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While a handful of headline destinations receive millions – even tens of millions – of visitors each year, many remarkable places go virtually unnoticed by mainstream tourism. Intrepid Travel's annual "Not Hot List" seeks to inspire travellers to discover different and unique experiences, with communities that can truly benefit from more visitors.
The conversation around "touristification" often focuses on overcrowding, but the reverse scenario is equally compelling. Many destinations are missing out on the economic and cultural benefits tourism can bring.
In destinations where visitor numbers remain modest, there’s often untapped capacity – and a strong desire – to welcome more travellers in a way that strengthens, rather than strains, local communities. Tourism can support small businesses, create jobs, fund conservation projects and help preserve culture.
The places on this list combine authenticity with ambition: where tourism strategies, infrastructure investments and community-led initiatives are laying the foundations for sustainable growth.
The 2026 list features alternative regions in popular countries such as Croatia and Mexico, guiding travellers beyond crowded hotspots, as well as emerging destinations such as Sierra Leone and Kyrgyzstan, long overlooked by international visitors.
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