A look at the 20 most visited cities.
MasterCard has published its annual list of the most-visited cities in the world – with some surprising results.
Asia has claimed the top spot for the first time thanks to Bangkok’s burgeoning popularity with tourists and business visitors.
Read on to discover the 20 cities to have made it onto the list - and what makes each so popular.
Bangkok – 15.98 million visitors
The Thai capital is predicted to welcome close to 16 million visitors during 2013, a figure that is comprised mostly of people from other Asian nations – but also including millions of tourists and businesspeople from further afield.
Dr Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, author of the MasterCard list, explained: “It’s not just about the sex industry. Bangkok is a major entertainment city with its night markets, cheap shopping and good food. There are also a lot of businesses relocating to Bangkok.”
Top attractions in Bangkok include traditional floating markets, the famous Khao San Road and an array of stunning temples – including the famous Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn).
London - 15.96 million visitors
With 25,000 fewer visitors predicted for 2013 than Bangkok, old London town only narrowly missed out on the gold medal position – despite the boost it received from hosting the Olympics last year.
The combination of its status as the world’s leading financial centre, hundreds of years of history and a selection of world-class tourist attractions ensures that visitors keep coming back for more.
Tate Modern, the British Museum, the London Eye, Maritime Greenwich and the Tower of London are some of the biggest mainstream attractions – but many young visitors are just as keen to check out Camden Town or trendy east London.
Paris - 13.92 million visitors
The French capital Paris is similar to London in size and population, but markedly different in the way it has developed over the centuries.
The centre of the city is governed by much stricter planning laws, leading to an attractive but quite uniform appearance – with wide boulevards and neo-classical facades built in the mid-19th century under Napoleon III.
Attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre and the Champs-Elysees bring in millions of tourists each year – and the city’s name is still synonymous with romance (and perhaps a bit of oh là là if you’re lucky).
Singapore - 11.75 million visitors
Asia’s second-highest entry on the list is city-state Singapore, a collection of 63 islands off the southern tip of the Malay peninsula, which has been an important trading location for centuries.
And, while its status as the world’s fourth-biggest financial centre brings many for work, it also has a host of tourist attractions, which are bringing in more and more leisure visitors each year.
Following the legalising of gambling a few years ago, two casino-based resorts have been built, and other big draws include the stunning Gardens by the Bay with its illuminated displays, the shoppers’ delights of Orchard Road and the Singapore Flyer – the world’s biggest observation wheel.
New York - 11.52 million visitors
Not only is it the second-biggest global financial centre and by far the biggest city in the US, but the Big Apple also possesses arguably the world’s most iconic skyline thanks to its instantly recognisable skyscrapers.
Walk around the streets of Manhattan or visit Central Park for the first time and you may get a strange feeling of déjà vu – because you’ve seen your surroundings so many times before on the big and small screens.
And while it’s not cheap to stay or eat out in NYC (the city tops the MasterCard table for highest overnight spend) many of the best sights - such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station and Central Park - are completely free.
Throw in some world-class museums and the famous shopping and you’ve got a pretty busy holiday schedule.
Istanbul - 10.37 million visitors
Turkey’s (and Europe’s) largest city is home to 13.9 million people – and almost as many again come to do business or take in the atmosphere of this 2,600-year-old settlement on the Bosphorus.
The collision of cultures as east meets west may sound like a cliché, but Istanbul combines European and Arab influences like nowhere else on Earth.
The breathtakingly beautiful Aya Sofya, the stunning Topkapi Palace and the Galata Tower are among the biggest attractions – but the markets, street food and the atmospheric maze of streets are just as much of a draw for many visitors.
Dubai - 9.89 million visitors
The best-known city in the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi is the capital), Dubai is by far the most-visited city in the Middle East – with tourism rapidly expanding alongside a well-developed commercial sector.
Many visitors come from within the Middle East or from Africa and Asia – but the city’s reputation as a shopper’s paradise has made it hugely popular with the Footballers’ Wives / The Only Way Is Essex set too.
