20 Most Popular City Destinations In The World 2023: Top Paris, Most Visited Istanbul
Paris, France has again been named the most interesting city destination in the world 2023, while Istanbul Turkey is the most visited, according to an annual report by global market research firm Euromonitor International.
The Top 100 City Destinations Index of 2023, drawn up in partnership with data firm Lighthouse, is observing leading cities around the world and ranking them based on criteria including tourism, sustainability, economic performance, as well as health and safety.
Europe is at the top, with seven of the top 10 cities and 63 countries in the top 100. While the other three cities that complete the list of the top 10 are Dubai, UAE (2), Tokyo, Japan (4) and New York, United States (8).
Madrid are in third place, while Amsterdam, Berlin and Rome are in 5, 6 and 7. Barcelona and then London completes the top 10.
Other destinations in Asia are in the top 20, namely Singapore (11), Seoul (14), Osaka (16) and Hong Kong (17).
The report attributes Europe's success to accelerating urbanization and widespread technology adoption. Tourists now want high-speed internet, flexible ordering options, and space to work remotely.Euromonitor International said, "Improving sustainability, transportation networks and social impacts are some of the main goals adopted by today's cities to increase competitiveness, increase tourism offerings, and provide smooth customer travel," quoted from CNN December 27.
Tokyo is in the top 10 for the first time, which, according to the report, is due to increased tourism infrastructure, easing regulations related to Covid-19 and weakening yen which offers huge value to international visitors.
Meanwhile, there are four newcomers who are in the top 100, all of whom can boast about improving tourism performance this year: Washington DC (48), Montreal (68), Santiago (88) and Vilnius (92).
It is known that international travel continues to experience a strong recovery, with the number of trips projected to reach 1.3 billion by the end of 2023, resulting in around $1.7 trillion in global tourism spending.
Istanbul topped the list of international arrivals in 2023, followed by London and then Dubai. The cities with the largest annual growth were Hong Kong (2.49%) and Bangkok (142%), as it was the last city to reopen after the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the increase in visitor numbers can have a variety of impacts, and can have a negative impact on local communities and the environment. Nadewda Popova, senior manager at Euromonito International, in a statement highlighted the way cities face overtourism challenges.
"Some destinations impose high restrictions, taxes, or reduced hotel capacity to help limit tourist entry and preserve cultural heritage, while others implement spread strategies that promote alternative or remote destinations," he explained.
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He estimates that the increase in cost of living, inflation fluctuations, and geopolitical volatility will be the biggest obstacle to tourism growth in 2024 and 2025.
Consumers will look for travel offers that are of good value and many will choose a vacation that suits their needs and is closer to home.
1. Paris, France2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates3. Madrid, Spain4. Tokyo, Japan5. Amsterdam, Netherlands6. Berlin, Germany7. Roma, Italy8. New York, United States9. Barcelona, Spain10. London, England11. Singapore12. Munich, Germany13. Milan, Italy14. Seoul, South Korea15. Dublin, Ireland16. Osaka, Japan17. Hong Kong18. Vienna, Austria19. Los Angeles, United States20. Lisbon, Portugal