-democratic country — where the impact is diffuse and mediated by complex supply chains — travelling to a country is the equivalent of paying its tourism taxes directly, sustaining its hotel industry and, in many cases, actively financing an international image that authoritarian regimes cultivate with precision.
The most visited destinations and their EIU score
- France — 100 million tourists/year — EIU 7.99 (flawed democracy) ✓
- Spain — 85 million — EIU 7.94 (flawed democracy) ✓
- United States — 77 million — EIU 7.85 (flawed democracy) ✓
- Turkey — 57 million — EIU 4.35 (hybrid regime) ✗
- Italy — 57 million — EIU 7.72 (flawed democracy) ✓
- Mexico — 42 million — EIU 6.96 (flawed democracy) ✓
- Thailand — 40 million — EIU 4.32 (hybrid regime) ✗
- Germany — 39 million — EIU 8.98 (full democracy) ✓
- China — 36 million — EIU 1.94 (authoritarian regime) ✗
- UAE (Dubai) — 22 million — EIU 2.41 (authoritarian regime) ✗
- Egypt — 15 million — EIU 3.06 (authoritarian regime) ✗
Turkey (EIU 4.35): the most complex case for European tourists
Turkey receives 57 million tourists annually — many of them Europeans travelling to Mediterranean destinations such as Antalya, Istanbul or Bodrum. The EIU index places Turkey at 4.35 — hybrid regime. The Turkish government has jailed over 150,000 people since the failed coup of 2016, has the world's highest rate of imprisoned journalists (according to RSF) and has closed more than 200 media outlets. The judiciary is not independent of the executive.
This does not mean tourism in Turkey is ethically equivalent to tourism in North Korea — there are important differences in degree. But it does mean that tourist spending in Turkey helps sustain the fiscal base of a regime that systematically represses its political opposition and civil society. Mediterranean alternatives with EIU scores above 6.0: Greece (7.35), Croatia (6.93), Portugal (7.94).
Dubai / UAE (EIU 2.41): the luxury of the elegant dystopia
Dubai receives 22 million tourists per year and has positioned itself as a global luxury destination. The EIU index gives the UAE 2.41 — authoritarian regime. There are no elections. No political parties. Migrant workers — who make up 90% of the emirate's workforce — have no right to unionise, cannot change employers without the employer's permission, and are deported if they go on strike. The construction of the skyscrapers and infrastructure tourists admire was carried out under the kafala system, one of the most restrictive for labour rights on the planet.
Thailand (EIU 4.32): the most visited Asian country with structural issues
Thailand is the most visited Asian destination for Europeans, scoring 4.32 on the EIU index — hybrid regime. Since the 2014 coup, the military junta has governed under a constitution designed to limit parliamentary power. The lèse-majesté law (Section 112 of the Thai Penal Code) penalises criticism of the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison — applied systematically against activists and journalists.
The best democratic destinations in the world
- Iceland (EIU 9.45) — volcanoes, northern lights, extreme nature, full democracy. No overtourism.
- New Zealand (EIU 9.61) — unique biodiversity, Māori culture, full democracy.
- Finland (EIU 9.30) — Arctic nature, emerging gastronomy, design, full democracy.
- Norway (EIU 9.81) — fjords, nature, social welfare. The highest-scoring country on the EIU index.
- Canada (EIU 8.69) — Rocky Mountains, Quebec, Vancouver. Full democracy.
- Australia (EIU 9.01) — Great Barrier Reef, Outback, cosmopolitan cities.
- Costa Rica (EIU 8.00) — tropical biodiversity, ecotourism, the only full democracy in Central America.
- Portugal (EIU 7.94) — Atlantic coast, gastronomy, Alentejo, accessible prices for Europeans.
- Uruguay (EIU 8.91) — Latin America's most democratic country (EIU), Punta del Este, Montevideo.
Tourism boycott or conscious tourism?
Democratic Market does not propose a general tourism boycott. The tourism industry employs millions of ordinary people who have no power over their country's political system. Depriving tour guides, hoteliers and craftspeople in Thailand or Turkey of income does not weaken their political regimes — it probably reinforces them by eliminating contact with tourists who sometimes act as witnesses.
What Democratic Market does propose is an honest look: that Europeans who care about democracy in their purchases should be able to apply the same logic to their holidays — at least as a starting point for an informed decision. As with all conscious consumption, perfection is impossible. But knowing what the EIU index says about your destination is the first step towards deciding coherently.
The 2025 EIU index ranks 167 countries. The top ten are Norway, Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Taiwan, Australia and Switzerland. All are full democracies with scores above 9.0. Eight of the ten have world-class tourist destinations.
This article was originally published at Democratic Market. Read the full version with additional analysis on our site.
