Top travelers and destinations 2019

Countries That Travel the Most and Top Destinations in 2019

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.”

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