Does it count as country visited?

Question

Think about this situation:

You were backpacking...travelling from country A to country B...but you had to make a conection flight on country C. Does country C count the "countries visited-list"?

Answer 1

No, it doesn't. Legally, you have only visited the country if immigration let you into the country (which in this instance they haven't as you are still airside). Ethically, the consensus amongst tourists and travellers is that you have to have seen and/or experienced something of that country (examples include venturing into the city to visit a tourist spot or to grab a bite to eat in between connections).

Answer 2

No!
Not at all, I've had onward connections via Amsterdam for the past 7 years, I've been forced to stop over due to airline/airport problems in the past, but only this year have I 'visited' there. So no, it doesn't count unless you get out of the airport and actually spend some time in the country other than having to be put up at a hotel by the airline!

Answer 3

No, I wouldn't count it unless you go through some type of immigration. I won't say unless you got your passport stamped since some countries I have visited do not stamp passports when you come in from certain countries. IE....When you are an American citizen or a legal permanent resident and visit Canada or even border towns in Mexico your passport does not get stamped. Traveling between Norway, Denmark, and Sweden you do not get your passport stamped, also a few of the EU nations now have combined immigration process and do not stamp your passport when you travel in between them.

Answer 4

If you were just inside the airport and haven't been outside to see more, I don't think that counts. At least, if you were outside the airport for a short ride or something that would have been a short visit.

Answer 5

I have 2 lists of countries: the ones I've actually been in and toured around, including just one city; and "airport countries" if I've just been in the airport. You could have your own set of 2 lists...

Answer 6

If your passport got stamped or you had to go through any extra things or permission to go there, then I would say yes. But if your passport didn't get stamped and you stayed inn the airport and didn't get to see anything, then I would say, no.

Although I don't know what the harm would be in saying that you were there because in all actuality, you did go to country c.

Answer 7

Who are you keeping the list for? If it's just for your own ego so you can tell your buddies you're more world-traveled and experienced (therefore more qualified to become President of the US) so count it. Heck, count the countries you flew over - you were in their airspace.

Answer 8

The rule I go by is you have to step outside of the vehicle you were traveling in. For me you have to phsically put your foot down on that location. If you didn't get off the plane for me it would not have counted. Otherwise you are just passing through.

Answer 9

Yeah, I don't see why not. You have physically set foot on the land of that counrty, even if it is just another old airport. You've inhaled the air of that land! Maybe not seen a great deal but hey ho. At least you can say you've been there.

Answer 10

If somebody asks if i've got ever been to a rustic that i've got purely had a layover in, I consistently say confident, yet make sparkling it via asserting purely a layover interior the airport. you have easily been on that countries soil, yet technically in no way entered the rustic.