Five countries that are actively welcoming travellers in 2026

As some of the world's most popular cities impose caps and surcharges, these places are expanding airports, easing visas and planning for sustainable growth.

As some of the world’s most popular destinations grapple with record crowds  – and increasingly creative ways to deal with them – a new set of countries is actively seeking more visitors in 2026.

While European cities debate caps, cruise bans and visitor surcharges, destinations across Africa, South America and Asia are expanding airports, relaxing visa rules and launching targeted campaigns to attract international travellers. And with good reason: tourism contributed nearly $12tn (£8.96tn) to the global economy in 2025  – around 10% of global GDP – as well as one-in-three new jobs created worldwide, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

The countries rolling out the welcome mat also have the advantage of learning from other destinations that grew too quickly. Many are investing early in sustainable infrastructure, slow-travel campaigns and community-based tourism models aimed at managing growth more deliberately.

We spoke to operators and residents in five countries actively courting international visitors and asked what makes each one worth the trip.

One of the driest and least populated countries on Earth, Namibia has long attracted travellers seeking truly remote experiences. In recent years, the country has doubled down on its investment in tourism infrastructure to broaden access while preserving its wilderness appeal. Since 2019, more than N$136m (£6.28m; $8.13m) has been directed towards road improvement in Etosha and Namib-Naukluft national parks, and the Namibia Tourism Board recently launched a marketing campaign to attract visitors from Asia, the Middle East and North America.

The country is one of the best in the world for wildlife spotting, with Etosha home to four of the Big Five. "Namibia is less crowded than other safari destinations, so you can often have sightings to yourself," said Joanna Reeve, a director for Intrepid Travel, which reports strong year-on-year growth for its Namibia itineraries.

The country is also widely recognised for conservation-led tourism. More than 80 communal conservancies cover 20% of Namibia's land – a model often cited as one of Africa's most successful examples of community-based wildlife management. This has the benefit of attracting more ecologically minded visitors who are looking to engage more deeply with landscapes and local communities.

"We've seen a sustained rise in demand for Namibia," said Jarrod Kyte, product and sales director at B-Corp tour operator Steppes Travel. "[It's] a destination that delivers dramatic landscapes and profoundly immersive encounters with nature." According to Kyte, few places capture this better than the NamibRand Nature Reserve, a designated Dark Sky Reserve known for exceptionally clear views of the Milky Way.

Improved regional air links are also reshaping itineraries. With increased connections between Windhoek and Maun, Victoria Falls, Livingstone and Lusaka, Kyte recommends first-time visitors combine Namibia with a neighbouring country for a broader Southern Africa adventure.

In 2025, Brazil welcomed more than nine million international visitors – the highest year-over-year tourism growth in the world last year, as a result of its concerted effort to attract new visitors. Still, for the world's fifth-largest country by area, the number is modest; France, a fraction of its size, receives more than 100 million annually. Brazil's government knows the potential for growth is huge and has put international investment behind it, but remains conscious of........

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