For the third yr in a row, Bangkok is the world’s hottest international travel destination.
In 2017, the capital of Thailand was visited by 20.5 million touristsand in keeping with this yr’s Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index, in 2018 there shall be 9.06% more of them. The annual list considers visitor numbers and spending in 162 of the world’s largest cities, including each leisure and business travelers.
The capital of Southeast Asia is followed by London (19.83 million visitors) and Paris (17.44 million visitors). Dubai ranked fourth with 15.79 million travelers, followed by Singapore with 13.91 million visitors. New York, the one North American city to make the highest 10, was sixth with 13.13 million international visitors.
The Mastercard Index, which this yr expanded to 162 cities around the globe, shouldn’t be only a rating of the most well-liked travel destinations. Based on visitor numbers and spending for the 2017 calendar yr, the in-depth evaluation also provides a growth forecast for 2018 and – for the primary time – insight into average length of stay and amount spent per day.
As the worldwide economy recovers, annual growth within the variety of international tourists staying overnight in the highest 10 destination cities increased in 2017, except Seoul, which experienced a decline. The forecast for 2018 shows overall growth, with the most important increase in visitor numbers expected in Istanbul.
With roughly 20 million international overnight guestsBangkok stays in first place this yr and is unlikely to be beaten as a consequence of strong projected growth of 9.6 percent in 2018. Interestingly, visitors spend 4.7 nights in Bangkok and spend a mean of $173 per day.
However, not all cities are created equal in terms of the sum of money visitors spend on the local economy. Dubai continues to be the highest destination for overnight tourist spending, with visitors spending a mean of $537 per day.
It is in the highest ten together with newcomers Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which debuts in second place – Palma de Mallorca in Spain and Phuket in Thailand. Among probably the most visited cities, Istanbul has the bottom each day spend, averaging just $108.
“International travel is crucial to the economies of many cities, enriching the lives of residents and tourists alike. The bar is being raised for cities to innovate to deliver memorable and authentic experiences,” said Miguel Gamiño Jr., Executive Vice President of Global Cities at Mastercard. “We work closely with cities around the world to provide them with the knowledge and technology to improve the way they attract and serve tourists, while preserving what makes them unique in the first place.”
Whether people visit cities for business or pleasure, Mastercard works with a wide selection of partners, including tourism organizations, city planners, banks and merchants, to:
- Identify and address urban challenges through scalable digital inclusion and economic development solutions; Mastercard recently launched City Could, a world platform for cities, research institutions and personal sector organizations to deal with common challenges through collaboration
- Simplify access to key city services resembling public transport; in over 100 cities (and counting), visitors and residents can use their existing Mastercard contactless card to access trains and buses
- Help people travel the world with peace of mind: seamless planning, amenities and connectivity at their destination, and seamless acceptance in thousands and thousands of locations around the globe
- Create unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences in 42 Priceless Cities around the globe, including Bangkok, London, Paris and plenty of more across the Index
Source : Forbes.com & Mastercard official website
