[xya3453]

Neither Portugal or Thailand have been authentic cultural destinations in decades. What you see as "gentrification", they see as "progress" and a prerequisite to future tourist dollars.

Borneo, Myanmar and rural Cambodia are a few hours at most from Bangkok. The Balkans and eastern Europe are also only a couple of hours by plane from Lisbon. Next to zero digital nomads, bloggers or "YouTube creators".

[tomcooks]

I think you are mistaken about Portugal or Thailand not having been culturally significant in decades, and I suggest taking a second look on the current state of the Balkans gentification (Croatia and Montenegro first, Albania next).

I suggest asking to locals where to find a bar for old people downtown, with cheap coffee/tea. When they'll tell you that such places do not exist anymore and were transformed in yet another hipster barbershop, burger bar or McDonald fast food parlor (looking at you Lisboa) maybe you'll agree it's not progress - it's whoring yourself to uninterested tourists.

[xya3453]

Both countries are still incredibly culturally significant, they've just traded their authenticity for whatever tricks draw dollars.

Thailand for example has been a hedonistic paradise for several decades. Full moon parties, rampant prostitution and cheap surgery. I'm guessing you've never been to Koh Phangan, Patong Road or Pattaya if you think it's the digital nomads destroying Thailand.