Three Mexican cities were among the ten world's best-rated destinations in 2023, according to a survey conducted among Travel + Leisure readers. In 2023, Oaxaca ranked first with a score of 93.53. Udaipur in India followed closely behind with a score of 93.33, while Kyoto in Japan placed third on the list.

The number of international tourist arrivals to the selected European destinations increased significantly in 2023 over the previous year, experiencing strong signs of recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in some cases even surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Overall, Paris and the Île-de-France region recorded the highest figure among the selected destinations in 2023, with around **** million inbound tourist arrivals. London and Istanbul followed in the ranking that year, with roughly **** million and **** million arrivals, respectively. What are the most visited countries by international tourists? Both before and after the health crisis, France was the country with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals worldwide. In 2023, inbound arrivals to France reached *** million, the highest figure reported by the country to date. Meanwhile, the United States, which ranked third by inbound arrivals that year, was the country with the highest international tourism receipts worldwide. Has inbound tourism recovered from the impact of COVID-19? While the number of international tourist arrivals worldwide grew sharply in 2023 compared to the previous year, it remained approximately ** percent lower than in 2019. Overall, the total contribution of travel and tourism to the global GDP was **** percent below pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

The number of international tourist arrivals worldwide rose sharply in 2023 compared to the previous year across all the most visited destinations in the world. Overall, France was the most visited country by inbound travelers worldwide in 2023, with *** million international tourist arrivals. Spain, the United States, and Italy followed in the ranking that year. Has global inbound tourism recovered from the impact of COVID-19? In 2023, the number of international tourist arrivals worldwide totaled approximately *** billion. While this figure represented a ** percent annual increase, it remained below the peak in inbound tourist arrivals reported in 2019, the year before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, international tourism receipts worldwide exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2023, peaking at *** trillion U.S. dollars. What are the most popular global regions for inbound tourism? When breaking down the number of international tourist arrivals worldwide by region, Europe has consistently reported the highest volume of inbound travelers, both before and after the impact of the health crisis. In 2023, this region alone accounted for roughly ** percent of global inbound tourist arrivals. Meanwhile, Asia and the Pacific recorded the second-highest number of inbound tourist arrivals worldwide in 2023.

According to a 2024 study, Marrakech was expected to report the highest increase in number of tourist visits per square kilometers from 2023 to 2030 among the selected global destinations. Over that period, the tourism density in the Moroccan city was projected to rise by ** percent. Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Dubrovnik in Croatia followed in the ranking, with growth forecast to total ** percent and ** percent, respectively.

In 2024, the United States was the leading inbound travel market in Milan based on the number of tourist arrivals. That year, Milan's travel accommodation establishments reported around 558,000 arrivals from the United States. France and Germany followed in the ranking in 2024, with roughly 372,000 and 341,000 arrivals, respectively.

Mexico was the most visited destination by international tourists in Latin America in 2023, surpassing ** million tourist arrivals in that year. In the second place, but far behind, was the Dominican Republic. A global tourism powerhouse By developing airport infrastructure and calibrating new direct flights, Mexico has set international tourism high on its priorities list. At the forefront of Mexico's spike in international tourism is the FONATUR, or Mexico's National Fund for Tourism Development. The tourism body worked in the expansion of Cancun's airport and other four key tourist airports in the country. Plus, Mexico City's airport added new international direct flights in the *****, resulting in being rated as the best internationally connected airport in Latin America in 2019. With this and other developments in this sector, the North American country managed to rank among the top 20 destinations in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Ranking that year. South America's tourism leader Through its geographically diverse landscape and globally recognized wine industry, Argentina has grown its international tourism sector. The influx of foreign visitors to Argentina can in some way be attributed to the country's air-travel infrastructure. The national air carrier, Aerolineas Argentinas, was one of the top airline operating in Latin America in 2019. That same year, passenger traffic to Argentinian airports grew by **** percent. Though in April 2020, in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the arrival of international air travel tourists to Argentina came to a complete halt, ensuing a similar fate of the global tourism industry.

