5 countries that really need more travelers in 2026

2026-01-28 21:40:00, Kuriozitete CNA

Last year, 1.1 billion tourists traveled abroad between January and September, a number 5 percent higher than the same nine-month period in 2024. This year, more people are expected to travel, despite the widely documented and damaging effects of overtourism in popular destinations such as Madrid, the Canary Islands and Mexico City.

However, research shows that travelers are aware of the impacts of tourism. In Booking.com’s Travel and Sustainability 2025 report, 84 percent of people surveyed said sustainability was an important consideration when planning a vacation.

Choosing to visit lesser-known regions takes demand away from places that are already overcrowded and allows countries that need more visitors to grow their tourism industries.

Which destinations need more tourism right now?

MOLDOVA

5 countries that really need more travelers in 2026

For years, this small nation held the title of “the least visited country in Europe,” but that trajectory changed during the period January-September 2025, when Moldova welcomed an estimated 480,000 tourists, a 6.5 percent increase compared to 2024. However, increasing the numbers has not been an easy task. With about 70 percent of the country destroyed during World Wars I and II, Moldovans have slowly rebuilt their home and are now able to expand infrastructure to accommodate growing tourism. In the modest capital Chisinau, seek out the National History Museum for an insight into pre-Soviet life, while the gardens of the Stefan cel Mare Central Park showcase the greats of local literature in the form of sculptures. Traditional coffee kiosks are ideal for people-watching. Away from the city, stroll to the world’s largest wine cellar at Milestii Mici, founded in 1969.

Gambia

5 countries that really need more travelers in 2026

Tourism has become a vital economy in Gambia as the country battles the effects of climate change on its once-thriving agricultural sector. Travelers have been coming here since the 1970s, when package deals were all the rage.

Now, the country focuses on a more community-led genre of tourism, where local people and businesses have become the cornerstone of inclusive travel experiences.

While the silky white sands of the west coast are not to be missed, the best way to experience the real Gambia is to embark on the Ninki Nanka Trail. The guided route takes you (on foot and by boat) into the lesser-explored interior, following the mangrove-fringed upper reaches of the Gambia River, dipping in and out of coastal villages.

Here, you experience the traditional Gambian way of life, where salt, weaving and blacksmithing still flourish. Accommodation comes in the form of lodges, guest houses and riverboats.

Jordan

5 countries that really need more travelers in 2026

For more than two years, Jordan has been dealing with a decline in tourism due to the devastating events taking place in the Middle East. With numbers slowly rising again, now is the time to experience the country's iconic sites like Petra without the tourist crowds.

What’s even more special is how Jordan’s tourism is built on community enterprise and experiences, and the walking sections of the 675km Jordan Trail are one of the best ways to meet the people who make this country so special. Highlights include exploring the pine forests of Ajloun with local guide Eisa Dweekat, enjoying a delicious lunch of maqqloubeh (a traditional rice dish with chicken and vegetables, turned upside down before being served) with entrepreneur Nabila Mustafa, staying with Bedouin families in the central desert, and star-gazing with the team at Feynan Lodge, on the outskirts of the Dana Biosphere.

Tajikistan

5 countries that really need more travelers in 2026

An adventure in Central Asia’s smallest country, Tajikistan, is easier than you might think. Flights arrive in the capital Dushanbe several times a week, via Dubai or Istanbul. The historic Victory Park is the best place to get your bearings and enjoy panoramic views over the city, and Mehrgon Bazaar is home to perhaps the tastiest dried fruit in town. Tajikistan’s highlights, however, lie among its mountain ranges, and hiking here means getting in touch with true nature. The Fann Mountain trails are covered in juniper forests that reflect the bluest of glacial lakes. Tajik guides lead trips with responsible operators, including Much Better Adventures’ Trek the Fann Mountains itinerary, which takes small groups (maximum 12 people) camping in some of the most extraordinary scenery.

Paraguay

5 countries that really need more travelers in 2026

Despite being smaller than neighboring countries like Brazil, Paraguay has a long history. Colonization, dictatorships, and regional wars, this nation has seen it all. As a result, residents recognize the importance of peace and enjoy a slow, traditional lifestyle. More than half of the country is covered by the Chaco, an expanse of dry forests, wetlands, and farmland. The Chaco is also home to over 500 species of birds, including flamingos (April to October).

In the vibrant capital, Asuncion, you can stroll through the municipal market during the day and enjoy the street food market at night.

The Museo de las Memorias is the best place to learn how this humble country overthrew its radical dictator, Alfredo Stroessner, in 1989./ CNA