A vacation can last much longer than just the time we’re there. The memories it creates can stay with us forever, which is why so many of us choose to remember our time away through photographs and souvenirs.
Original article can be read here: https://www.clubmed.co.uk/l/blog/top-souvenirs-around-the-world
Personally, when I’m traveling around the world, I LOVE taking photographs and videos to create long last memories. But, I also love me an original souvenir or two.
I bet you know someone with a fridge full of magnets from far away destinations.
Here are the most popular (and in some cases odd) souvenirs from around the world.
United Kingdom
With its famously unpredictable weather, it’s no surprise that the UK’s most popular souvenir is an umbrella! Although a household staple for many who live in the country, tourists coming to experience the wet weather for themselves find the item a unique souvenir encompassing the UK in one.
For those visiting the US on vacation, their unique style of American sweets is the souvenir of choice to bring home to friends and family. Planning a trip to Australia? You’ll find the most popular souvenir is a boomerang. The boomerang is a globally recognised symbol of Oz that is used by Aboriginal Australian peoples for hunting.
Africa
Our research found that textiles are among the most sought after choice of souvenirs for those visiting African countries. In Nigeria, Aso Oke, a vibrant, traditional fabric worn by Yoruba people is a popular item to take home. Fabric is also the top souvenir for Zimbabwe and Cameroon. Hand woven rugs are a top choice of keepsake for those taking a trip to Malawi.
Carefully crafted, handmade wooden artifacts, beads and masks are also very popular souvenirs throughout the continent.
North America
For holidaymakers who like to take their taste buds on a trip, traditional cuisine souvenirs are in high demand. Countries in North America are most famous for souvenirs that taste as good as they look. In the US, tourists love to stock up on classic American chocolate. Visitors to Canada love to leave with home-grown maple syrup in their carry ons.
Countries including Ireland, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Grenada and Belgium all have chocolate as the top takeaway souvenir, and for good reason. It’s delicious! Coffee is the most popular for countries close to the equator such as Guatemala, Ecuador and Indonesia. Blue Mountain Coffee, a luxurious blend, is exclusively available to those travelling to Jamaica, with coffee lovers opting to take home the premium, mountain-grown mix over any other souvenir from the Caribbean country.
South America
Lovers of rum should head to Mauritius, Dominica, Barbados, Nicaragua and Venezuela. With it being their top souvenir export, these countries all know a thing or two about the tasty tipple. Each has their own unique flavours and provide the perfect gift to bring home to friends and family.
Australia & Other Exotic Islands
What better keepsake to take home than a piece of paradise itself? Seashells are highly popular as they’re cheap, easy to fit in luggage and lovely to look at. We discovered that The Bahamas, Nauru, Marshall Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis all have seashells and items made of shells as their top souvenir.
So, why not seize the day and collect your own shell souvenir with a trip to the Seychelles? The lush paradise boasts a number of beaches, coral reefs and nature reserves, making it the perfect 2021 travel destination to immerse yourself in the beauty of the natural world.
Asia
While some souvenirs will let you bring home another country’s unique cuisine, others are entwined with that country’s distinctive culture.
North Korea is notoriously difficult to visit, as you’ll usually have to be part of a government-approved organised tour. However, those who have visited have reported rather strange souvenirs… propaganda. From postcards to posters, souvenir shops across the country stock government-produced propaganda designed to further idolise their ruler Kim Jong-un and his controversial policies.
Strange souvenirs from around the world don’t always promote the nation’s leader, but also their beer. Tourists who visit Laos in Southeast Asia are most likely to come home with a t-shirt advertising the country’s most popular drink, Beer Lao.
Europe
Surprisingly, Denmark’s top souvenir is Lego. Yes, the toys, Lego. Legos were invented by a Danish carpenter back in the 1930s. Legos are reported as being much cheaper in their country of origin. New Zealand’s most popular souvenir is anything from the Lord of the Rings. Most of the movies were filmed in New Zealand!
Feeling inspired?
Maybe our souvenir map has got you dreaming of far away decisions. If you want to go on a trip of a lifetime, where you can create memories and do new experiences, download “The Complete Trip Planning E-Book“.
Methodology
We looked at the top articles of souvenirs from each country around the world and compiled a list to discover which souvenir is most popular for tourists to bring home from each country. If there was not a clear souvenir to attribute then the country was left out.
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