This is a list of the top 100 cities ranked by the number of international visitors, including all international arrivals by land, air, and sea, for tourist or business purposes. The consulting firm Euromonitor and the financial services corporation Mastercard define the concept of the foreign visitor differently, thus their respective rankings differ.
Euromonitor counts a visitor as any person visiting a city in another country for at least 24 hours, for a period not exceeding 12 months, and staying in paid or unpaid, collective or private accommodation. Each arrival is counted separately and includes people traveling more than once a year and people visiting several cities during one trip. The growth column compares international arrivals to the previous year. [1] [2]
Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index counts a visitor only if a person stayed overnight at least once in the city. The income column shows the amount visitors spent in each city. For cities bordering directly on foreign territory, border crossings from country to country are not counted as international visitors. [3]
The top 10 most visited cities in 2023 according to Euromonitor were: [4]
Rank | City | Country / Territory | Arrivals 2023 | Growth in arrivals |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Istanbul | Turkey | 20,200,000 | 26% |
2 | London | United Kingdom | 18,800,000 | 17% |
3 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 16,800,000 | 18% |
4 | Antalya | Turkey | 16,500,000 | 29% |
5 | Paris | France | 15,500,000 | 4% |
6 | Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 14,700,000 | 2,495% |
7 | Bangkok | Thailand | 12,200,000 | 142% |
8 | New York City | United States | 11,700,000 | 24% |
9 | Mecca | Saudi Arabia | 10,800,000 | 124% |
10 | Cancún | Mexico | 10,800,000 | 13% |
The 100 most visited cities in 2018/2016 according to Euromonitor and Mastercard were: [2] [3]
Rank (Euromonitor) | Rank (Mastercard) | City | Country / Territory | Arrivals 2018 (Euromonitor) | Arrivals 2016 (Mastercard) | Growth in arrivals (Euromonitor) | Income (billions $) (Mastercard) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 11 | Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 29,262,700 | 8,370,000 | 5.0% | 6.84 |
2 | 1 | Bangkok | Thailand | 24,177,500 | 21,470,000 | 7.7% | 14.84 |
3 | 2 | London | United Kingdom | 19,233,000 | 19,880,000 | −3.0% | 19.76 |
4 | Macau | Macau | 18,931,400 | 9.2% | |||
5 | 6 | Singapore | Singapore | 18,551,200 | 12,110,000 | 5.3% | 12.54 |
6 | 3 | Paris | France | 17,560,200 | 18,030,000 | 10.9% | 12.88 |
7 | 4 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 15,920,700 | 15,270,000 | 0.8% | 31.30 |
8 | 5 | New York City | United States | 13,600,000 | 12,750,000 | 3.8% | 18.52 |
9 | 7 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 13,434,300 | 12,020,000 | 4.6% | 11.34 |
10 | 8 | Istanbul | Turkey | 13,433,000 | 11,950,000 | 25.2% | 7.54 |
11 | 48 | Delhi | India | 12,645,300 | 2,580,000 | 24.5% | 1.91 |
12 | Antalya | Turkey | 12,438,800 | 31.2% | |||
13 | 54 | Shenzhen | China | 12,202,100 | 2,120,000 | 1.1% | 0.83 |
14 | 27 | Mumbai | India | 10,590,100 | 4,860,000 | 17.9% | 3.60 |
15 | Palma de Mallorca | Spain | 10,580,000 | 8,960,000 | |||
16 | Phuket | Thailand | 10,550,700 | 4.4% | |||
17 | 16 | Rome | Italy | 10,065,400 | 7,120,000 | 5.6% | 4.47 |
18 | 9 | Tokyo | Japan | 9,985,100 | 10,700,000 | 4.6% | 13.48 |
19 | Pattaya | Thailand | 9,606,400 | 5.1% | |||
20 | 15 | Taipei | Taiwan | 9,597,800 | 7,350,000 | 3.5% | 9.60 |
