These travel destinations have a novel solution to improving their communities–more tourists.
In an era of Instagram-fueled travel, many popular destinations are buckling beneath seemingly unrelenting overtourism. But there are a few often-overlooked locations that are suffering from the opposite ailment: undertourism. While Santorini, Bali, Venice, Barcelona, Koh Samui (thanks, White Lotus), Machu Picchu, and more are bursting at the seams with tourists, some regions are still trying to get you and your wallets’ attention.
This is because tourism, when done responsibly, has the power to positively shape communities, inject skilled jobs into the economy, fund wildlife and ecological conservation, and provide travelers with truly unique experiences not pasted all over Instagram.
Since not all under-visited destinations have the infrastructure — or hotel rooms! — to handle an influx of tourism, the list I’ve compiled focuses on destinations that are ready for visitors, begging for them, even. Residents in these destinations are working hard to grow their fledgling tourism industries, and visiting these places can help build up the local communities, protect the planet, and relieve the burden on over-touristed hot spots like Bali, Indonesia, or Kyoto, Japan.
These undertouristed destinations are ready to be thrust into the limelight.
The eighth continent. One of 17 countries worldwide labeled “megadiverse,” with over 90% of the island’s quirky wildlife considered endemic. Boasting wildlife, trekking, jungles, beaches, road trips, diving, and a hearty foodie culture, and yet, unbelievably, Madagascar barely cracks a quarter of a million visitors per year.
While the island’s sporadic visitors usually head to the same few easily-accessible destinations on a quick trip,Roadtrip Africa’s 4×4 car rentals allow you to explore the island’s far-flung national parks, chunky Baobab trees, quiet beaches, and bug-eyed lemurs at your leisure. This is where the magic happens. You can trek in Andringitra National Park, search for Sifaka in Isalo, and bounce along the rutted roads of remote indigenous villages. Residents of these communities hope that with more foreign tourists opting in to road trips, the government will be incentivized to invest in much-needed infrastructure. Trips like this also spread the economic benefits of tourism beyond the crowded capital of Antananarivo.
With a modest goal of attracting half a million tourists annually, a boost in tourism would also help to protect the endemic wildlife struggling to beat extinction in Madagascar’s numerous national parks. With more visitors, there’s all the more reason (and money) to protect the native wildlife and forests.
Pakistan has been steadily gaining more mainstream popularity thanks to the dramatic landscapes and towering mountain peaks of Gilgit-Baltistan. But the Hunza Valley within GB gets all the love.
In patriarchal Pakistan, women working as guides or running their own companies in rural areas is rare. Tourism in Ghizer is intentionally being shaped to include local women and strengthen indigenous communities thanks to Coyote Den Ishkoman. The guesthouse is not only perfectly positioned to revel in the natural beauty of the valley, but also employs local women as guides and offers women-only tours to off-beat places like these in Pakistan. Residents of the district hope that an increase in tourism can put their lovely landscapes on the map and improve the lives of women and locals by providing much-needed job opportunities. Pakistan’s government as a whole has been pushing for more tourism, and it’s never been easier to visit now that they have done away with invitation letters and waived the E-visa fee for many nationalities.
Sustainable, eco-conscious, and future-focused, Palau is one of the most beautiful nations in the vast Pacific. It’s a divers’ paradise, with an abundance of other attractions, including incredible kayaking tours through unspoiled turquoise bays, swimming with stingless jellyfish, lots of WW2 history, and lush jungles with gushing waterfalls. For lack of a better comparison, it’s similar to the Philippines, without ANY of the crowds.
With about 40% of all private-sector jobs in this teeny country being tourism-related, Native Palauans need more tourist traffic. The government is emphasizing high-value, low-impact visitors who can boost the economy without destroying the fragile ecosystem. In fact, this tropical island cares so much about the planet that they make you sign a pledge declaring you’ll act in an ecologically and culturally responsible way for the duration of your stay when you pass through immigration.
While most islands struggle to maintain the balance between welcoming travelers and preserving their delicate natural spaces, Palau walks the line well and is ready to welcome more.
Ancient Mesopotamian marshes, the historic gates of Babylon, spiraling sandstone minarets, mouthwatering cuisine, bustling markets, dazzling mosques, mountain treks—the list of Iraqi attractions goes on and on. But the country has struggled to shed its “dangerous” reputation despite years of stability. And LGBTQ+ travelers may wish to reconsider travel to the region.
Today, most visitors are still religious tourists. ButBilweekend, a local travel company, would like that to change. In between cups of sweet tea and fluffy bread dipped in date syrup and tahini, they want to enshrine Iraq as the next heavy-hitting cultural travel destination of the Middle East. Move over, Egypt.
From the 4,000-year-old Ziggurat of Ur to the Yazidi city of Lalish, where everyone goes barefoot, there is no shortage of unique and important heritage to preserve in the country. It’s the cradle of civilization after all.
Traveling to Iraq to break the stigma isn’t the only way increased tourism can help the under-visited country. It also promotes cultural exchange, provides countless jobs for residents, lets you see the incredible wonders the desert holds, and ensures that these iconic and timeless artifacts remain for generations.
While the current U.S. government guidelines list Iraq as “Do Not Travel” due to security concerns, you can use local resources and your own judgment to determine if it’s the right trip for you.
As a veteran safri-goer, this is the most underrated safari destination in all of East Africa. While searching for the Big Five on the great plains of Kenya or Tanzania is admittedly wonderful, Uganda offers varied ecosystems (jungles, waterfalls, grasslands, etc.) and immersive cultural encounters with indigenous tribes like the Karamoya, while attracting less than half the visitors of its neighbors. Why crowd into the Maasai Mara when you can visit far-flung parks like Kidepo National Park and have the animal encounters all to yourself?
Uganda has no shortage of parks and protected wild spaces. You can go trekking in the Rwenzori, spot scary-looking shoebills in Mabamba Swamp, camp with hippos in Murchison Falls, watch tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth, or go primate trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kibale, or Mgahinga withVolcanoes Safaris, a Ugandan-owned pioneer of ethical luxury travel and great-ape ecotourism. Over the years, primate trekking has increased tourism to Uganda and, in the process, helped stabilize the rapidly shrinking Mountain Gorilla populations. Historically, in Uganda, less visitation has led to more poaching problems.
The conservation fees paid when visiting these diverse parks help fund additional park protection and coveted ranger jobs.
Japan receives nearly 40 million tourists each year. Most first-time visitors to the country stop in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. But about 200 years ago, Tsuruoka was the Kyoto of the day; nature and temple-centric, albeit crowded. Despite maintaining a rail connection to Tokyo, Tsuruoka lost its visitors over time, but definitely not its charm. The mountainous seaside town on the Northwest coast of Honshu features a multi-day trek and a Shinto pilgrimage site, Dewa Sanzan, and bears the honor of being named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy for its unique local cuisine. It’s a major sake-producing region, with bubbling natural hot springs, forests filled with Raccoon Dogs and Asian Black Bears, and ryokans that rival the best of Japan.
Not only would your visit relieve some of the pressure on more popular nature destinations, but it would also bring attention to Shojin Ryori, the regional cuisine that’s totally vegan, harm-free, and locally sourced, eaten along the Dewa Sanzan trail.
Helping along the rebirth of international tourism in Tsuruoka can broaden the narrow view of the country portrayed online and finally fill the rooms in all the local guesthouses.
Mongolia is a nature-lover and photographer’s dream. It’s a vast country roughly the size of Alaska (or six times the size of the UK), yet with a population reminiscent of San Diego, California, which makes it one of the least densely inhabited places in the world. Visitors can walk in the steps of Chinggis Khan and his ancient empire, sleep beneath the world’s most unspoiled starry skies, and climb to the high dunes of the Gobi Desert. You can even ride reindeer with the Tsaatan tribe through the lush forests of Siberia or watch the Eagle Hunters of the Altai hone their craft.
Alongside its few residents, the country also has few visitors. Fortunately, the slow trickle of tourists into Mongolia has allowed the government to focus on preserving traditional heritage and wildlife, and on promoting responsible tourism, rather than buckling under the demands of the masses. This year, the region hopes to welcome 1 million tourists to the land of Eternal Blue Sky.
The tourism model in Mongolia is nearly as diverse as its landscapes. Guides utilize Ger homes all across the country to accommodate guests, which really integrates the entire country’s population into its tourism industry. An increase in responsible tourism can reduce rural financial reliance on herding and mining while reinforcing the importance of ancient cultural traditions, thereby preserving the most unique aspects of Mongolian life.
Hundreds of thousands of people trek through Nepal’s mountains each year. Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, Lang Tang Valley, and now the Manaslu Circuit feature long lines of hikers vying for space in tea houses, hoping to bag a big-name trail. But to maintain fragile mountain ecosystems, quiet local villages, and general hiking enjoyment, travelers must spread out. It’s not like the country has a shortage of breathtaking trails to choose from.
Nepali-owned trekking companyHimalayan Masters is encouraging lesser-known tea-house treks, such as the Mount Kanchenjunga Circuit in Nepal’s far eastern corner, instead.
Unlike the Annapurna Circuit, the Mount Kanchenjunga circuit follows a narrow walking path, not a road. You’ll have unrivaled and unspoiled views, cross five different glacier systems, and, if you’re lucky, spot the elusive Red Panda and Snow Leopard in their natural habitats. There’s no shortage of cultural encounters with diverse ethnic groups and high peak passes, either.
Pressed between the towering spires of Tibet, Eastern Nepal, and Sikkim, India, Kanchenjunga is the world’s third-highest peak. On the trail, you’ll pass through villages still eager for tourists, sleep in traditional tea houses or residents’ homes rather than the commercial hotel-style type on the mainstream routes, and still have the opportunity to see high peaks like Mount Everest, Makalu, and Cho Oyu as you ascend.
Tucked into the northern coast of South America, sandwiched between the Guianas, Suriname is the smallest country in South America, and a consistently forgotten-about one, at that. But this Amazon Rainforest-covered destination has turned over a new leaf. After deposing its drug-trafficking-accused dictator, Suriname elected the first female president of its National Democratic Party and, during the annual New York climate week in September, announced her administration’s commitment to conserve 90% of the country’s vast rainforest while seeking to boost the country through sustainable ecotourism.
Residents are thrilled. Eco-tourism is a model that allows many small businesses run by locals to thrive.
In the past, cruise-travelers were the bread and butter of Suriname’s tourism industry, barely venturing further than the colonial streets of Paramaribo. Today, you can jet off in a prop plane into the unplumbed depths of Suriname’s rainforest, one of the most pristine and untouched on the continent, and immerse yourself in local villages and indigenous culture while searching for iconic Amazonian wildlife. It’s an adventure travel destination for sure, but your visit helps protect the continent’s natural environment and biodiversity.
Until the relatively recent year of 1974, Bhutan was completely closed off from the outside world. Tourism to the Kingdom was not an option. Television and radio were banned in the Kingdom until 1999. Even today, the Mahāyāna Buddhist Kingdom levies the highest tourist visa fees in the world, $100 per day per person as of 2023. In 2022, it was $200 per day. This fee reduction is one of many signs that Bhutan wants to attract more tourists. It just wants to maintain the standard of “high-value, low-impact” tourists who come to Bhutan for a short stay and who vow to respect the country’s unique nature and culture.
And there’s a lot to protect: spectacular monasteries like the Tiger’s Nest clinging to cliffsides, glacial valleys, pristine mountain vistas, and herds of odd-looking Takin in the high peaks. That’s to say nothing of the nation’s unique Buddhist culture and Indigenous traditions.
Over the years, Bhutan has made headlines for its novel emphasis on GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) rather than GDP. Instead of pushing development and economic growth at all costs, Bhutan focuses on the well-being of its people and its natural environment. This ideology extends to the tourism industry. If it’s not positively impacting its citizens, it’s not worth pursuing at all.
While a visit to Bhutan might be expensive, it’s one of the few places in the world you can visit with a clean conscience, knowing your dollar is working to better the country and protect the planet.
