The international payment system Mastercard every year presents a rating of the most visited cities in the world by tourists. The study, which was conducted for the ninth time in 2017, is based on data on overnight stays of international tourists, their trips and expenses in 2016. Based on these data, a forecast is made about which cities will take leadership positions in 2017. The rating is verified throughout the year and, as a rule, turns out to be very accurate.
So, the top 15 cities popular with tourists are as follows.
15. Osaka, Japan - 7.9 million foreign tourists
14. Milan, Italy - 8.4 million foreign tourists
13. Amsterdam, Netherlands - 8.7 million foreign tourists
12. Barcelona, Spain - 8.9 million foreign tourists
11. Istanbul, Türkiye - 9.24 million foreign tourists
10. Hong Kong - 9.25 million foreign tourists
9. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 12.1 million foreign tourists
8. New York, USA - 12.4 million foreign tourists
7. Seoul, South Korea - 12.44 million foreign tourists
6. Tokyo, Japan - 12.5 million foreign tourists
5. Singapore - 13.45 million foreign tourists
4. Dubai, UAE - 16 million foreign tourists
3. Paris, France - 16.1 million foreign tourists
2. London, UK - 20 million foreign tourists
1 . Bangkok, Thailand - 20.2 million foreign tourists
It's a little paradoxical, but our school knowledge of demography becomes obsolete in a matter of years. The world is developing so fast that many of the leading cities of the eighties and even the nineties are not even in the top ten in terms of population today!
On the other hand, dynamically developing cities located in the South and East Asia. However, first things first.
10. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh
The tenth position in the ranking of world cities by population is occupied by Dhaka, which is the capital of Bangladesh. A little more than 12 million people live in the metropolis, and they are concentrated on a fairly small area of 815 square meters. km, which roughly corresponds to the area of Volgograd or Tyumen. Just imagine that 12 million people live in Russian Tyumen! How will they live there? And if you add the poverty that prevails in Bangladesh to the terrible overcrowding, it becomes not surprising that the standard of living in Dhaka is extremely low and often people are forced to live in unsanitary conditions.
However, in Dhaka, as in any metropolis, there is a respectable business center and numerous historical sights, since Dhaka is a fairly ancient city, founded in the seventh century. It is here that the largest Hindu temple in Bangladesh is located, which is called Dhakeshwari. 90% of the population of Dhaka profess Islam, so there are also enough beautiful mosques and minarets here. Instead of car taxis in Dhaka, cycle rickshaws are used - up to four hundred thousand of these cabs go to work every day.
9. Moscow, the capital of Russia
The population of this city today is 12 million 450 thousand people and continues to grow steadily. Refuting the classic thesis that it is not made of rubber, Moscow annually grows one hundred, or even two hundred thousand new residents. It has long gone beyond the Moscow Ring Road, and in the new part of the agglomeration - New Moscow, another 2-3 million will fit quite well. Today, our capital is in no way inferior to the leading megacities of the world. Relatively recently, the Russian Manhattan even appeared here - a complex of business buildings Moscow-City. Its largest building, the Federation Tower, is the largest skyscraper in Europe, with 95 floors and 374 meters in height.
The city is served by 5 airports, 9 railway stations and of course, the most beautiful subway in the world, which includes more than two hundred stations. Unlike eastern metropolises, Moscow is a clean, spacious and livable city. Such metropolitan attractions as Red Square, the Kremlin, the Ostankino TV Tower and St. Basil's Cathedral are easily recognizable by residents of all countries of the world. Although Moscow is only in ninth place in terms of population, we still love it a hundred times more than any other metropolis!
8. Mumbai, India
The population of Indian Mumbai is only slightly larger than Moscow's and amounts to 12 million 480 thousand people. The area of this metropolis is very small - only 600 square meters. km, which corresponds to the area of Voronezh or Kazan. Accordingly, the population density in Mumbai is the highest among the cities in this rating. It is very difficult to live in such crowded conditions, but people come to this city from all over India, because there is work and entertainment here. The symbol of Mumbai is a complex of film studios, which, by analogy with Hollywood, was called Bollywood. He produces thousands of famous Indian films a la Zita and Gita with music and of course dancing. Mumbai is India's water gate through which about half of India's maritime passenger traffic passes.
Also developed here railway transport and traditional for Asia transport by auto rickshaws. Mumbai is a city of contrasts: skyscrapers here are adjacent to slums and the standard of living of local residents can also differ greatly. There are many European-style buildings in the metropolis, since in the colonial era the city was a stronghold of the British. Until recently, it was called in the English manner - Bombay, and only in the mid-1990s it was officially given the Indian name - Mumbai.
