Euromonitor International announced its latest Top City Destinations Ranking, covering 100 of the world’s leading and most dynamic cities in terms of international tourist arrivals.
After recording a decline in 2009, international arrivals to countries regained growth in 2010, positively impacting results for the top 100 cities, which saw arrivals increase by 7%. Star performers in 2010 were emerging city destinations located in Asia Pacific, thanks to a strong economic environment and growing travel and tourism dynamism. Most European cities lagged behind as a result of the weak economic prospects in the Eurozone, which impacted intra-regional travel.
Top three destinations
In 2010, Hong Kong, Singapore and London were the most popular city destinations worldwide. Hong Kong topped the ranking with almost 20 million arrivals in 2010 and an outstanding 18% increase compared to 2009. The booming economy of Hong Kong coupled with its growing appeal as a travel and tourism destination is drawing more business and leisure travellers each year. In 2010, mainland China remained the largest source market for Hong Kong, accounting for approximately 60% of arrivals.
Singapore was the second most visited city, attracting 18 million tourists in 2010 – 16% more than in 2009. The Singapore Tourism Board launched a 3-pronged approach – Innovation, Integration and Productivity – in 2010 that focused on luxury travel as well as the further consolidation of MICE, travel accommodation and tourist attractions throughout the city. The opening of new tourist attractions like the Marina Sands Resort Sky Deck, new casinos operated by the Las Vegas Sands Corp and by Malaysian-owned Resorts World Sentosa, new shopping centres like the Orchard Central, the Universal Studios Singapore and the Helix Bridge helped bring international visitors to the city.
London closely followed Hong Kong and Singapore in third position, with 15 million arrivals in 2010. London is by far the most popular city in Europe, benefiting from a wide mix of entertainment options, including historical sites, art galleries and restaurants, which make it highly appealing for all kind of visitors. Nevertheless, the city is under pressure, having recorded sluggish 3% growth in 2010 in the face of increased competition from other destinations like Hong Kong and New York City.
Top City Destinations Ranking 2010
City | Ranking | Arrivals | % volume growth |
Hong Kong | 1 | 19,973 | 18.0 |
Singapore | 2 | 18,297 | 16.0 |
London | 3 | 14,581 | 2.6 |
Macau | 4 | 13,098 | 25.9 |
Bangkok | 5 | 10,984 | 10.0 |
Antalya | 6 | 10,641 | 20.0 |
Kuala Lumpur | 7 | 10,351 | 10.0 |
New York City | 8 | 8,961 | 4.2 |
Paris | 9 | 8,176 | 5.5 |
Istanbul | 10 | 8,124 | 7.7 |
Dubai | 11 | 7,752 | -0.4 |
Mecca | 12 | 6,122 | -12.4 |
Miami | 13 | 6,003 | 5.6 |
Rome | 14 | 5,620 | 1.4 |
Shanghai | 15 | 5,397 | 22.9 |
Barcelona | 16 | 5,160 | 15.6 |
Las Vegas | 17 | 5,130 | 0.8 |
Cairo | 18 | 4,998 | 3.5 |
Beijing | 19 | 4,901 | 18.8 |
Los Angeles | 20 | 4,550 | 1.1 |
Pattaya | 21 | 4,430 | 4.0 |
Amsterdam | 22 | 4,021 | 9.0 |
Tokyo | 23 | 3,817 | 28.0 |
Prague | 24 | 3,758 | 2.5 |
Moscow | 25 | 3,740 | 1.4 |
Phuket | 26 | 3,612 | 7.5 |
Dublin | 27 | 3,587 | -15.0 |
Punta Cana | 28 | 3,521 | 3.1 |
Vienna | 29 | 3,520 | 4.7 |
Madrid | 30 | 3,402 | 1.1 |
Kiev | 31 | 3,343 | -5.4 |
Orlando | 32 | 3,277 | 0.4 |
Taipei | 33 | 3,224 | 11.4 |
Mugla | 34 | 3,211 | 9.0 |
San Francisco | 35 | 2,929 | 6.3 |
Edirne | 36 | 2,912 | 9.7 |
Toronto | 37 | 2,879 | 6.2 |
Berlin | 38 | 2,872 | 2.6 |
Seoul | 39 | 2,809 | 14.2 |
Chennai | 40 | 2,785 | 18.0 |
Guangzhou | 41 | 2,687 | 16.2 |
Sydney | 42 | 2,610 | 0.3 |
Budapest | 43 | 2,606 | -3.9 |
Denpasar | 44 | 2,600 | 6.1 |
Sharm el Sheikh | 45 | 2,558 | 10.0 |
Buenos Aires | 46 | 2,509 | 13.6 |
St Petersburg | 47 | 2,500 | 7.8 |
Warsaw | 48 | 2,450 | 5.6 |
Damascus | 49 | 2,436 | 7.2 |
Ho Chi Minh | 50 | 2,435 | 28.4 |
Cancún | 51 | 2,434 | 3.8 |
Delhi | 52 | 2,350 | 20.0 |
Brussels | 53 | 2,235 | -1.6 |
Mumbai | 54 | 2,195 | 10.0 |
Bucharest | 55 | 2,136 | 5.4 |
Aleppo | 56 | 2,116 | 7.2 |
Munich | 57 | 2,053 | -1.3 |
Marrakech | 58 | 2,028 | 6.1 |
Mexico City | 59 | 2,028 | 3.8 |
Jakarta | 60 | 2,000 | 6.4 |
Vancouver | 61 | 1,951 | 0.0 |
Auckland | 62 | 1,950 | 3.6 |
Rio de Janeiro | 63 | 1,929 | 7.0 |
Lima | 64 | 1,925 | 5.1 |
Milan | 65 | 1,910 | 0.8 |
Seattle | 66 | 1,893 | -0.3 |
Lisbon | 67 | 1,881 | 4.7 |
East Province | 68 | 1,877 | -11.2 |
São Paulo | 69 | 1,825 | 4.5 |
Agra | 70 | 1,813 | 18.5 |
Jaipur | 71 | 1,777 | 18.5 |
Johannesburg | 72 | 1,771 | 6.0 |
Chiang Mai | 73 | 1,769 | 5.0 |
Shenzhen | 74 | 1,749 | 19.5 |
Christchurch | 75 | 1,744 | 1.3 |
Hangzhou | 76 | 1,744 | 10.9 |
Athens | 77 | 1,733 | -7.0 |
Venice | 78 | 1,695 | 1.7 |
Florence | 79 | 1,690 | 0.3 |
Honolulu | 80 | 1,666 | 5.1 |
Abu Dhabi | 81 | 1,624 | 12.8 |
Halong | 82 | 1,581 | 28.0 |
Washington DC | 83 | 1,569 | 22.4 |
Burgas | 84 | 1,535 | -1.8 |
Riyadh | 85 | 1,512 | -12.1 |
Varna | 86 | 1,501 | -0.2 |
Cape Town | 87 | 1,486 | 4.9 |
Melbourne | 88 | 1,466 | 3.8 |
Hurghada | 89 | 1,459 | 10.0 |
Edinburgh | 90 | 1,404 | 6.0 |
Minsk | 91 | 1,398 | 9.0 |
Suzhou | 92 | 1,379 | 18.8 |
Zurich | 93 | 1,378 | 23.1 |
Sharjah | 94 | 1,335 | 3.4 |
Kolkatta | 95 | 1,313 | 12.0 |
Algiers | 96 | 1,312 | 5.8 |
Chicago | 97 | 1,300 | 9.8 |
Krabi | 98 | 1,291 | 5.5 |
Queenstown | 99 | 1,265 | 3.5 |
Manila | 100 | 1,250 | 25.6 |
