Asia’s Best Up-and-Coming Destination
Winner: Busan
You might know it for the Busan International Film Festival but there’s more to this coastal city than the silver screen – think seafood and seaside, street food and shopping, and a colourful culture village.
‘Beaches, Buddhist temples and a very big bridge – South Korea’s version of San Francisco is getting very cool indeed.’ –Mark Tjhung, content director of Cedar Hong Kong and part of our panel of travel experts
Asia’s Best Up-and-Coming Destination Shortlist
Coron
From the top of Mount Tapyas to the underwater mountains of Barracuda Lake, Coron is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. Swim in natural hot springs and lagoons, dive Japanese shipwrecks from the Second World War and hop from one tropical island to another.
Chongqing
Chongqing has it all – arts and culture, heritage and nature. Explore the ancient town and the surrounding karst landscape, take in the street art surrounding Sichuan Fine Arts Institute and taste its region’s famed spicy food.
Phnom Penh
Throwing off the veil of darkness post Khmer Rouge, Cambodia’s capital remains home to the S21 prison and the Killing Fields, but also to temples and the Royal Palace, a contemporary dining scene, vibrant nightlife and distinctive boutiques and markets.
Yangon
Stunning pagodas glitter in the sun; colonial architecture stands strong; an alternative music scene booms; market, museums and mohinga (a classic Burmese noodle soup) entice – Yangon is a melting pot of heritage, history, traditional craft and creativity.
Colombo
Sri Lanka’s capital is home to some of Asia’s best restaurants, beautiful suburban beaches and a burgeoning nightlife scene. Then there are opportunities to explore the nation’s colonial past and taste its renowned teas.
Sumatra
This Indonesian island offers the natural beauty of Bali without the crowds. Home to wild orangutans, tigers, elephants and rhinos, as well as untouched beaches, volcanoes, jungle and waterfalls, it’s made for lovers of the great outdoors. And Medan, the capital of Northern Sumatra, is a melting pot of culture, cuisine and leisure well worth discovering.
Kunming
Known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ for its agreeable climate, this laid back southwestern Chinese city provides easy access to nearby nature and culture – from national parks, caves and cliffs to temples and ethnic minority villages.
Luang Prabang
With its French colonial past, and influences from neighbours China and Vietnam, this ancient city is unique. Situated in the northern mountains of Laos, it boasts natural beauty, ancient architecture and traditional arts and crafts like no other.
Check out more of the 2019 Marco Polo Members’ Choice Travel Awards:
Asia’s Best City for Food >
Asia’s Best Shopping Destination >
Asia’s Most Romantic Destination >
Asia’s Best City for a Night Out >
Asia’s Best City for Art and Culture >
Asia’s Best Long Weekend Destination >
Asia’s Best All-in-One Destination >
Asia’s Best Airport >
Back to the main Travel Awards page >>
