Agoda, the hotel booking site, is seeing rising demand for many of Asia’s lesser-known destinations.

These regional rising stars are gaining in popularity with travellers, and Agoda has now revealed the 10 destinations that achieved the strongest growth in bookings during 2016, compared to 2015.

The fastest-growing destination is Niseko, the ski resort on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, followed by Banaue, the site of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed rice terraces on the Philippine island of Luzon, and Koh Kood, the tropical island in eastern Thailand, close to the border with Cambodia.

“It’s clear that more travellers are adopting a more adventurous approach to travel, exploring new, undiscovered places rather than the traditional holiday to a well-trodden destination,” said Andy Edwards, Agoda’s global director of brand & communications.

“We’re seeing an increase in bookings made in areas that bring travellers closer to local culture and nature, where life is experienced at a different pace, and against a different backdrop.”

Seven of the top 10 destinations are located in Southeast Asia and five are islands.

Agoda’s Fastest-Growing Destinations in 2016:

1.   Niseko, Japan
2.   Banaue, Philippines
3.   Koh Kood, Thailand
4.   Koh Lipe, Thailand
5.   Koh Rong, Cambodia
6.   Koh Lanta, Thailand
7.   Harbin, China
8.   Tangalle, Sri Lanka
9.   Siquijor Island, Philippines
10.  Khao Lak, Thailand