Travel tip #149: 5 Countries that need more tourists
Published 20 days ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader,
How are you doing?
I am still in Japan and broadcasting all the fantastic moments of the trip on our Instagram stories, go check them out here.
Have I shown you a side of Japan you didn't know existed and would love to meet? Come join us in June or October. See tour details here.
Note: We will be closing June bookings real soon so don't wait up if you are keen to come!
Last week I reflected on over tourism and this week I wanted to tell you about 5 countries that can't wait to welcome you.
5 Countries that need more tourists
There are 193 UN-recognised countries in the world but the top-10 receive the bulk of visitors. If you compare the world's most visited country, currently Spain but historically France, which receive close to 100 million visitors with the least visited, which received fewer than 10,000, the contrast is stark.
Somewhere in between, there are countries whose economies would benefit from more visitors. These are the ones I wanted to tell you about today.
Cambodia
As you know, I am just back from visiting Vietnam and Cambodia, I country I had been to many times before.
If I am honest, I was expecting Cambodia to be crowded and changed, much like some parts of Vietnam were.
I had been there last over 10 years prior, and I knew tourism infrastructure has developed a lot, so I was also expecting large numbers of tourists. The reality was different.
International arrivals have not recovered since the pandemic and they are still less than half of what they used to be.
There is a new airport, new roads, and so many activities and experiences that were not available before, and I feel that this is the best time to visit.
The country is beautiful, Angkor Wat is absolutely magical, so much so that I ended up spending two full days among the temples. And don't get me started on how hospitable and kind the Cambodian people are.
I am so so happy to be launching our tours there soon and show you the uber cute Hero rats uncovering landmines, the beautiful lotus farms, the women focused NGO that weaves water hyacinth into bag and accessories, and the many organizations offering training opportunities to local youth. I don't know if you ever tried Khmer food, but I love it.
Join the waitlist if you would like to be the first to know when this trip goes live.
Madagascar
Madagascar is a rarely visited country I know pretty well.
I spent 3 months working there 15 years ago and then returned in 2024 for scouting and in 2025 for our first group trip.
Every trip is has been amazing and I cannot recommend visiting enough. In my last visit, I also noted that the infrastructure in the north has improved a lot (finally!) and paved roads now make traveling so much more comfortable.
While independent travel is possible, you would need a lot of time to take buses and planes since options are limited, so a group trip is a good idea.
The unrest that followed the elections in late September cancelled travel plans for many, but things calmed down soon after and the country is back to normal, which is why we launched our new trip for 2027. Only one spot is left on this adventure.
Tanzania
The post election violence the country was immersed in last November was terrible and has very negatively affected the country's safety record. The situation has normalised, in particular for tourists, who spend most of their time in the national parks and Zanzibar, but tourism numbers remain low.
With so many people working and depending on the tourism industry, an increase in visitors would be a great thing. And in the meantime, you have a rare chance of enjoying a bit of respite when going wildlife tracking.
We have safari + Zanzibar tours in September, October and November this year that are almost sold out, and a Christmas and New Year's Eve trip. Our 2027 dates will launch soon.
If you ever wanted to take a safari trip, this is a great chance to enjoy quieter parks and fewer cars - especially because our tours already avoid the busier July and August months.
Moldova
This is one of the least visited countries in the world and the least visited in Europe. This tiny country near the Caucasus, is full of castles, wineries (with large networks of underground cellars), gastronomic experiences and culture.
I am exploring it as a short extension to our Georgia and Armenia trips and I am getting excited. Because the country is so small, you can stay in Chisinau and take day trips.
Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa caused massive destruction in Jamaica, but the country is back and open and ready to welcome tourism and continue reconstruction.
Tourism is key for this island nation and the tourism authority, Visit Jamaica, has a page with resources about reconstruction process and how anyone can help. It also shows what regions and hotels have reopened and what roads were affected.
Tourism is a great way to contribute to rebuilding and bringing back hope.
2026 / 2027 Full calendar of tours
Having fun in Japan!
Latest updates for 2026 tours: 2 Spots opened up on our previously sold out November Egypt trip, and we have only 1 spot left on our trips to Georgia, Tanzania (Luxe style), Morocco and Tuscany.
See the full list of our future trips below.
✅ = Trip is confirmed ☑️ = SOLD OUT 💃 = I or Meg will co-host these trips
2026 trips
🚗 Cuba: 29 Dec 2026 to 4 Jan, 2027 (New Year's Eve) >> Book here
🧘♀️ Bali: ✅ 20 to 28 Jun || 29 Aug to 6 Sep [Photographer onboard] || ✅ 3 to 11 Oct >> Book here
🌮 Oaxaca: 11 to 17 Oct || 8 – 14 Nov || 29 Dec 2026 to 4 Jan 2027 >> Book here
⛩️ Japan: 💃 ☑️ 28 Mar to 7 Apr [Photographer onboard] || ✅ 13 to 23 Jun || ✅ 13 to 23 Oct (beautiful fall colors) >> Book here
🐑 Iceland: ✅ 11 to 18 Oct || ✅ 25 Oct to 1 Nov >> Book here
🍝 Tuscany: ✅ 13 to 20 Jun [1 SPOT LEFT] || ☑️ 5 to 12 Sep >> Book here
🎄 Xmas markets: ✅ 21 to 29 Nov || 5 to 13 Dec >> Book here
🍷 Georgia:✅ 5 to 13 Sep [1 SPOT LEFT] >> Book here
🇦🇲 Armenia: 💃 ✅ 13 to 19 Sep >> Book here (200 EUR off if you book Georgia + Armenia)
🦪 Croatia & Montenegro: ✅ 31 May to 6 Jun >> Book here