7. Guangzhou, China
13 million 80 thousand people live in this metropolis. In Europe, it is known as Canton, and the locals call their metropolis Yangchen, which means "city of goats." They do not see anything shameful in this - the Chinese, after all. In the Middle Ages, the Silk Road began in Guangzhou, and today it is one of the leading centers of world trade. It is here that the famous Canton Fair takes place every year, where up to 150 thousand goods from all over the world are exhibited. The local Qingping market is huge even by Chinese standards.
Along with traditional goods, here you can buy exotic animals, fish and even insects for gastronomic purposes. Guangzhou is a tourist mecca, annually it is visited by at least 4 million tourists, which roughly corresponds to the traffic of the whole Crimea. The metropolis combines ancient history and ultra-modern urban environment. Guangzhou is home to China's largest park, Yuexiu, China's revered Chen Family Ancestral Temple, and an impressive 610-meter-high hyperboloid TV tower. In general, Guangzhou is a beautiful, dynamic and livable city, the locals are really lucky!
6. Istanbul, Türkiye
This city is home to 13 million, 855 thousand people. It is characterized by rapid growth - the population of the metropolis annually increases by 300-400 thousand. This is largely due to the fact that the standard of living in Istanbul is about 70% higher than in Turkey as a whole. Istanbul attracts residents of the state with high salaries and of course interesting life. The metropolis is located on both banks of the Bosphorus Strait, which connects the Black and Marmara Seas. It is interesting that it was founded and initially developed on the Asian coast, but today the lion's share of the population is concentrated in the European part.
metropolis is very popular place among tourists, occupying the third line in terms of attendance among cities around the world. Its symbol is the Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century. No less popular tourist sites are the Beylerbey Palace, architectural complex Sulaymaniyah and of course the famous Istanbul Grand Bazaar. There is also a business high-rise center in the city, and Istanbul skyscrapers have a special oriental flavor, however, like this whole great city.
5. Lagos, the capital of Nigeria
The African city of Lagos is home to 15 million 119 thousand people, and the population density is breaking all records, reaching 17 thousand inhabitants per square kilometer. One can only wonder how people manage to live in such cramped conditions. The city is divided into 16 regions, and it is not governed by the mayor, as everywhere else, but by a whole governor, since the population of the metropolis is drawn to small country. Nigerians consider it a happiness to live in the capital, because there is at least some work here. But from the point of view of Europeans, Lagos can hardly be called attractive for life.
In many places it is better for whites not to appear, just as there are districts only for whites or only for rich blacks. The lion's share of the population of Lagos lives in slums, in terrible poverty, the locals eat very poorly and suffer from infectious diseases. Malaria is still widespread here, carried by the famous tse-tse fly. The city also has a rich downtown with skyscrapers and road junctions. It is the multi-storey center that appears on the brochures of this greatest metropolis of modern Africa.
4. Delhi, the capital of India
16 million 315 thousand people live in Delhi. This is the most Old city among the megacities of this rating - its age exceeds 5 thousand years. It is divided into 9 administrative regions. In the most prosperous of them, New Delhi, the government quarter and the skyscrapers of the business center are located. There is nothing here to remind you that you are in a rather poor Asian country. Meanwhile, the largest part of the population is concentrated in the southern and western parts of the metropolis, where people huddle in miserable shacks. Delhi's slums are horribly overcrowded and often devoid of amenities.
Suffice it to say that there is one toilet for 27 families, and there are even fewer wells from where the people of Delhi get water. The capital of India is an amazing combination of squalid slums, modern skyscrapers and majestic buildings of bygone eras. Ancient Hindu temples, huge mosques, fortresses and citadels of ancient kings, lively markets where you can buy exotic food and goods... Needless to say, there is something for a tourist to see here, but a European person will most likely not want to live in this overpopulated place.
3. Beijing, the capital of China
The population of the city is 21 million 516 thousand people. This city is very ancient - presumably it was founded in the 5th century BC and has always played an important role in the life of the Celestial Empire. Nowadays, it is from here that huge China is ruled and the city fully corresponds to its status as the capital of the greatest state in the world. Beijing is developing rapidly - every year new quarters for ordinary Chinese and huge business skyscrapers are being built here. The tallest building in the city is the China World Trade Center at 74 floors, but the China Zun mega skyscraper, 106 floors high, is already being completed, which promises to become a real gem of architecture.
