Give overtourism the flick: The countries that really want visitors in 2025

Look beyond the crowded streets of western Europe and wave bye bye to tourist taxes, Airbnb bans and increasing restrictions being put in place in some of our favourite destinations.

Some countries around the globe are actively chasing tourism so why not make 2025 the year you discover what could easily become your new go-go? 

Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

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Mongolia 

If your first question is 'Where?' (followed by 'Why?'), that's exactly why the Mongolian Government has launched a campaign to attract more tourists, with the Powers That Be setting a visitor target of a million a year from 2023 to 2025. 

Not only have they simplified the visa process, offering visa-free visits for citizens of over 60 countries (including Australia), they've added extra flights.

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Sandwiched between China and Russia, Mongolia (less than four hours flight time from Seoul) is perfect for adventurers keen to explore a multitude of landscapes: deserts, lush steppes, lakes and towering sand dunes.

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Tours such as G Adventures Nomadic Mongolia even allow you to stay with nomads in their gers as you try to get a handle on rural living, and even throw in some throat singing performances.

Local prices are dirt cheap for Australians, the people are welcoming and you'll see a part of the globe that's as far removed from our day-to-day as you can get. 

Georgia

For a long time, Georgia was eclipsed by its tourism big shot neighbour, Turkey, but now that prices are climbing (and climbing) in the latter, tourists are increasingly looking at what's beyond its borders.

It's not all about the fickle nature of tourism, of course, Georgia has kicked off a 10-year development plan to boost all manner of tourism, from those on cruises to those with mobility challenges by improving public transport, opening new cruise ports and developing international signage so that it's easier to navigate the country independently.

So why Georgia? It's all about getting front row access to the birthplace of wine, fortified mountain villages, a wealth of UNESCO sites and curious folklore. 

Greenland

Sure, this destination has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons, but despite who owns it and who wants it, it's difficult to deny ice-gripped Greenland is finally becoming a travel destination in its own right.

It makes sense of course, for this is the land of northern lights viewing, adventure tourism around the Ilulissat Icejfjord, ice fishing, whale watching and learning about Innuit culture.

Until recently Greenland has been just that little bit too remote to attract the kind of tourism Iceland enjoys (around 100,000 visitors per annum compared with two million).

You could get to Greenland via cruise ship, or on a flight from Iceland or Denmark only, but this changed at the end of 2024 when an international airport opened in Nuuk, the capital - soon to be joined by another in Ilulissat in 2026. The new infrastructure makes Greenland far more accessible - a move that's going to see those tourism figures head skywards. 

Saudi Arabia

When it comes to Saudi Arabia, there are two distinct camps of thinking: those who say 'absolutely not' and others who are intrigued by visiting a land that only opened its borders to international arrivals in 2019.

They might have been a little late to the party, but it's clear that in their quest to get 150 million visitors (they had a record 30 million international arrivals in 2024), the Saudis aren't doing anything by half-measure. 

In the build-up to the World Expo and FIFA World Cup, both of which the Kingdom is hosting in 2030 and 2034 respectively, tourism is not front and central with relaxed visa rules, a growing focus on cultural events, but also the kind of developments that speak of large amounts of coin, such as the opulent resorts along the newly opened Red Sea Project, the oasis city of AlUla, and the luxury passenger train Dream of the Desert which is set to hit the rails next year.  

Taiwan

First it was Japan, then South Korea and now the Taiwanese Government is saying, well why not Taiwan next?

They're not only asking the question but actively paying international tourists to visit by way of the Taiwan the Lucky Land scheme that will award 500,000 travellers with $5,000 New Taiwan Dollars (around $250) if they win a draw in the arrivals hall of the airport upon landing. The scheme runs until June 30, 2025 so you'll have to get in quick to be in with a chance.

Now, the Taiwanese Tourism Bureau might be throwing money around to grow local tourism, but if people knew what they were missing out on, there's a chance they wouldn't have to bother.

Capital Taipei is famous for its night markets and ancient temples, but much of what makes this tiny destination so great is what's immediately outside the metropolitan areas: the rolling tea plantations, the lush forests, the towering peaks of Taroko Gorge and the archipelago of Penghu which serves up 90 picturesque islands perfect for that resort holiday.