It has an estimated population of 26,000 residents and about 1 million visitors annually. Kish Island is the third most-visited vacation destination in Southwest Asia, after Dubai and Sharm el-Sheikh.Tourists from many—but not all—foreign nations wishing to enter Kish Free Zone from legal ports are not required to obtain any visa prior to travel. For those travelers, upon-arrival travel permits are stamped valid for 14 days by Kish officials.