The number of visitors to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, bounced back in 2022, following a sharp drop with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Overall, attendance at the renowned monument totaled around 5.85 million in 2022, and then 6.32 million in 2023. Built between 1887 and 1889 as part of the preparations for the Worlds’ Fair, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic symbols of Paris and France. The Eiffel Tower: a French icon With its recognizable silhouette, the Eiffel Tower is the most famous attraction of the city of Paris. However, the number of tourists visiting the monument has been oscillating since 2011. In 2016, a year after the Paris terrorist attacks, the monument received only 5.84 million visitors, compared to almost seven million the year before. Since then, the number of tourists appears to be increasing reaching over 6 million visitors in 2018 and 2019. Most of visitors of the tower are French tourists. The tower is not only a symbol of Paris, it is also a lucrative business which had a turnover generated by ticket sales of more than 66.1 million euros in 2015. Tourism in Paris Despite its popularity, the Eiffel Tower is not the most visited cultural venues of Paris. In 2017, Notre Dame, as well as the Sacré Coeur and the Louvre Museum, attracted more tourists than the Tower. Paris keeps being one of the most attractive city destinations for French and foreign visitors. The French capital was the city with sixth highest international visitor spend in the world with more than 15 million international overnight visitors in 2016.

Barcelona’s most popular tourist attraction in 2023 was the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, registering approximately *** million visitors. With a difference of less than 100,000 visitors, Park Güell followed second in the ranking that year. Both monuments, created by the world-renowned architect Antoni Gaudí, are landmarks of the city. The Basilica: Gaudí’s most famous work The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, as this Catholic temple is officially known, was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1984. Its construction had begun around a century earlier but remains unfinished since the project is solely funded by private donors. The completion date, planned for 2026 as commemoration for the 100 years of Gaudí’s death, will have to be postponed due to the suspension of the construction works during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Prior to the global health crisis, La Sagrada Família received more than *** million visitors annually. COVID-19 impact on tourism in Barcelona As a result of being a major tourist hotspot for travelers worldwide, Barcelona’s tourism sector experienced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, the number of tourists staying in Barcelona’s hotels decreased by over ***** million during the global health crisis. Due to lower tourist demand, the number of hotels open in Barcelona also contracted, from *** in 2019 to *** in 2020. With less than ** million passengers recorded at Barcelona Airport in 2020, down from roughly ** million travelers in 2019, the airport reached a two-decade low in traveler numbers during the pandemic.

In 2023, the Louvre in Paris, France, was the most visited museum worldwide, reporting nearly *** million visits. While attendance at the renowned institution increased sharply compared to the previous year, it did not fully recover yet from the impact of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Vatican Museums in the Vatican City and the National Museum of China in Beijing followed in the ranking in 2023, each with roughly *** million visits.

The number of international tourist arrivals in Europe rose significantly in 2023 compared to the previous year across all the most visited destinations in the region. Overall, France was the most visited country by inbound travelers in Europe in 2023. That year, France - which also topped the ranking of the countries with the highest number of international tourist arrivals worldwide - reported *** million international tourist arrivals, the highest figure recorded by the destination to date. Spain, Italy, and Turkey followed on the list in 2023. Europe is the most popular region for inbound tourism Europe is the region with the highest number of inbound tourism arrivals worldwide, with over *** million arrivals in 2023. Comparatively, there were nearly *** million international tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific, the second-most visited global region by inbound travelers that year. When breaking down the number of inbound arrivals in Europe by sub-region, Southern and Mediterranean countries reported the highest figures, both before and after the impact of COVID-19. Travel & Tourism Development Index France and Spain, among the most popular travel destinations in Europe in terms of inbound arrivals, were also among the leading countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI). The TTDI index measures factors and policies that support a sustainable and resilient development of travel and tourism worldwide. In 2023, Spain ranked first with a TTDI score of ****, followed by France and Germany.

