According to the annual report of the global market research company Euromonitor International, Paris has once again been named the most attractive urban tourist destination in the world.
The Top 100 City Destinations 2023 index, produced in partnership with data company Lighthouse, looks at leading cities from around the world and ranks them on criteria including tourism, sustainability, economic performance and health and safety.
Europe comes out on top, with seven of the top 10 cities and 63 countries in the top 100. The only non-European cities in the top 10 are Dubai at No. 2, Tokyo at No. 4 and New York at No. 8.
Madrid took third place, while Amsterdam, Berlin and Rome were at Nos. 5, 6 and 7 respectively. Barcelona and then London rounded out the top 10.
Asia performed well in the top 20, as Singapore (11), Seoul (14), Osaka (16) and Hong Kong (17) made the list.
The report attributes Europe's success to "rapid urbanization and the widespread diffusion of technology". Travelers now want high-speed internet, flexible booking options and remote work spaces. Euromonitor International said: "Improving sustainable development, transport networks and social impact are some of the main goals that cities are adopting today to increase their competitiveness, improve their tourism offer and ensure a seamless journey for customers."
Tokyo entered the top 10 for the first time, which the report said was due to improved tourism infrastructure, easing of Covid-19 regulations and a weakened yen - which offers foreign visitors excellent value for money.
Istanbul had the most foreign visitors in 2023.
There were four new cities in the top 100 that boast improved tourism scores this year: Washington, D.C. - No. 48, Montreal - No. 68, Santiago - No. 88 and Vilnius - No. 92.
International travel continues to rebound, with the number of trips expected to reach 1.3 billion by the end of 2023, driving an estimated $1.7 trillion in tourism spending globally.
Istanbul tops the list of foreign arrivals in 2023, followed by London and Dubai. The cities with the biggest year-on-year growth are Hong Kong (2,495%) and Bangkok (142%), which is due to the fact that they are among the last to reopen after the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the rapid increase in the number of visitors may prove to be a mixed blessing with a negative impact on local communities and the environment./BGNES
