Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea are a few of the most popular destinations for Filipino travelers.
If you have already visited these countries and looking for new places to visit, here’s a rundown of underrated tourist destinations, according to travel experts.
Nepal
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One of the recommendations of Philippine Travel Agents Association (PTAA) president Michelle Taylan is Nepal. This is where the world’s tallest mountain is located.
If you don’t have the guts to climb Mount Everest’s peak, travelers can instead do the popular Everest Base Camp Trek.
Apart from the icy mountains, there are also UNESCO world heritage sites in this country that travelers may enjoy. These include Sagarmatha National Park, Chitwan National Park, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and Patan Durbar Square.
Tourists may also visit Nepal’s temples such as Swayambhunath and Changu Narayan.
Sri Lanka
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PTAA president also named Sri Lanka as an underrated travel destination.
If you are interested in wildlife, you may visit Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park, and Udawalawe National Park.
Other must-see places in this country are Dambulla Cave Temple, Arugam Bay, King Parakramabahu’s palace, and Galle Dutch Fort, among others.
Based on the Sri Lanka Development Authority report, 1,961 travelers from the Philippines visited Sri Lanka last year.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam is an underrated destination, according to Philippine Airlines assistant vice president for Sales Marissa Dimaano
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the top tourist spots in the city are War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, The Reunification Palace, Nguyen Hue Street and City Hall, Ben Thanh Market and Cu Chi Tunnels.
Bali, Indonesia
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If you want to spend a vacation on the beach, you may consider Bali, Indonesia.
Some of the most famous beaches in Bali are Kuta Beach and Seminyak Beach, Jungutbatu Beach, Jimbaran Beach, and Labuan Sait Beach, among others
Dimaano said that Bali and Ho Chi Minh City are not as popular as Singapore and Thailand, even though these tourist destinations are just near the Philippines.
For local destinations, meanwhile, PTAA president urged travelers to visit Cagayan Valley and Marinduque.
These provinces are not popular among tourists because travel services are inaccessible in these areas, Taylan said during the press launch of the 30th Travel Tour Expo 2023 in Quezon City, last January 24.
She also invited the public to visit the upcoming travel expo to know more about these underrated destinations and other exclusive travel deals.
The expo will be held at the SMX Convention Center in Manila on February 3 to 5.