21 | Mecca | Saudi Arabia | 9,565,200 | −2.4% | |||
22 | 36 | Guangzhou | China | 9,004,800 | 3,700,000 | 0.0% | 1.66 |
23 | 20 | Prague | Czech Republic | 8,948,600 | 5,810,000 | 1.6% | 2.70 |
24 | Medina | Saudi Arabia | 8,547,200 | −2.4% | |||
25 | 10 | Seoul | South Korea | 8,431,400 | 10,200,000 | 10.1% | 11.30 |
26 | 13 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | 8,354,200 | 8,000,000 | 6.5% | 4.20 |
27 | Agra | India | 8,138,200 | 22.5% | |||
28 | 24 | Miami | United States | 8,121,300 | 5,240,000 | 4.1% | 8.15 |
29 | 17 | Osaka | Japan | 7,861,500 | 7,020,000 | 19.0% | 3.39 |
30 | Las Vegas | United States | 6,639,300 | 4.7% | |||
31 | 19 | Shanghai | China | 7,483,500 | 6,120,000 | 4.0% | 5.00 |
32 | 42 | Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam | 7,200,000 | 3,050,000 | 15.4% | 3.12 |
33 | Denpasar | Indonesia | 7,185,600 | 15.2% | |||
34 | 12 | Barcelona | Spain | 6,714,500 | 8,200,000 | 6.8% | 9.28 |
35 | 21 | Los Angeles | United States | 6,591,300 | 5,600,000 | −1.4% | 8.10 |
36 | 14 | Milan | Italy | 6,481,300 | 7,650,000 | 2.1% | 4.56 |
37 | 30 | Chennai | India | 6,422,800 | 4,370,000 | 26.3% | 3.24 |
38 | 18 | Vienna | Austria | 6,410,300 | 6,690,000 | 3.6% | 4.54 |
39 | Johor Bahru | Malaysia | 6,396,000 | 14.8% | |||
40 | Jaipur | India | 6,383,400 | 20.7% | |||
41 | Cancún | Mexico | 6,041,000 | 0.0% | |||
42 | 26 | Berlin | Germany | 5,959,400 | 4,940,000 | 5.9% | 5.00 |
43 | Athens | Greece | 5.755.000 | 7.1% | |||
44 | Orlando | United States | 5,553,600 | 5.4% | |||
45 | 59 | Moscow | Russia | 5,510,000 | 1,830,000 | 14.8% | 0.94 |
46 | Venice | Italy | 5,502,500 | 3.5% | |||
47 | 22 | Madrid | Spain | 5,440,100 | 5,260,000 | 3.2% | 8.02 |
48 | Ha Long | Vietnam | 5,294,800 | 22.0% | |||
49 | 28 | Riyadh | Saudi Arabia | 5,267,500 | 4,590,000 | −2.4% | 1.69 |
50 | 25 | Dublin | Ireland | 5,213,400 | 4,970,000 | 4.6% | 1.87 |
51 | Florence | Italy | 5,059,900 | 2.4% | |||
52 | Jerusalem | Israel | 4,800,000 [5] | 38% | |||
53 | 52 | Hanoi | Vietnam | 4,687,000 | 2,200,000 | 9.0% | 1.28 |
54 | 29 | Toronto | Canada | 4,510,300 | 4,520,000 | 5.2% | 2.16 |
55 | 39 | Johannesburg | South Africa | 4,120,800 | 3,600,000 | 1.3% | 1.73 |
56 | 35 | Sydney | Australia | 4,090,600 | 3,750,000 | 3.2% | 6.40 |
57 | 23 | Munich | Germany | 4,066,600 | 5,250,000 | 6.2% | 5.32 |
58 | 65 | Jakarta | Indonesia | 4,033,000 | 1,550,000 | 12.4% | 1.19 |
59 | 31 | Beijing | China | 4,002,400 | 4,050,000 | 2.0% | 4.08 |
60 | 85 | Saint Petersburg | Russia | 3,996,000 | 990,000 | 11.0% | 0.51 |
61 | 45 | Brussels | Belgium | 3,942,000 | 2,710,000 | 14.9% | 1.92 |
62 | 40 | Budapest | Hungary | 3,822,800 | 3,360,000 | 4.6% | 0.95 |
63 | 40 | Naples | Italy | 3,765,000 | |||
64 | 37 | Lisbon | Portugal | 3,539,400 | 3,630,000 | 0.5% | 1.43 |
65 | Dammam | Saudi Arabia | 3,498,900 | −2.4% | |||
66 | Penang Island | Malaysia | 3,437,100 | 7.6% | |||
67 | Heraklion | Greece | 3,371,800 | 7.1% | |||
68 | Kyoto | Japan | 3,294,200 | 3.0% | |||
69 | Zhuhai | China | 3,259,700 | 2.4% | |||
70 | 34 | Vancouver | Canada | 3,212,100 | 3,900,000 | 7.1% | 2.12 |
71 | Chiang Mai | Thailand | 3,196,000 | 2.1% | |||
72 | 64 | Copenhagen | Denmark | 3,069,700 | 1,630,000 | 3.6% | 0.91 |
73 | 33 | San Francisco | United States | 2,901,000 | 3,930,000 | 0.0% | 5.93 |
74 | 47 | Melbourne | Australia | 2,889,000 | 2,650,000 | 5.8% | 4.94 |
75 | 70 | Warsaw | Poland | 2,850,000 | 1,370,000 | 1.8% | 0.51 |
76 | Marrakesh | Morocco | 2,838,100 | 6.3% | |||
77 | 62 | Kolkata | India | 2,826,500 | 1,720,000 | 10.4% | 1.27 |