Beijing is modern and at the same time ancient. Every year, millions of tourists visit the world-famous Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, summer imperial palace and hundreds of other attractions. Despite its Asian location, Beijing is a city of wide avenues and vast parks. There are practically no slums traditional for Asia, and the lion's share of the population lives in high-rise buildings familiar to Russians.
2. Karachi, Pakistan
23 million 520 thousand people live in this city. It is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the world - its population has doubled in the last 20 years. The full age of Karachi is a little over two hundred years, during which it has grown from a fishing village into one of largest cities peace. This is impressive, if not phenomenal, growth. A feature of the metropolis is its multinational composition, which largely determines the diversity of lifestyles. Pashtuns, Punjabis, Urdu, Bengalis, Afghans and even Jews live here, which gives the city a special flavor.
The standard of living in Karachi cannot be called high, and the criminal situation is quite difficult - Europeans are strongly discouraged from appearing in some areas. Since the city is quite young, the local sights are mostly replicas. The locals are proud of the giant fountain that spouts to a height of about two hundred meters, the Zoroastrian towers of silence and a huge pool of crocodiles. Along with the poor neighborhoods in Karachi, there are fashionable areas and a business center. Therefore, it is perhaps a classic Asian city of contrasts.
1. Shanghai, China
And the greatest city of our time is Chinese Shanghai, which is home to 24 million 150 thousand people. The metropolis impresses with its futurism - it is dominated by the highest skyscraper in China with a height of 632 meters and 121 floors, which is called the "Shanghai Tower". In general, in terms of the number of skyscrapers, the Shanghai Pudong district has long surpassed Manhattan and continues to develop dynamically. The history of Shanghai has more than seven centuries, so there are enough impressive historical buildings. Thousands of believers annually visit the local temple of Confucius, with the construction of which this great city began. And Mount Sheshan with its ancient pagodas seems to have come to the present from ancient Chinese fairy tales. In the very center of Shanghai, the mountain looks absolutely incredible! The metropolis is the commercial, scientific, financial and economic center of China, as well as its sea gates. locals live, if not richly, then quite worthy - the average salary here is 700-750 dollars, which is very good by Asian standards. Shanghai has a special status in China, so a large part of the taxes collected in the city remains here. That is why the municipal authorities have funds for capital construction, the development of housing and communal infrastructure. As a result, the city is developing rapidly, its population is growing and is already breaking world records. Thus, if you are asked, what is the largest city on Earth? You can safely answer - this is Shanghai, where more than 24 million people live!
Thirty and TOP-10 most visited cities in the world in 2017 were named. Vestnik ATOR gives this rating. You will also find out which of them tourists spend the most money on, and on what.
The international payment system Mastercard has presented the annual Index Global Destination Cities, which includes 132 of the most visited cities in the world. The study, already conducted for the 9th time, is based on the number of overnight stays of international visitors, their trips and expenses in 2016. Based on these data, a forecast is made about which countries and cities will be the most visited in 2017.
Mastercard has published settlement data for 30 cities around the world. There were no Russian representatives in the TOP-30.
TOP 30 - FROM 30 TO 11 PLACE
So, the most visited cities in 2017 according to Mastercard:
30. Johannesburg, South Africa- 4.8 million foreign tourists
29. Berlin, Germany - 5.1 million foreign tourists
28. Toronto, Canada - 5.3 million foreign tourists.
27. Mumbai, India - 5.35 million foreign tourists.
26. Munich, Germany - 5.4 million foreign tourists.
25. Madrid, Spain - 5.5 million foreign tourists
24. Dublin, Ireland - 5.59 million foreign tourists.
23. Chennai, India - 5.7 million foreign tourists.
22. Los Angeles, USA - 5.8 million foreign tourists.
20. Prague, Czech Republic - 6.4 million foreign tourists.
19. Vienna, Austria - 6.63 million foreign tourists.
18. Shanghai, China - 6.65 million foreign tourists.
17. Rome, Italy - 7.3 million foreign tourists.
16. Taipei, Taiwan - 7.8 million foreign tourists.
15. Osaka, Japan - 7.9 million foreign tourists.
14. Milan, Italy - 8.4 million foreign tourists.
13. Amsterdam, the Netherlands - 8.7 million foreign tourists.
12. Barcelona, Spain - 8.9 million foreign tourists
11. Istanbul, Türkiye - 9.24 million foreign tourists.
TOP 10 MOST VISITED CITIES IN THE WORLD
Well, finally, we have reached the TOP-10 of this year. Seven out of ten cities in it are cities of Asian countries. Which, in general, is not surprising, given the pace at which both the population and tourist flows in this region are growing. So, the TOP 10 most visited cities in the world in 2017 are:
10. Hong Kong - 9.25 million foreign tourists.
9. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 12.1 million foreign tourists.
