Spotlight on Taiwan: Asia’s emerging travel destination “Nantou County” makes the list!

In Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, visitors can glimpse traces of French colonial history through its temples, museums, palaces, and cultural sites. The city also comes alive at night with bustling neighborhoods, and budget-conscious travelers will appreciate Phnom Penh’s range of affordable accommodations. (Image / TripAdvisor)

“Ishigaki” means “stone wall” in Japanese. Contrary to its name, Ishigaki is an island in the Okinawa archipelago surrounded by the sea. With its beaches and coral reefs, Ishigaki has become a popular destination for diving enthusiasts. (Image / TripAdvisor)

Asia is the most vibrant travel market in the world, and Taiwan’s rich culture and unique charm have attracted many international tourists. In fact, in previous travel rankings, Taiwanese cities often made the list—but usually it was Taipei and Kaohsiung that were featured. Today, however, TripAdvisor...

This TripAdvisor survey isn’t based on random questionnaires or online sampling, but rather on a comprehensive calculation of ratings and reviews for hotels, attractions, and restaurants at travel destinations worldwide over the past 12 months, as well as annual growth data in search and booking intent. Through “big data” analysis, the ranked regions have truly earned their spotlight.

This is the sixth year of the “Travelers’ Choice” Emerging Travel Destinations list. A total of 44 destinations globally have been selected, including not only the world ranking but also regional rankings for the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. In the Asia region, aside from Nantou ranking in the top ten, Tainan in Taiwan is also on the list. The full rankings are as follows:

1st place: Ishigaki Island, Japan

2nd place: Takayama, Japan

3rd place: Busan, South Korea

4th place: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

5th place: Nantou County, Taiwan

6th place: Shenzhen, China

7th place: Tainan City, Taiwan

8th place: Seogwipo (Jeju Island), South Korea

9th place: Negombo, Sri Lanka

10th place: Pokhara, Nepal