In 2023, 48 percent of international visitors to Singapore visited the Integrated Resorts in Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), making it the most visited paid tourist attraction in Singapore. This was closely followed by the Gardens by the Bay, which was named the eight best attraction globally in 2024 by Tripadvisor. Singapore boasts several world-class attractions which contribute to a robust tourism sector. Singapore: A Unique Tourist Destination Despite being surrounded by popular tourist destinations in Asia, Singapore has successfully marketed itself as a must-visit location. The city-state offers unique visitor attractions such as the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, two cooled conservatories in the Gardens by the Bay, one of the world’s largest aquariums in Sentosa, as well as a vibrant cultural and food scene. This strategy has not only helped in drawing first time tourists but has also ensured repeat visitors. Visitor Profile and Spending Trends In 2023, a majority of the visitors to Singapore were there on holiday. Visitors in that year spent the most on sightseeing, entertainment, and gaming, followed by shopping. The largest feeder markets for visitors to Singapore were from Indonesia, China, and Malaysia.

The number of international visitors in Bangkok, Thailand reached approximately *** million visitors in December 2024, slightly increasing from the previous month. Bangkok is known for various tourist activities which attract millions of visitors per year and has become one of the most visited cities in the world. Tourism landscape in Bangkok Tourists come from all around the world to experience Bangkok’s cultural attractions as well as its shopping and nightlife. Between January and December 2024, visitors in Bangkok, Thailand were mainly from the Asia and Pacific region and Europe, amounting to nearly ** million altogether. Popular cultural attractions in Bangkok include Pho temple, Arun temple, the grand palace, and the royal mansions. Bangkok also has a lot to offer when it comes to shopping. From open markets namely Chatuchak market or Pratunam to luxurious department stores like Icon Siam. As of December 2023, the spending value of international tourists in Bangkok reached almost ** billion Thai baht. This was certainly an improvement as Thailand lifted traveling restrictions against COVID-19 pandemic in 2022.

Spain was the most visited country by residents of the United Kingdom in 2023, with approximately ***** million visits. This figure was marginally lower than in 2019, prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Meanwhile, ************************* followed in the 2023 rankings; of these, only ****** reported a higher number of visits that year compared to pre-pandemic levels. Spain still a favorite among UK holidaymakers Spain has become a firm favorite among holiday travelers from Britain, as it continually lists as the most visited holiday destination abroad. Beach holidays are popular among Brits in search of warmer climates, and the relative ease and cheapness of package holidays to the Mediterranean make it possible. Along with ******************, the UK is one of the key inbound travel markets for Spain. Outbound tourism from the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic As suggested by the figures recorded by the leading outbound travel destinations, the number of visits abroad from the United Kingdom rebounded in 2022 but had not yet caught up with pre-pandemic levels as of 2023, totaling around ** million that year. As the volume of visits bounced back, the outbound tourism expenditure in the UK also experienced a sharp annual increase in 2022 and in fact exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

In 2022/2023, Singapore was identified as the world's leading destination for international conferences based on its competitiveness, scoring a total of 769.6 index points. According to the ranking, Paris was the second top city destination for business conventions in that year. Three second U.S. American cities also made it into the top ten.

The Louvre in Paris was the most visited museum in Europe in 2023. That year, the renowned institution, which also topped the ranking of the most visited museums worldwide, recorded around *** million visits. While attendance increased significantly over the previous year, it did not fully recover yet from the impact of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Vatican Museums in the Vatican City and the British Museum in London followed in the ranking in 2023, with around *** million and *** million visits, respectively. London – the museum capital of Europe? Of the 20 most popular museums in Europe in 2023, *** were located in London. That year, the British Museum and the Natural History Museum in South Kensington ranked as the most visited tourist attractions in the United Kingdom, ahead of the Crown Estate's Windsor Great Park, which was England's most visited paid attraction in 2023. What are the most popular city tourism destinations in Europe? London and Paris ranked as the leading city tourism destinations in Europe based on the number of bed nights in 2023, ahead of Istanbul, Berlin, and Rome. That year, the two cities also reported the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals among leading European destinations, each with over ** million arrivals.

