Vanuatu, a state in Oceania, is the only jurisdiction that allows investors to obtain citizenship by investment in record time. The Vanuatu archipelago is located around 1,750 km east of Australia, 500 km north-east of New Caledonia, west of Fiji and south of the Solomon Islands. Vanuatu consists of more than 80 islands. Most of the islands are inhabited, and some have active volcanoes. The country's territory is mountainous, mainly covered with tropical rainforests. Like most of the area, it is prone to earthquakes and tidal waves. Formerly the jointly administered Anglo-French condominium of the New Hebrides, Vanuatu achieved independence in 1980. The name Vanuatu means Our Land Forever in many of the locally used Melanesian languages. The capital, largest city, and commercial centre is Port-Vila (Vila), on Éfaté.Vanuatu is a worldwide favourite destination for travellers wanting a unique tropical destination that is relatively untouched by massive tourism trades. In fact, it is so beautiful that Vanuatu was ranked sixth on the Lonely Planet's list of the Top Ten Countries in the eagerly-awaited annual publication titled Best in Travel 2011.The indigenous population, called ni-Vanuatu, is overwhelmingly Melanesian, though some of the outlying islands have Polynesian populations. There are also small minorities of Europeans, Micronesians, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Roughly three-fourths of the population lives in rural areas, but since independence the urban centres of Luganville and Port-Vila have drawn a significant number of people attracted by better opportunities.Subsistence agriculture has traditionally been the economic base of Vanuatu, together with an elaborate exchange network within and between islands. Since independence, Vanuatu’s tourism and offshore financial services have emerged as the largest earners of foreign income. The growing lucre generated by tourism has attracted the attention of foreign companies seeking to develop land into resorts and other attractions.Although the frequent changes of government in the late 20th and early 21st centuries indicated a sometimes fragile stability, overall Vanuatu was considered one of the more peaceful and successful countries of the region.