After I was in school, a buddy texted me with one thing alongside the traces of, “My flight is connecting via Cincinnati and Ohio shall be my twentieth state!” That was problematic as a result of (1) he was solely connecting on the airport, which shouldn’t rely as a real go to; and (2) the CVG airport isn’t truly positioned within the State of Ohio – it’s simply throughout the state line in Hebron, Kentucky. Oops!

Each time I do an interview, I’m requested what number of states or international locations that I’ve visited. It’s a irritating query, as a result of the reply depends upon how going someplace is outlined. Do you rely the cities, states or international locations that you just’ve flown over, or that you just’ve handed by on a ship? Do you rely a vacation spot in case you’ve solely modified planes in its airport? There are a lot of totally different opinions on this, with some believing that no matter nets the most important quantity is greatest. I’m a purist, although, and current the next guidelines for counting the variety of international locations, states or territories visited.

When Can You Declare That You’ve Been Someplace? These are Wheelchair Journey’s Guidelines for Counting International locations Visited

So as to rely a vacation spot, it is best to accomplish a minimum of two of the next actions throughout the state or nation that you’re visiting:

• Eat a meal from a restaurant, meals stand or different eating institution.
• Take part in a considerable vacationer or cultural exercise/expertise.
• Sleep in a single day at a lodge, mattress & breakfast, campground or personal residence.

For those who’ve accomplished two of the aforementioned actions on the vacation spot, it ought to rely, however the next guidelines additionally apply:

1. Flying over a state or nation doesn’t rely.
2. Touring via the territorial waters of a rustic with out going ashore doesn’t rely. Get off the boat!
3. Driving (or driving) via a state or nation with out stopping doesn’t rely. Get out of the automobile, bus or prepare!
4. Transiting via an airport, prepare station or bus depot doesn’t rely; vacationers will need to have experiences outdoors of the terminal.
5. One should typically clear customs/immigration of nations that shall be counted, until there’s a official cause that makes doing so inconceivable, impractical or inadvisable.

To show simply how dedicated I’m to those guidelines, I’d level to a rustic that I’ve flown to numerous occasions (greater than 10) and slept in a single day in a number of occasions (greater than 3), however nonetheless don’t rely as having visited. That nation is Qatar. I’ve flown Qatar Airways, related on the Doha Airport and slept in airport accommodations and lounges many occasions, however I’ve by no means entered the nation. It’s nonetheless on my listing of locations to go to, and someday I hope to depart the Doha Airport.

There’s additionally the time I briefly rolled throughout the border into Tanzania throughout my Kenya safari. I haven’t counted Tanzania as a visited nation.

How Many International locations Are There within the World?

Previous to my automobile accident, I dreamed of visiting each nation on this planet. After I turned a wheelchair person, I cleared the listing, restarted it at zero and vowed to go to each nation on this planet with my wheelchair. However, what’s the purpose? What’s the quantity I must hit?

The reply is, “it relies upon.” It depends upon which listing of nations you’re employed from, and which territories are counted as international locations. Listed below are just a few information factors price contemplating:

• The United Nations is comprised of 193 member states and a couple of observer states (Vatican Metropolis and Palestine).
• 11 different states declare independence, function as a de facto impartial state and/or have been acknowledged by a number of UN member states: Abkhazia, Artsakh, Cook dinner Islands, Kosovo, Niue, Northern Cyprus, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Somaliland, South Ossetia, Taiwan and Transnistria.
• Some vacationers acknowledge and rely territories claimed or administered by different international locations as international locations in their very own proper. This listing might embrace locations like Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and so forth.

For the needs of my very own listing of visited international locations, I solely rely states which have been formally acknowledged by the United Nations and which keep a relationship with the worldwide physique, plus Antarctica. Beneath that rubric, I’m counting in direction of a listing that at present numbers 196 international locations.

Counting the U.S. territories and locations like Gibraltar and Hong Kong would enhance my quantity, nevertheless it’s dishonest. My purpose is to go to each nation on this planet, which is a tall order, however my motivation doesn’t even have something to do with a quantity. Quite, I’m excited about visiting every of the world’s international locations in an effort to gather treasured moments — a scrumptious meal, a significant dialog, an inspiring efficiency — every of those an expertise that forges a reminiscence to cherish and keep in mind.

I suppose that basically have to be our purpose — not searching for to refill our map with pins marking the locations we’ve visited, however as a substitute marking the spots the place we’ve met one other human being, shared a meal, or laughed. These are the issues that can maintain us, each within the current second and sooner or later.

As for me, I’ve received 46 international locations and 1000’s of recollections price pinning to my journey map (up to now). I hope your individual travels will show to be simply as fruitful with respect to the gathering of memorable moments.