8. New York, USA - 12.4 million foreign tourists.
7. Seoul, South Korea- 12.44 million foreign tourists.
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6. Tokyo, Japan - 12.5 million foreign tourists.
5. Singapore - 13.45 million foreign tourists.
4. Dubai, UAE - 16 million foreign tourists.
3. Paris, France - 16.1 million foreign tourists.
2. London, UK - 20 million foreign tourists.
1 . Bangkok, Thailand - 20.2 million ino strange tourists.
As noted in the study, the capital of Thailand, where the growth of tourist traffic in 2017 will be at least 4%, will retain the status of the most visited city in the world. London, with a plus of 5%, will remain second this year.
Experts also have no doubts that the status of a popular destination in Paris will remain (+4.4%). But the presence in the TOP-5 of Dubai, where the dynamics of arrivals is expected by 7.7%, according to analysts, is a consequence of the global promotion of this metropolis, which is interesting for tourists due to new unique tourist sites, for example, theme amusement parks.
Among the others tourist destinations attractive to international travelers, marked by Tokyo with an increase in arrivals this year at 12% this year.
The only negative among the most visited cities in the top ten will show New York (6th place, -2.4%), which is associated with the excesses of the Trump administration's visa policy. Even Istanbul, which has been losing tourists since 2015 due to security issues, will still add international visitors this year (+0.9%).
TOP 10 CITIES WITH THE BIGGEST INCOME FROM TOURISTS
It is also curious that not all cities in the top ten are as “commercially successful”. Not all megacities generate as much income from tourists to be in the top 10 cities with the highest level of international traveler spending.
The TOP 10 most profitable cities in the world from tourism included:
- Dubai (in 2016, tourist spending amounted to USD 28.50 billion, growth in 2017 + 10.2%);
- New York ($17.02 billion, +1.5%);
- London (16.09 billion US dollars, - 4.6%);
- Singapore ($15.69 billion, +0.3%);
- Bangkok ($14.08 billion, +10.9%);
- Paris ($12.03 billion, +4.9%);
- Tokyo ($11.28 billion, +3.7%);
- Taipei ($9.91 billion, +6.9%);
- Seoul ($9.38 billion, +1.8%);
- Barcelona (+$8.90 billion, +6.9%).
TOP 10 CITIES IN THE WORLD WITH THE BIGGEST TOURIST GROWTH
Globally, the number of international lifetime visitors to all 132 destinations measured by the Index Global Destination Cities has increased by 55.2% since 2009, the study notes, well ahead of real GDP growth over the same period. The fastest growing destinations are in the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East.
Thus, the number of megacities that showed the largest increase in foreign arrivals from 2009-2016 included:
- Osaka, Japan (+24%)
- Chengdu, China (+22.7%)
- Colombo, Sri Lanka (+20.3%)
- Abu Dhabi, UAE (+18.9%)
- Jakarta, Indonesia (+18.2%)
- Tokyo, Japan (+17.7%)
- Hanoi, Vietnam (+16.4%)
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (+15,9%)
- Lima, Peru (+15.2%)
- Taipei, Taiwan (+14.5%).
WHAT TOURISTS SPEND MONEY IN DIFFERENT CITIES OF THE WORLD
A few more figures and calculations are also curious. Thus, in the top 30 cities, most of the trips are related to leisure, with the exception of Shanghai, where almost half (48.4%) of visitors travel on business. On the contrary, Kuala Lumpur has the largest percentage of visitors who go to the Malaysian capital just for the sake of recreation (92.2%).
In terms of spending, tourists are most willing to spend money on food in Istanbul (33.6%) and Prague (29.3%). Most shopping in Seoul (56.5%), London (46.7%), Osaka (43.4%) and Tokyo (43.1%),
Accommodation may be the most expensive expense of a trip when visiting Paris (44.8%), Milan (40.4%) and Rome (40.4%)
Finally, due to the availability of effective transport systems travelers spend relatively little money on transport in cities such as London (4.3%), Singapore (4.6%) and Hong Kong (4.6%).
Moscow, December 4 - Vesti.Ekonomika. Hong Kong maintains its leading position in the ranking of the most visited cities in the world, despite the decline in the number of visitors, according to Bloomberg, citing Euromonitor International's "Top 100 City Destinations 2019" report.
Below we will talk about the most visited cities in the world.