78 | Cebu City | Philippines | 2,805,100 | 24.9% | |||
79 | Auckland | New Zealand | 2,798,900 | 5.0% | |||
80 | 86 | Tel Aviv | Israel | 2,777,000 | 990,000 | 7.9% | 1.31 |
81 | Guilin | China | 2,747,000 | 10.4% | |||
82 | Honolulu | United States | 2,737,300 | 1.9% | |||
83 | Hurghada | Egypt | 2,735,700 | 46.8% | |||
84 | Kraków | Poland | 2,732,000 | 3.9% | |||
85 | Muğla | Turkey | 2,723,800 | 37.4% | |||
86 | 57 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | 2,685,700 | 2,020,000 | 5.2% | 1.69 |
87 | Chiba | Japan | 2,683,900 | 10.4% | |||
88 | 38 | Frankfurt am Main | Germany | 2,636,000 | 3,620,000 | 5.6% | 3.67 |
89 | 55 | Stockholm | Sweden | 2,604,600 | 2,080,000 | 5.3% | 1.68 |
90 | 32 | Lima | Peru | 2,535,400 | 4,030,000 | 8.0% | 1.44 |
91 | Da Nang | Vietnam | 2,505,000 | 25.0% | |||
92 | Batam | Indonesia | 2,492,600 | 11.9% | |||
93 | Nice | France | 2,466,800 | 6.0% | |||
94 | Fukuoka | Japan | 2,436,900 | 20.3% | |||
95 | 41 | Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates | 2,402,800 | 3,140,000 | 7.1% | 2.65 |
96 | Jeju | South Korea | 2,349,200 | −3.3% | |||
97 | Porto | Portugal | 2,341,300 | 4.9% | |||
98 | Rhodes | Greece | 2,337,700 | 7.3% | |||
99 | 71 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 2,278,300 | 1,370,000 | 1.2% | 0.97 |
100 | Krabi | Thailand | 2,255,300 | 6.5% | |||
97 | Bangalore | India | 2,239,200 | 740,000 | 25.7% | 0.55 | |
43 | Mexico City | Mexico | 2,980,000 | 2.27 | |||
44 | Punta Cana | Dominican Republic | 2,730,000 | 2.95 | |||
49 | São Paulo | Brazil | 2,300,000 | 1.50 | |||
50 | Zürich | Switzerland | 2,240,000 | 2.23 | |||
51 | Montreal | Canada | 2,240,000 | 1.08 | |||
53 | Washington D.C. | United States | 2,180,000 | 2.54 | |||
56 | Chicago | United States | 2,080,000 | 2.95 | |||
58 | Düsseldorf | Germany | 1,950,000 | 1.98 | |||
60 | Boston | United States | 1,740,000 | 2.18 | |||
61 | Chengdu | China | 1,740,000 | 0.60 | |||
63 | Edinburgh | United Kingdom | 1,660,000 | 1.13 | |||
64 | San Jose | United States | 1,630,000 | 0.86 | |||
68 | Tehran | Iran | 1,520,000 | 0.31 | |||
69 | Houston | United States | 1,500,000 | 2.48 | |||
72 | Hamburg | Germany | 1,450,000 | 1.47 | |||
73 | Cape Town | South Africa | 1,370,000 | 1.00 | |||
74 | Manila | Philippines | 1,320,000 | 0.98 | |||
75 | Bogota | Colombia | 1,260,000 | 1.35 | |||
76 | Xi'an | China | 1,210,000 | 0.63 | |||
77 | Beirut | Lebanon | 1,160,000 | 1.12 | |||
78 | Geneva | Switzerland | 1,150,000 | 1.14 | |||
79 | Colombo | Sri Lanka | 1,130,000 | 0.95 | |||
80 | Xiamen | China | 1,090,000 | 0.93 | |||
81 | Bucharest | Romania | 1,050,000 | 0.31 | |||
82 | Casablanca | Morocco | 1,050,000 | 0.62 | |||
83 | Atlanta | United States | 1,020,000 | 1.47 | |||
84 | Sofia | Bulgaria | 1,010,000 | 0.44 | |||
87 | Dalian | China | 940,000 | 0.55 | |||
88 | Montevideo | Uruguay | 930,000 | 0.55 | |||
89 | Amman | Jordan | 930,000 | 0.94 | |||
90 | Hangzhou | China | 900,000 | 0.43 | |||
91 | Pune | India | 900,000 | 0.66 | |||
92 | Durban | South Africa | 830,000 | 0.29 | |||
93 | Dallas | United States | 780,000 | 1.13 | |||
94 | Accra | Ghana | 760,000 | 0.53 | |||
95 | Quito | Ecuador | 750,000 | 0.42 | |||
96 | Tianjin | China | 750,000 | 2.24 | |||
98 | Qingdao | China | 730,000 | 0.53 | |||
100 | Lagos | Nigeria | 710,000 | 0.16 |
Tourism in Denmark is a growing industry and a major economic contributor: tourists spent a total of DKK 128 billion and the tourism industry employed 161,999 people in full time positions in 2017.
