The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinars
Urbanity
Awards
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
Untitled design (8)
LESS THAN 30 DAYS UNTIL OUR FLAGSHIP CONFERENCE 29-31 JULY, GOLD COAST
4 WEEKS UNTIL OUR FLAGSHIP CONFERENCE 29-31 JULY, GOLD COAST
SECURE YOUR SPOTDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
RetailTed TabetTue 09 Oct 18

World's Most Popular Destinations Revealed

TUD+ MEMBER CONTENT
8efb37c5-6dc5-4097-97c8-cc24d0107b2f
SHARE
5
print
Print

For the third year in a row, Bangkok is the top international destination in the world, welcoming 20.5 million visitors in 2017 and holding its title as the world's most visited city.

That’s according to Mastercard’s annual Global Destination Cities Index, which has analysed the travel habits and destination choices of its users for the past ten years.

Asia Pacific continues to grow with popularity with five rankings in this year's top ten destinations.

The index expanded this year to 162 of the world's largest cities, with findings drawing on visitor volume and overnight spend for the calendar year.

The Thai capital was closely followed by European cities Paris and London with Dubai, Singapore and New York rounding out a top six that has remained unchanged since 2016.

Despite the popularity of Asia Pacific destinations, no Australian cities made an appearance in the top 20.

Related: Australian Cities Among the World’s Most Expensive Retail Destinations


The Global Top 10 Destination Cities

City2017 International Overnight VisitorsGrowth Forecast for 2018Average Length of StayAverage Spend Per Day
Bangkok20.05 million9.6%4.7 nights$241
London19.83 million3.0%5.8 nights$213
Paris17.44 million2.9%2.5 nights$420
Dubai15.79 million5.5%3.5 nights$749
Singapore13.91 million4.0%4.3 nights $399
New York13.13 million4.1%8.3 nights$205
Kuala Lumpur12.58 million7.5%5.5 nights$173
Tokyo11.93 million1.6%6.5 nights$215
Istanbul10.7 million19.7%5.8 nights$150
Seoul9.54 million6.1%4.2 nights$252


A record 1.32 billion overseas trips were made by travellers around the world last year, according to UN World Trade Organisation statistics released last month.

That represents an increase of 7 per cent on 2016, the biggest year-on-year rise since 2010.

“International travel is crucial to many urban economies, enriching the lives of both residents and tourists,” Mastercard executive vice president Miguel Gamiño Jr said.

“The bar is rising for cities to innovate to provide both a memorable and authentic experience.”

“We’re partnering closely with cities around the world to ensure they have insights and technologies to improve how they attract and cater to tourists while preserving what makes them so special in the first place.”

While there are many emerging destinations in Asia, the world’s second smallest continent, Europe, welcomed 51 per cent of all overseas travellers last year.

Related: Melbourne is No Longer the World’s Most Liveable City


Top Cities by Dollars Spent

City2017 International Overnight Visitor SpendForecast for 2018Average Spend by Day
Dubai$41.83bn7.8%$756
Makkah$25.98bn7.4%$190
London$24.57bn13.7%$215
Singapore$23.97bn7.4%$402
Bangkok$23.04bn13.8%$243
New York $22.67bn4.1%$207
Paris$16.90bn16.0%$423
Palma de Mallorca$16.84bn16.2%$309
Tokyo$16.77bn7.8%$216
Phuket$14.73bn12.6%$336


While Bangkok was the world’s most visited city in 2017, Dubai was where visitors spent the most cash.

Dubai leads in overnight international visitor spending, with a total of $41.83 billion spent over the year, at an average of $756 spent per day.

The UAE capital also welcomed 15.79 million overnight visitors last year and with a projected growth rate of 5.5 percent, ranking fourth.

Mastercard said that the results underscore “the importance of robust infrastructure, both business and leisure attractions and strong local culture”.

RetailInfrastructureInternationalAustraliaProject
AUTHOR
Ted Tabet
The Urban Developer - Journalist
More articles by this author
website iconlinkedin icon
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Exclusive

Tapping the Bunnings ‘Halo Effect’

Taryn Paris
5 Min
Exclusive

‘Construction Not a Scale Game’: Hutchinson

Phil Bartsch
9 Min
Nation's build-to-rent project Charlie Parker in Sydney's Parramatta where more projects are being located and built outside the CBD.
Exclusive

Foreign Capital Still Dominates BtR but Things are Changing

Marisa Wikramanayake
7 Min
Exclusive

Fortis Reveals Plans for Coveted Bowen Terrace Site

Taryn Paris
4 Min
Exclusive

Accor Deputy Delivers Verdict on Brisbane Games Hotel Shortfall

Phil Bartsch
6 Min
View All >
Deicorp Five Dock Mixed-Use Precinct
Residential

Deicorp’s $1.8bn Inner-West Sydney Precinct Greenlit

Vanessa Croll
Residential

Consolidated Reveals Next Riverfront Play in $64m Deal

Leon Della Bosca AND Taryn Paris
Wynnum Masterplan hero
Development

Masterplan Revealed for Brisbane Bayside Super-Site

Phil Bartsch
The planned vertical “micro urban village” would comprise more than 400 apartments…
LATEST
Deicorp Five Dock Mixed-Use Precinct
Residential

Deicorp’s $1.8bn Inner-West Sydney Precinct Greenlit

Vanessa Croll
3 Min
Residential

Consolidated Reveals Next Riverfront Play in $64m Deal

Leon Della Bosca AND Taryn Paris
3 Min
Wynnum Masterplan hero
Development

Masterplan Revealed for Brisbane Bayside Super-Site

Phil Bartsch
4 Min
Markets

Private Credit’s Biggest Risk in Expansion: Sameer Chopra

Taryn Paris
2 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/worlds-most-popular-destinations-revealed