Some cities have already become the favoured destinations of them. To help travelers make their choice of vacation spot, for more than ten years MasterCard has been researching the places most visited by tourists.
The Global Destination Cities Index shows the popularity of different cities and ranks them based on how many visitors stay there and how much money they spend. In addition, MasterCard always predicts what places will be the most interesting for people in the following years. The 2019 Index has already been published. Interestingly, last three years Bangkok topped the list of the cities most visited by tourists. Has the situation changed this year? Let’s look at the top most visited cities in the world.
Bangkok, Thailand
The city is famous for its mix of historical places and modern hot spots. The incredible Buddhist temples, luxurious palaces and hotels, huge gardens, shops and street markets attract tourists from around the world. The city has a lot of unusual impressive constructions like the Elephant Tower or the Robot Building. Street food is also a big draw for the guests of Bangkok. The capital of Thailand has also one of the best-known Buddha statues in the world, the temple of Emerald Buddha.
Paris, France
The City of Love is still one of the most favourite vacation destinations for couples. The most popular Paris’s sights are the Eiffel Tower, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, Latin Quarter, Trocadéro and a lot of other. People who travel with children and plan a family holiday, often visit Disneyland Paris. True fans of the fashion also meet their needs for shopping in Paris.
London, United Kingdom
There are so many famous attractions that the travelers need a few days or weeks to visit all of them. All the sights in London has so much history. The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, the London Eye are the most favourite tourist destinations there. The capital city has also ruins to ancient castles and different cathedrals. Tourists are also offered the tours along the Thames River.
Dubai, UAE
It is one of the cities in the Middle East where tourists always find a warm welcome. At the same time the capital of the United Arab Emirates is the most expensive city according to The Index. Dubai is well-known for its magnificent resorts, remarkable museums, fancy monuments and numerous shopping malls. Tourists often go to Dubai for unique experience and unusual adventure. It is normal to see the snow in the desert there and go skiing or explore underwater life in the Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark and the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.
Singapore, Singapore
The metropolis is known for the world’s best airport and the most Instagrammable hotel. A lot of tourists are drawn to the city of such attraction as Singapore Flyer, Sentosa Beach, Bukit Timah Hill, Gardens by the Bay and many other. It has a large number of historical and futuristic buildings, luxurious hotels, huge green parks and unusual zoos. Moreover, the capital of Singapore is one of the cleanest city in the world.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The capital city is one of the most interesting places to visit in Asia over recent years. Tourists come here to enjoy the amazing beauty of nature and see many incredible landmarks. The world-famous Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur produce an unforgettable effect on the tourists. They are called the symbol of Malaysia’s futuristic development. Yearly lots of people visit this city to try exotic street food or do the shopping.
New York, United States
The Big Apple, as it is often called, is the city most visited by tourists in America. Such iconic sights as the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge or Central Park welcome millions of tourists every year. NYC is also the world’s biggest natural harbour. Lots of travelers adore the city for its mix of cultures and enjoy to explore different neighborhoods there.
Istanbul, Turkey
It is the biggest metropolis in Turkey and Europe that has also been the capital of four big empires. Traveling through it, people can visit two continents at the same time, Europe and Asia. That is why Istanbul is the city of contrast. As they say, this is the place where east meets west. Both ancient buildings and modern skyscrapers amaze the visitors with their magnificence. Many tourists dream to go to the Grand Bazaar for shopping.
Summary
Tokyo and Osaka in Japan, Antalia in Turkey, Seoul in South Korea, Makkah in Saudi Arabia, Phuket and Pattaya in Thailand complete the list of top fifteen cities most visited by tourist. All these cities offer a wide range of activities for their guests. They are definitely worth seeing. Planning the vacation, you can easily choose the city you like most. Travel with pleasure and broaden your mind!