Hong Kong tops list of most visited cities in the world

Regardless of on-going political protests, Hong Kong has been ranked the most well-liked vacation spot on the planet, when it comes to each enterprise and leisure journey. Emily Eastman experiences

In its “Top 100 City Destinations 2019” index, Euromonitor Worldwide carried out arrivals analysis in additional than 400 cities to create an inventory of the most well-liked cities for 2019. Hong Kong got here out high with an anticipated 26 million guests, whereas London got here third with 19.5 million and New York eighth with 14 million.

(Arrivals are outlined as worldwide vacationers visiting the nation for greater than 24 hours however lower than 12 months. This implies home guests, day-trippers and cruise passengers aren’t included.)

For some locations corresponding to Amsterdam (in 25th place), overtourism can be a defining pattern for the brand new decade as cities battle to deal with rising volumes of individuals.

Nevertheless, a counter pattern for going to much less apparent locations can be on the rise, with conventional European metropolis break hotspots corresponding to Milan, Berlin and Vienna slipping down the rankings, whereas locations in international locations corresponding to Croatia, Slovenia and Sweden are gaining popularity.

Euromonitor says: “They’re proving widespread as travellers search newer, extra localised experiences and fewer crowded areas. The recognition and elevated variety of low-cost carriers to those locations has additionally favored development of beforehand much less explored locations.”

The rise of Chinese language travellers is fueling a lot of the general development, particularly to different components of Asia. Greater than 50 per cent of all guests to Hong Kong, for instance, come from mainland China. (You may learn extra about this pattern in Globetrender’s free 2020 Forecast.)

By way of cities to observe, Euromonitor flags Singapore (5), Delhi (11) the Purple Sea coastal metropolis of Hurghada (82), in Egypt, and Fukuoka (93) in Japan.

Listed here are the highest 25 hottest cities on the planet for 2019…

1. Hong Kong, China

Regardless of political unrest and protests, which led to a pointy decline in customer arrivals in 2019, Hong Kong continues to outpace different cities when it comes to recognition. Robust cultural heritage, proximity to China, a vibrant procuring scene and infrastructure growth have contributed to town’s sturdy efficiency. Greater than 50 per cent of holiday makers come from mainland China.

2. Bangkok, Thailand

The Thai capital has benefited enormously from the expansion in key supply markets throughout Asia Pacific, from which 73 per cent of its arrivals originate. Bangkok noticed the quickest development in arrivals from Hong Kong, Nepal and India, averaging greater than 25 per cent in 2018.

Strategic tourism plans, elevated funding and initiatives to draw high-spending guests are all underpinning this development, alongside a diversified providing that features medical, wellness and group tourism.

three. London, UK

London has retained third place regardless of a decline in arrivals amid ongoing Brexit uncertainty, however the UK capital is forecast to lose two locations in subsequent 12 months’s rating. For now, it’s one of many world’s most visited cities, with vacationers flocking for its wealthy historical past, artwork and tradition, gastronomy and variety.

four. Macau, China

Macau is ready to overhaul London within the 2020 rating. Generally known as the “Vegas of China”, Macau is widespread for its world-class leisure, however dig deeper and there’s a wealthy tradition fed with Chinese language and Portuguese colonial influences.

5. Singapore

Singapore has dropped one place on 2018 however is exhibiting regular development, with a 5.three per cent enhance in customer arrivals because of elevated regional journey and powerful development within the cruise sector. Regional development is turning into more and more aggressive.

6. Paris, France

The French capital is predicted to profit from a shift in European guests from the UK in mild of Brexit, for each enterprise and leisure. Paris is seeing its monetary companies sector develop as multinational corporations search regional areas exterior of London, whereas town has additionally partnered with London to capitalise on development in US arrivals and encourage guests to see each cities in a single journey.

7. Dubai, UAE

Dubai leads the UAE in arrival numbers regardless of a flat development fee in 2018. Funding is on-going in better leisure avenues, plus heath, wellness and medical tourism.

eight. New York Metropolis, US

New York stays the most well-liked metropolis within the US, attracting enterprise and leisure travellers worldwide. Town goals to draw 67 million annual customer arrivals by 2021. China has emerged as a key supply market, however amid escalating commerce tensions, arrivals from this nation are anticipated to say no.

9. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia’s capital has held on to a spot within the high ten. Town welcomes guests from world wide who arrive to witness its towering skyscrapers, pattern its avenue meals and immerse themselves within the historical past and historical cultures.

10. Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul has returned to the rankings with spectacular development in inbound arrivals for the second consecutive 12 months. Improved safety and a drop within the worth of the Turkish lira have pushed quick development in arrivals, with 70 per cent of holiday makers travelling to Turkey from Europe and Japanese Europe its largest supply market.

11. Delhi, India

Delhi is forecast to achieve eighth place within the 2020 rating because of speedy growth in vacationer infrastructure, having a world-class airport and sharpening its deal with luxurious, medical, sports activities and cultural tourism. Delhi’s connectivity can be proving a boon to arrival numbers.

12. Antalya, Turkey

Antalya, together with fellow Turkish cities Istanbul and Mugla, reported the quickest development in inbound arrivals globally. The resort metropolis is famend because the gateway to the Turkish Riviera however has additionally grow to be a vacation spot in its personal proper because of a well-preserved previous metropolis district, close by mountains and Roman historical past.

13. Shenzhen, China

Having dropped three locations, Shenzhen has suffered from the increase in guests to Turkish locations. But it’s anticipated to profit from the continued unrest in Hong Kong because of its proximity to town. Shenzhen is widespread with tech graduates and international companies, however beneath the floor exists a thriving cultural and social scene.

14. Mumbai, India

Mumbai has jumped from 21st place final 12 months because of world-class airport amenities, its profile because the capital of Bollywood and a rising monetary sector. These and different elements are set to proceed boosting tourism in Mumbai over the following 5 years.

15. Phuket, Thailand

This rainforested, mountainous island (Thailand’s largest) has benefited from the “Wonderful Thailand Go Native” marketing campaign, which promotes tourism choices past Bangkok. With an extremely various tourism providing, Phuket has held on to 15th place for a second 12 months working.

16. Rome, Italy

The Italian capital has lengthy been a favorite of European travellers because of its historical past, meals and tradition. This 12 months, it has fallen one place within the annual rankings.

17. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo has risen one place as guests from world wide arrive to expertise its distinctive and heady mix of conventional tradition and mind-blowing modernity. Subsequent 12 months it’s going to host the 2020 Olympic Video games, which is able to little question give an enormous increase to customer numbers.

18. Pattaya, Thailand

This as soon as quiet fishing village is now a hub for coastal enjoyable. Its repute as a seedy vacation spot is deserved, however there’s additionally a big retired expat inhabitants and loads of tour operators that attraction to mass-market tourism.

19. Taipei, Taiwan

The Taiwanese capital mixes Chinese language tradition with influences from Japan, South East Asia and the US. Vacationers come for the historical past, quirkiness and meals – town is so famend for consuming out that many studio residences in Taipei don’t have kitchens.

20. Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Mecca is down one place, partially as a consequence of a rise in visa charges for varied international locations that has affected the variety of pilgrims to the non secular metropolis.

21. Guangzhou, China

The port metropolis of Guangzhou has fallen three locations, however stays one in all China’s busiest buying and selling centres. Regardless of this, the tempo right here is sluggish, with guests drawn to town’s leafy temple-lined streets, conventional dim-sum eateries and enticing structure.

22. Prague, Czech Republic

The picturesque metropolis of Prague might have fallen a number of locations, however it retains its charms. With millennia-old historical past and a few of the greatest beer in Europe, the Czech capital unsurprisingly stays widespread – significantly amongst European travellers.

23. Medina, Saudi Arabia

Medina, like Mecca, has additionally suffered the detrimental impacts of visa charges. Generally known as the “Metropolis of the Prophet”, the western Saudi Arabia metropolis has fallen 4 locations.

24. Seoul, South Korea

The capital of South Korea is up one place, with guests coming for its dynamic mix of deep custom combined with the world’s greatest expertise and eye-popping vogue.

25. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam could also be down one place, however the Dutch capital continues to be widespread – particularly for weekend breaks from European supply markets.