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From iconic holiday hotspots to places so severely marked by government advisories that most tourists tick them off entirely, we’ve put together a hefty list of 5 shocking destinations that are practically begging for more tourists.
Emphasis on ‘shocking’.
As a seasoned team here at Travel Off Path, it takes a lot to leave us truly stunned, as they say across the pond.
The truth is that travel has taken a turn for the worse, with concerns about overtourism boiling over among some of the world’s biggest household names – Barcelona being the obvious poster child of late.
So when we see destinations rolling out the welcome mat – or at least trying very hard to portray themselves that way – we don’t need our morning coffee to cheer us up.
As such, the following five destinations each have their own shock factor: some fall short on the tourism front, while others surprisingly want more visitors despite already being hugely popular.
The US of A 🇺🇸
Let’s start inland, shall we?
While domestic tourism may be stable, international tourism is tanked.
Point fingers all you want, but we’ve been dealing with this in several ways, like revealing Canadians aren’t crossing into neighboring Maine like they used to.
Whether it’s political ping-pong or a growing maze of barriers to entry, the fact is America has lost some of its appeal to international travelersespecially as new visa requirements for certain countries have made it more difficult to cross off countless bucket list cities that we hold dear.
Another aspect is safety concerns. Several countries have issued various security warnings regarding safety.
We have a US-dominant readership, and there appears to be no love lost as the US currently sees a low score of 79/100 on our real-time safety index:
Greece 🇬🇷
How can Greece ever want more tourists?
With Athens always a bustling summer hotspot and Santorini packed to the brim despite sky-high prices, there are certainly other little-known Greek islands, but when is enough enough?
Well, Greece claims it’s not really whitewashed islands that travelers miss; it’s the beautiful mountains overshadowed by seaside wine and cliffside villas.
Citing “the endless green,” tourism officials are urging visitors to venture beyond the coastline to regions like Thessaly and Volos, a pair of names that don’t often appear on itineraries.
But there are beautiful traditional villages, nature walks, skiing, and those often overlooked, that still feel undiscovered.
Try saying that in Santorini…
Greece is also known for being safe wherever you go. The current safety score is 90/100:
Bangladesh🇧🇩
If you’ve somehow ended up on the same algorithm as me, you’ll see Bangladesh popping up on social media quite a bit, but more often for visitors steeped in curiosity rather than those looking for luxury or sun-drenched shores.
But despite most travelers being willing to brave Bangladesh and start their adventure in the urban sprawl of Dhaka, believe it or not, this country is a beach destination, with places like Cox’s Bazaar cleaning up their act to become more mainstream.
In addition, the latest tourism campaign is promoting its culture — no, not the questionable street food on TikTok — to lure more curious minds who have grown tired of cookie-cutter destinations. Safety perception still has a long way to go as travelers claim to feel unsafe, reducing this to just 50/100 according to the latest score:
Myanmar🇲🇲
You may have noticed a theme here, starting with the most notable names and working further from home across the world.
Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia, but despite its mega-popular neighbors, it is overlooked due to its reputation for strict government practices and headache-inducing entry rules.
But this war-torn country is determined to change its tune and become a Southeast Asian hotspot again for eagle-eyed travelers looking to embrace astonishing temples, otherworldly nature and warm, hospitable people, far from the iron fist of the government.
As for how safe travelers can feel, let’s just say there’s still a long way to go, but you have to start somewhere! Myanmar’s current score is a very low 15/100.
Syria 🇸🇾
Ever heard a good word about Syria?
Not if you watch the regular news.
As far as YouTubers go, there are more positive takes than hearing the same trigger words over and over again, like “terrorism,” “war,” and “famine.”
You’ve probably heard that the Assad regime fell in December 2024 and has since been rebranded as an emerging tourist destination for the same curious minds that make Myanmar attractive.
As one of the most historic countries in the world, you can expect fascinating ruins, grand mosques, Old World bazaars and perhaps the most surprising, postcard-worthy turquoise waters in one of the last frontiers for Mediterranean tourism.
Syria’s tourism campaign, which itself is difficult to type because it was so off-limits for decades, presents future festivals and cultural extravaganzas and seeks to revive a virtually dead economic engine.
Just like Myanmar, it is extremely low on our safety index with a score of 15/100:
