Even with the AI craze, there’s still one thing missing: Smell-O-Vision.
Because if there were ever a continent worth experiencing nose-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 which way, from sizzling street-food stalls to incense-filled temples, but even as certain pockets have exploded in popularity, there’s still plenty of room to put more heads on hotel pillows — at least in the eyes of tourism boards.
In the day and age of overtourism, with countless reports of locals demanding their beloved cities back, the Travel Off Path team dug deep to round up 4 beautiful countries practically rolling out the welcome mat, even as some have already crushed all-time visitor records.
Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: Sri Lanka is Asia’s trendiest country. Despite being relatively far-flung, it’s actually quite popular for Americans.
Maybe not honeymooners and your average couple looking to burn through their PTO, but digital nomads and adventurous backpackers, nonetheless.
Being one of those aforementioned countries seeing more visitors than ever before, Sri Lanka isn’t settling — and who can blame them given its turbulent timeline of war and economic collapse?
Nowadays Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s most enticing countries to visit, being so diverse with golden beaches, wildlife excursions, and of course the postcard train rides we’re all jealous of on TikTok.
That said, Sri Lanka is giving its tourism image a complete reset, retiring its post-pandemic slogan in favor of a unified national brand built around world-famous Ceylon tea, cricket, and the island’s broader appeal.
Safety perception could use a boost too, with travelers currently giving it a 75/100 on our Safety Index:
Philippines 🇵🇭
Full disclosure: Manila, is a largely snoozefest.
Check that. Manila can be a hellscape with its humidity, overcrowded streets, and lack of standout attractions.
In fact, beyond serving as the country’s main springboard to its phenomenal paradise islands, its dark underbelly has become a magnet for look-at-me YouTubers unpacking eye-popping realities ranging from families living underground to discarded street meat recooked and sold as “pagpag”.
It’s true. Give it a Goog.
Filipinos may come across as some of the happiest people on Earth, and are often claimed to be that way due to the smiles on their faces even with empty pockets, but the reality is if people would see past Manila’s eyesores, there are some truly astonishing beach escapes worth the trek.
Joining forces with Agoda, the plan is to give tourism a much-needed jolt of life, using the booking giant’s global reach to lure more international travelers and highlight destinations beyond the usual island favorites, such as Cebu — one of the easiest to get to with its own flagship airline.
The Philippines has some work to do too regarding safety. Current scores are just 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 on end to get here — but that’s exactly what the country’s tourism board is hoping for.
Already shattering tourism records, there are still more rice terraces to admire, more beaches to discover, and more backroads to traverse by motorbike — though Americans cannot legally drive here using only a U.S. license or international driving permit.
Yep, it’s true.
While Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and lately Phu Quoc have been all the rage, Vietnam’s new marketing campaign confirms they’re spotlighting highland villages, coffee culture, eco-adventures, local festivals, and immersive experiences designed to draw travelers beyond its usual hotspots — and convince them to stay a bit longer.
Vietnam does already have a leg up being one of Asia’s safest countries. Current scores are an impressive 90/100:
Myanmar 🇲🇲
Well, this one is a doozy…
One of Asia’s least-explored nations is attempting to turn the page on its troubled reputation — or at least give the ol’ college try to ignore the ongoing civil war and military rule gripping the country.
Myanmar is one of those rare places across Asia where stringent government tactics deter many tourists from visiting despite its insanely captivating temples, dirt-cheap cuisine, and welcoming locals, at least according to popular vloggers who’ve braved entering.
But it appears Myanmar is trying to turn over a new leaf to overhaul this very image as a the new must-visit in Southeast Asia, putting forth a lofty campaign despite its current no-go “Level 4” designation from the Safety Department, in addition to our Safety Index reflecting a measly 15/100 score.
Gotta start somewhere, right?
