A new study reveals where the most people travel internationally from, and their top destinations. Mainland China has jumped from No. 7 in 2009 to No. 2 today.
Mastercard’s Special report Global Destination Cities Index: Origins, released today, turns its lens on where international travelers originate. Mainland China has jumped from No. 7 in 2009 to No. 2 today, behind only the United States in terms of the number of travelers to overseas destinations.
Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index: Origins specifically ranks where the most people travel internationally from, and their top destinations. Globally, the industry contributed a record US$8.8 trillion and 319 million jobs in 2018, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council – and insights like these can help shape local decision-making on how to best attract and serve travellers from around the world.
This year, the United States is the No. 1 origin market followed by mainland China, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. Travel from across Asia-Pacific also surged; the Republic of Korea and Taiwan, which were not in the top 10 a decade ago, rose to No. 6 and No. 10 respectively. The top origin markets are:
- United States of America
- Mainland China
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- France
- Republic of Korea
- Japan
- Canada
- Russian Federation
- Taiwan
Top Destination Cities by Origin
RANK | ORIGIN | CITY 1 | CITY 2 | CITY 3 |
1 | United States of America | Cancun, Mexico | Toronto, Canada | London, U.K. |
2 | Mainland China | Bangkok, Thailand | Seoul, Republic of Korea | Tokyo, Japan |
3 | Germany | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | Bolzano, Italy | Tiroler Unterland, Austria |
4 | United Kingdom | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | Paris, France | Dublin, Ireland |
5 | France | London, England | Marrakech, Morocco | Barcelona, Spain |
6 | Republic of Korea | Osaka, Japan | Hokkaido, Japan | Tokyo, Japan |
7 | Japan | Taipei, Taiwan | Seoul, Republic of Korea | Bangkok, Thailand |
8 | Canada | Washington D.C., U.S.A. | Las Vegas, U.S.A. | New York, U.S.A. |
9 | Russian Federation | Antalya, Turkey | Pattaya, Thailand | Phuket, Thailand |
10 | Taiwan | Tokyo, Japan | Hokkaido, Japan | Okinawa, Japan |
Top Destinations by Origin
RANK | ORIGIN | DESTINATION 1 | DESTINATION 2 | DESTINATION 3 |
1 | United States of America | Mexico | Canada | Italy |
2 | Mainland China | Thailand | Japan | United States of America |
3 | Germany | Italy | Spain | Austria |
4 | United Kingdom | Spain | United States of America | India |
5 | France | Spain | United States of America | United Kingdom |
6 | Republic of Korea | Japan | Mainland China | Vietnam |
7 | Japan | United States of America | Mainland China | Taiwan |
8 | Canada | United States of America | Mexico | India |
9 | Russian Federation | Turkey | Thailand | Tunisia |
10 | Taiwan | Japan | Republic of Korea | Thailand |
“Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index: Origins offers a new way for local officials and companies to see how travelers spend at destinations, providing them with better insights on how to plan and promote travel and tourism capabilities,” says Diana Robino, senior vice president, tourism partnerships for Mastercard. “Managed well, travel and tourism can be a catalyst for inclusive growth, benefiting both visitors and all communities in the destinations. Mastercard is committed to using its expertise and technology to help cities and destinations realize these opportunities.”
