Global market research company Euromonitor International revealed the top 100 city destinations for 2019 with Hong Kong taking the top spot. According to the report, global inbound arrivals are expected to grow by 4.2% to 1.47 billion trips in 2019, with the top 100 cities covering nearly 47% of global arrivals.
This year’s report, which ranks the world’s leading cities by its international tourist arrivals. shows that 5 out of the top 10 most visited cities in 2018 were in Asia Pacific. Europe remains the second key region for travellers, with London retaining its third place in the ranking despite a decline in the number of arrivals in 2018, as Brexit uncertainty continues. Istanbul made a strong comeback in the top 10 with the fastest growth in inbound arrivals globally.
In the Middle East and Africa, Cairo and Hurghada showed a sharp recovery in the ranking, owing to an active tourism reform strategy. Johannesburg was placed 54th on the list.
Rabia Yasmeen, senior analyst at Euromonitor International said: “Amid the current situation in Hong Kong, leading to a sharp decline in the number of visitor arrivals this year at -8.7%, the city is expected to maintain its leading position in 2019.
“As tourism becomes a cornerstone for economic growth and receives more committed attention from governments, cities are expected to be the centre of innovation and investment with technology and sustainability as key focus areas in the years to come,” concludes Yasmeen.
The top 100 cities were:
1.Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
2. Bangkok, Thailand
3.London, United Kingdom
4. Macau Macau, China
5.Singapore, Singapore
6.Paris, France
7.Dubai, United Arab Emirates
8.New York City, US
9.Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
10.Istanbul, Turkey
11. Delhi, India
12. Antalya, Turkey
13.Shenzhen, China
14. Mumbai, India
15. Phuket, Thailand
16.Rome, Italy
17.Tokyo, Japan
18.Pattaya, Thailand
19. Taipei, Taiwan, China
20. Mecca, Saudi Arabia
21.Guangzhou, China
22. Prague, Czech Republic
23.Medina, Saudi Arabia
24.Seoul, South Korea
25. Amsterdam, Netherlands
26. Agra, India
27.Miami, US
28.Osaka, Japan
29.Los Angeles, US
30.Shanghai, China
31. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
32. Denpasar, Indonesia
33.Barcelona, Spain
34.Las Vegas, US
35.Milan, Italy
36. Chennai, India
37.Vienna, Austria
38.Johor Bahru, Malaysia
39.Jaipur, India
40.Cancun, Mexico
41.Berlin, Germany
42. Cairo, Egypt
43. Athens, Greece
44. Orlando, US
45.Moscow, Russia
46.Venice, Italy
47. Madrid, Spain
48.Ha Long, Vietnam
49.Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
50. Dublin, Ireland
51.Florence, Italy
52. Ha Noi, Vietnam
53.Toronto, Canada
54.Johannesburg, South Africa
55. Sydney, Australia
56.Munich, Germany
57.Jakarta, Indonesia
58. Beijing, China
59. St. Petersburg, Russia
60.Brussels, Belgium
61.Jerusalem, Israel
62.Budapest, Hungary
63. Lisbon, Portugal
64.Dammam, Saudi Arabia
65.Penang Island, Malaysia
66. Heraklion, Greece
67.Kyoto, Japan
68. Zhuhai, China
69.Vancouver, Canada
70.Chiang Mai, Thailand
71.Copenhagen, Denmark
72. San Francisco, US
73.Melbourne, Australia
74.Krakow, Poland
75.Marrakech, Morocco
76. Kolkatta, India
77.Cebu, Philippines
78. Auckland, New Zealand
79.Tel Aviv, Israel
80. Guilin, China
81.Honolulu, US
82.Hurgada, Egypt
83.Warsaw, Poland
84. Mugla, Turkey
85.Buenos Aires City, Argentina
86. Chiba, Japan
87.Frankfurt, Germany
88. Stockholm, Sweden
89. Lima, Peru
90. Da Nang, Vietnam
91. Batam, Indonesia
92.Nice, France
93. Fukuoka,Japan
94. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
95. Jeju, South Korea
96. Porto, Portugal
97.Rhodes, Greece
98.Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
99. Krabi, Thailand
100. Bangalore India