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 ask