A visa is a conditional authorization granted by a polity to a foreigner that allows them to enter, remain within, or leave its territory. Visas typically include limits on the duration of the foreigner's stay, areas within the country they may enter, the dates they may enter, the number of permitted visits, or if the individual can work in the country in question. Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter a territory and thus are, in most countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country. In each instance, a visa is subject to entry permission by an immigration official at the time of actual entry and can be revoked at any time. Visa evidence most commonly takes the form of a sticker endorsed in the applicant's passport or other travel document but may also exist electronically. Some countries no longer issue physical visa evidence, instead recording details only in immigration databases.
Tourism in New Zealand comprised an important sector of the national economy – tourism directly contributed NZ$16.2 billion of the country's GDP in the year ended March 2019. As of 2016 tourism supported 188,000 full-time-equivalent jobs. The flow-on effects of tourism indirectly contributed a further 4.3% of GDP. Despite the country's geographical isolation, spending by international tourists accounted for 17.1% of New Zealand's export earnings. International and domestic tourism contributed, in total, NZ$34 billion to New Zealand's economy every year as of 2017.
Tourism in Indonesia is an important component of the Indonesian economy as well as a significant source of its foreign exchange revenues. Indonesia was ranked at 20th in the world tourist Industry in 2017, also ranked as the ninth-fastest growing tourist sector in the world, the third-fastest growing in Asia and fastest-growing in Southeast Asia. In 2018, Denpasar, Jakarta and Batam are among of 10 cities in the world with fastest growth in tourism, 32.7, 29.2 and 23.3 percent respectively. The tourism sector ranked as the 4th largest among goods and services export sectors.
Tourism in the United Kingdom is a major industry and contributor to the U.K. economy, which is the world's 10th biggest tourist destination, with over 40.1 million visiting in 2019, contributing a total of £234 billion to the GDP.
Tourism is an important sector for the Philippine economy. The travel and tourism industry contributed 8.6% to the country's GDP in 2023; this was lower than the 12.7% recorded in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 lockdowns. Coastal tourism, encompassing beach and diving activities, constitutes 25% of the Philippines' tourism revenue, serving as its primary income source in the sector. Popular destinations among tourists include Boracay, Palawan, Cebu and Siargao. While the Philippines has encountered political and social challenges that have affected its tourism industry, the country has also taken steps to address these issues. Over the past years, there have been efforts to improve political stability, enhance security measures, and promote social inclusivity, all of which contribute to creating a more favorable environment for tourism, such as the Boracay rehabilitation.
Tourism in Dubai is a major part of the economy of Dubai. Dubai was the third most visited city in the world in 2023 with 17 million international visitors according to Euromonitor International. Dubai hosts more than 800 hotels with more than 150,000 rooms.
Tourism is an economic contributor to the Kingdom of Thailand. Estimates of tourism revenue directly contributing to the GDP of 12 trillion baht range from one trillion baht (2013) 2.53 trillion baht (2016), the equivalent of 9% to 17.7% of GDP. When including indirect travel and tourism receipts, the 2014 total is estimated to be the equivalent of 19.3% of Thailand's GDP. According to the secretary-general of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council in 2019, projections indicate the tourism sector will account for 30% of GDP by 2030, up from 20% in 2019, Thailand expects to receive 80 million visitors in 2027.
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The World Tourism rankings are compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as part of their World Tourism Barometer publication, which is released up to six times per year. In the publication, destinations are ranked by the number of international visitor arrivals, by the revenue generated by inbound tourism, and by the expenditure of outbound travelers.
Tourism in Vietnam is a component of the modern Vietnamese economy. In 2019, Vietnam received 18 million international arrivals, up from 2.1 million in the year 2000. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is following a long-term plan to diversify the tourism industry, which brings foreign exchange into the country.
Visa requirements for Canadian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Canada.
Visa requirements for Indian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of India.
Visa requirements for Chinese citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of China who hold Mainland passport by the authorities of other states.
Visa requirements for Australian passport holders are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Australia entering with an Australian passport.
The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking of countries according to the travel freedom allowed by those countries' ordinary passports for their citizens. It was launched in 2005 as Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index and was updated to Henley Passport Index in January 2018.
International tourism is tourism that crosses national borders. Globalisation has made tourism a popular global leisure activity. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes". The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that up to 500,000 people are in flight at any one time.
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