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Even with the AI craze, there’s still one thing missing: Smell-O-Vision.
Because if there was ever a continent worth experiencing first, it’s Asia – where sizzling street stalls, incense-filled temples and salty island breezes do half the convincing before you even book a flight.
Asia is wondrous in every sense, from sizzling food stalls to incense-filled temples, but even as certain sectors have exploded in popularity, there’s still plenty of room to put more heads on hotel pillows – at least in the eyes of the tourism boards.
In the age of overtourism, with countless reports of locals demanding their beloved cities back, the Travel Off Path team dug deep to round up four beautiful countries that practically roll out the welcome mat, even though some have already shattered all-time visitor records.
Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: Sri Lanka is the trendiest country in Asia. Despite being relatively remote, it is actually quite popular among Americans.
Maybe not honeymooners and the average couple looking to burn through their PTO, but digital nomads and adventurous backpackers nonetheless.
As one of the aforementioned countries attracting more visitors than ever before, Sri Lanka isn’t settling down yet – and who can blame them given its turbulent timeline of war and economic collapse?
Today, Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s most attractive countries to visit because it is so diverse with golden beaches, nature excursions and of course the postcard train rides that make us all jealous on TikTok.
That said, Sri Lanka is boosting its tourist image full reset, ditching its post-pandemic slogan in favor of a unified national brand, built around world-famous Ceylon tea, cricket and the island’s wider appeal.
Safety perception could also use a boost: travelers currently give it a 75/100 on our Safety Index:
Philippines 🇵🇭
Full disclosure: Manila is largely a snoozefest.
Check that. Manila can be a hellish landscape with its humidity, crowded streets and lack of notable attractions.
The dark underbelly not only serves as the country’s main stepping stone to its phenomenal island paradise, but has also become a magnet for look-at-me YouTubers who unpack dazzling realities ranging from families living underground to discarded street meat being re-cooked and sold as ‘pagpag’.
It’s true. Give it a Google.
Filipinos may come across as some of the happiest people on earth, and it is often said that they are that way because of the smiles on their faces even with empty pockets, but the reality is that if people were to look past the eyes of Manila, there are some truly amazing beach escapes that are worth the trek.
Join forces The plan is to work with Agoda to give tourism a much-needed boost, leveraging the booking giant’s global reach to attract more international travelers and highlight destinations beyond the usual island favorites, such as Cebu – one of the most easily accessible with its own flagship airline.
There is also still some work to be done in the field of safety in the Philippines. The current scores are only 74/100:
Vietnam🇻🇳
Cheap, magnetizing and wildly diverse, Vietnam is a real-life dream if you’re willing to sit in a metal tube for hours to get here – but that’s exactly what the country’s tourism board is hoping for.
Already smashing tourism records, there are still more rice terraces to admire, more beaches to discover and more back roads to traverse by motorbike – although Americans cannot drive here legally with just a US driver’s license or an international driver’s license.
Yes, it’s true.
While Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and lately Phu Quoc are all in vogue, Vietnam’s new marketing campaign confirms they highlight highland villages, coffee culture, eco-adventures, local festivals and immersive experiences designed to draw travelers beyond the usual hotspots – and convince them to stay a little longer.
Vietnam already has an advantage as one of the safest countries in Asia. The current scores are an impressive 90/100:
Myanmar🇲🇲
Well, this one is a doozy…
One of Asia’s least explored countries is trying to turn the page on its troubled reputation – or at least let the old university try to ignore the ongoing civil war and military rule gripping the country.
Myanmar is one of the few places in Asia where strict government tactics keep many tourists from visiting, despite its insanely captivating temples, dirt-cheap cuisine and hospitable locals, at least according to popular vloggers who have braved it to enter the country.
But it seems that Myanmar is trying to take a new turn and revise this very image as the new must-visit in Southeast Asia, with an exalted campaign despite the current no-go “Level 4” designation from the safety department, in addition to our safety index which reflects a paltry score of 15/100.
You have to start somewhere, right?