In 2023, approximately 22 million tourists arrived in different accommodation establishments in Czechia. The largest number of international tourists came from Germany at 2.3 million. The number of tourists visiting Czechia has increased over the years up until 2019. The numbers were much lower in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Czechia – the perfect destination for beer lovers One of Czechia’s attractions for tourists is its beer. Czechia has a long history of brewing beer and the beer industry is a big part of the country’s economy. The biggest beer festival in the world takes place in Czechia and lasts 17 days, during which visitors can taste more than 70 different brands of local beer. Czechia is also the leading country in the world when it comes to beer consumption – in 2023, a whopping 128 liters of beer were consumed per capita. European cities contribute to tourism boom Europe is the most popular destination for international tourism. City tourism plays a large role in this, thanks in part to the relative ease of travel for Europeans, with budget airlines offering cheaper flights for weekend getaways. Prague, the capital of Czechia, ranks among the most visited cities in Europe.

Overnight tourist arrivals in Dubrovnik, Croatia, increased at a fast pace throughout the 2010s, surpassing *** million in 2019. The outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), however, brought a halt to this trend, reducing tourism in the city to just *********visitors in 2020 before figures began to increase again, standing at *** million visitors in 2023. These figures do not include the large number of excursionists and cruise passengers who typically enter the city during the peak season. Coping with Dubrovnik’s popularity For many years, the city of Dubrovnik has been a leading destination in the Mediterranean. As in many of Europe’s most prominent tourist cities, however, increasing visitor numbers led to problems with overtourism, to the point that UNESCO warned that Dubrovnik’s world heritage status was at risk. To cope with the limited capacity and resources, the city launched plans in 2017 to make tourism more sustainable, including limiting the number of cruise ships calling at the port and the number of visitors entering the city. Tourism across Croatia As in Dubrovnik, there was a growing number of international tourist arrivals throughout Croatia before the pandemic hit. The country has various coastal cities on the Adriatic Sea that are also popular tourist destinations. The Dalmatia region, where Dubrovnik is based, covers much of the coastline of Croatia and includes the city of Split. The Istrian peninsula in the north, where the city of Pula is based, is also popular. According to Croatia’s national tourist board, the capital Zagreb was the most visited city in Croatia.

Having welcomed nearly 2.8 million visitors in total, Beto Carrero World in Brazil was the leading Latin American amusement and theme park in 2023. Six Flags Mexico, located in Mexico City, was the second most visited theme park in the region.

The number of tourist arrivals to Paris and the Île-de-France region grew by roughly eight percent in 2023 over the previous year. Despite the annual increase, domestic and inbound tourist arrivals in Paris and Île-de-France remained slightly below the figures reported before the COVID-19 pandemic, totaling 25.8 million and 21.8 million in 2023, respectively. What are the leading inbound travel markets in Paris? When looking at the share of international tourist arrivals in the French capital and its surrounding region, the United States accounted for the highest figure, representing roughly 12 percent of travelers in 2022. That year, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy also ranked among the leading inbound tourism markets in Paris and Île-de-France. The hotel market in Paris In 2023, there were over 1,600 hotels in Paris, with most establishments rated as three-star. That said, while the number of three-star hotels has fluctuated since 2019, the number of four-star hotels has increased gradually, peaking at 490 in 2023. That year, four-star establishments recorded the highest number of hotel rooms in Paris.

Real travel times in Dublin are ** percent longer than travel under free-flow conditions, making it the most congested urban sprawl in the world as of 2023. This figure refers to additional average travel time throughout the week. Tackling trust in transport With trust in public transport globally taking a knock following the outbreak of Covid-19, switching to public transport modes for commuting trips to save time, emissions, and traffic may prove difficult. Activities at transit stations declined in many cities around the world as a result of ebbing demand amid the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, transport services in highly populated cities have suffered devastating financial losses. While public transport transit had started to pick up in the beginning of 2021, it could not offset the drop recorded as a result of the pandemic. India: a climate for new policies? Among the twelve cities displayed, India is represented by *****. To tackle high levels of congestion, a congestion pricing policy was recently proposed in India, which would serve to introduce parking fees and thus push commuters to take public transport rather than drive their cars to work. Surveys collecting public opinion on this proposal have indicated that this would be a popular policy, should it be implemented. The motive behind curbing congestion in the nation’s largest cities is more than just to reduce pollution levels and time spent in traffic; India has some of the highest levels of traffic-related fatalities globally: some ******* people died in traffic accidents in 2019 – this is the highest number on record since 2005.