1. Hong Kong
: 26.7 millionAccording to the document, tourists will make about 1.5 billion trips in 2019. The rating was calculated using less than 12 months of arrival data. So, Hong Kong's role as the global travel capital may change.
Hong Kong is often described as the place where East meets West, which is reflected in its economic infrastructure, architecture, education and urban culture. On one street you can find traditional Chinese shops selling Chinese medicines, Buddhist incense or shark fin soup. But right around the corner you can see a cinema with the latest Hollywood blockbuster, an English pub, a Catholic church or McDonald's.
2. Bangkok
The historical center of Bangkok is the island of Rattanakosin, located on the Chao Phraya River, which in Thai means "highest jewel". It is surrounded on all sides by canals, towers and walls built to defend the capital.
The center of the island is the former royal residence - a magnificent Grand Palace, surrounded on four sides by a protective wall 1900 meters long.
On the territory of the palace is the temple of Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which is considered the most sacred place in Thailand and one of the most beautiful temples.
3. Macau
Macau - open port, a major financial center, is known for its casinos, gambling houses, hippodrome, nightclubs.
On the territory of the autonomous administrative region there are 33 casinos, the most famous of which are The Venetian, Grand Lisboa and Galaxy. Since 2010, the gambling business has brought more than 70% of Macau's revenues to Macau's budget.
Today, Macau is actually the gambling capital of the world. High-speed hydrofoils transport tourists from Hong Kong to Macau, where bars, restaurants, casinos, and hotels are waiting for them.
4. Singapore
Futuristic feng shui-approved skyscrapers, the world's tallest Ferris wheel, and a host of other attractions await visitors to Singapore.
Mostly tourists come here who have already visited many exotic countries, in search of something new, as well as businessmen - to business exhibitions.
5. London
London is expected to round out the top five. It previously ranked third, but Brexit potentially leads to tighter visa restrictions for EU citizens.
The historic center of the city, formed by the districts of Westminster and the City, was formed in the Victorian era. Among the few buildings that survived here after the fire of 1666 is the medieval citadel Tower.
London is one of the top global cities and the world's leading financial centers. Its economy makes up one fifth of the country's economy.
6. Paris
Chief political, economic and Cultural Center France. Refers to global cities, world financial centers. Headquarters of UNESCO and other international organizations.
The historical center, formed by the island of Cité and both banks of the Seine, has evolved over the centuries. In the second half of the 19th century, it underwent a radical reconstruction. The palace and park ensemble of Versailles is located in the suburbs.
7. Dubai
Dubai is the largest trading, financial and tourist centre Middle East.
deep sea sea port Due to low duties, Dubai is a leader in the region in re-exporting various goods, including gold.
Free economic zones (FEZs) are of great value in doing business in Dubai. The offshore zone is located in the Jebel Ali area.
8 Delhi
Being at the junction of different civilizational zones - Hindu and Islamic - made it a conglomerate of cultural traditions and numerous peoples inhabiting the Indian subcontinent.
The metropolitan functions of the New Delhi area elevate the significance of holidays and events in the city to a national level. Public holidays, such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti (Mahatma Gandhi's birthday) are celebrated here with great enthusiasm.
Historically, Delhi has always been important shopping mall Northern India. In Old Delhi, there are many traces of its Mughal past, which is manifested not only in the labyrinth of narrow streets and numerous residences of the courtiers of the imperial court, but also in the ancient bazaars (markets).
These markets offer a variety of goods, from mangoes to traditional medicine bottles and silver jewelry, wedding attire and fabrics.
9. Istanbul
Istanbul - The largest city Turkey, the main commercial, industrial and cultural center, the main port of the country. It is located on the banks of the Bosphorus Strait, which divides it into the European (main) and Asian parts, connected by bridges and tunnels.
Istanbul is extremely popular destination tourism.
The main tourist sites are located in the European part of the city. About 90% of the hotels are located here.
There are seventy museums in the city, of which only the Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia bring $ 30 million in net income per year.
In total, there are 17 palaces, 64 mosques and 49 historical churches, as well as many other ancient sights (columns, fortresses, underground cisterns, etc.)
10. Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is one of the fastest growing cities in Southeast Asia.
Tourism is an important source of income for the city. Kuala Lumpur has many tourist attractions: National Museum, National Mosque, 5 natural parks of various directions, places of worship (pagodas, mosques, temples, churches).
Not so long ago, buildings of the modern period, such as the television tower and the famous Petronas Twin Towers, successfully fit into the look of the city.
Text: Vesti.Ekonomika
