Sunset over Victoria Harbor as viewed atop Victoria Peak, Hong Kong. (iStock)
Rome has the great Colosseum, Giza has glorious pyramids and New York City has the Statue of Liberty. These popular tourist sites are big draws but where are world travelers really going?
According to data from Euromonitor International’s latest “Top City Destinations Ranking,” which tracks international tourist arrivals for 100 major cities around the world, Hong Kong is the world’s most visited city with 25.6 million tourists each year. That’s a 7.6 percent increase from last year.
Hong Kong already suffers from high population density with seven million people living in just 426 miles, but apparently the rest of the world can’t wait to see what this bustling metropolis has to offer. With world class restaurants, high-end shopping at every turn and unparalled luxury, the city is a mecca for tourists with deep pockets.
All of the world’s most visited cities experienced significant increases in tourism except Shenzhen, China.
In 2013, international tourist arrivals topped 1.087 billion, according to data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The 2014 report details that international tourists spent $1.16 trillion while traveling with the U.S. raking in the biggest percentage of that money at $139.6 billion. Spain raked in over $60 billion while France rounded out the top three with tourists spending over $56 billion in the country. Macao experienced a sizeable increase in tourism spending over the past year at 18 percent.
So where else are tourists spending their hard earned cash? Euromonitor’s report (via Investopedia.com) compiles data from airport arrivals, hotel accommodation stays, national statistic arrival data and other parameters. Domestic tourists are not counted in the figure below.
Check out the top tourist destinations in the world. Have you visited any of these popular cities?
Most visited cities 2014
1. Hong Kong
--Arrivals: 25.6 million; Increase over previous year: 7.6%
2. Singapore
--Arrivals: 22.5 million; Increase over previous year: 5.4%
3. Bangkok
--Arrivals: 17.5 million; Increase over previous year: 10.4%
4. London
--Arrivals: 16.8 million; Increase over previous year: 8.6%
5. Paris
--Arrivals: 15.2 million; Increase over previous year: 4.6%
6. Macau, China
-- Arrivals: 14.3 million; Increase over previous year: 5.1%
7. New York City, U.S.
--Arrivals: 11.9 million; Increase over previous year: 2.0%
8. Shenzhen, China
--Arrivals: 11.7 million; Increase over previous year: -3.0%
9. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
-- Arrivals: 11.2 million; Increase over previous year: 5.0%
10. Antalya, Turkey
-- Arrivals: 11.1 million; Increase over previous year: 8.0%
Fun stories about food, relationships, the great outdoors and more.