Sights include the famous sail-shaped Burj Al Arab luxury hotel and the world’s tallest structure – the 829m-high Burj Khalifa.
And if all the shiny glass and chrome gets too much, you can head for the atmospheric old Bastakiya Persian quarter for a change of scenery.
Kuala Lumpur - 9.20 million visitors
Like nearby Singapore, Malaysia’s capital and largest city Kuala Lumpur is a thriving hub of commerce and owes many of the nine million-plus visits it gets each year to business trips – but it also has an array of charms for leisure visitors too.
The city has a penchant for futuristic architecture – two of the world’s tallest buildings have been erected there – but also boasts a surprising number of well-preserved buildings from the days of empire.
The view from the Petronas Twin Towers or the Menara KL tower, the Guandi Temple and the old city railway station are all deservedly popular items on visitors’ to-do lists. And shopaholics are well catered for with a staggering 66 shopping malls.
Hong Kong - 8.72 million visitors
The famously densely populated former British colony of Hong Kong is supplemented by more than eight million visitors each year. The city’s status as the world’s third-biggest financial centre draws many of them, but it is also hugely popular with tourists.
Many visitors come from Asia, but Hong Kong is also popular with westerners for its shopping, food and dazzling sights.
The natural boundaries of water and hills have created one of the most stunning man-made vistas on Earth, and the skyscraper-packed skyline becomes even more arresting after dark.
Other notable tourist activities include climbing the Peak, taking a ferry ride and the traditional stilt houses of Lantau island.
Barcelona - 8.41 million visitors
The Catalonian capital might be Spain’s second-largest city in terms of population, but its relaxed, arty vibe has made it the nation’s outright winner in terms of tourist numbers.
Gaudi’s famously unfinished Sagrada Familia church is the city’s most-iconic building and it provides a thrilling, leg-stretching workout if you opt to climb the tight stairways to its towers.
Museums dedicated to Picasso and Miro reinforce the city’s artistic influence - but many visitors are just as happy to stroll down Las Ramblas, enjoy a coffee or cerveza at an outdoor cafe and relax on the beach.
Seoul - 8.19 million visitors
Home to a staggering 10 million people, South Korea’s capital and economic hub may not be on many British tourists’ itineraries, but the city has much to offer - including a mixture of ancient buildings such as the Changdeokgung Palace and ultra-modern skyscrapers, shopping malls and entertainment zones.
Seoul is surrounded by mountains, the tallest being Mount Bukhan, which is also the world's most visited national park. The city lays claim to some other records too - including the world's largest indoor theme park, Lotte World, and largest cinema screen, Times Square's CGV Starium.
If you decide to visit the upmarket Gangnam district - made famous by the Korean rapper PSY's internet hit Gangnam Style - make sure you wear your smartest clothes.
Milan - 6.83 million visitors
Milan may be famous for its fashion industry but Italy’s second-largest city is very much the country’s economic and commercial engine room – and many visitors are disappointed by its grey, modernist architecture and fast-paced atmosphere.
That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see as a tourist though. The magnificent Duomo is the third largest church in Christendom and visitors can buy a ticket to stroll on the roof – which offers stunning views of the city.
La Scala opera house is world famous and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is possibly the world’s best-looking shopping mall. And then there’s the typically fantastic Italian food.
Rome - 6.71 million visitors
The Eternal City has been an eternally popular destination on tourist itineraries, and indeed was one of the main reasons tourism was invented in the first place.
The Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, St Peter’s, the Spanish Steps... we could go on (and on), but Rome is one destination that absolutely lives up to the hype.
And given the very pleasant climate for much of the year, delicious food, great shopping and a surprisingly laid-back vibe for a capital city, it’s surprising more people don’t visit!
Shanghai - 6.5m visitors
With a total population of over 23 million, Shanghai is the largest city (by population) in the world and a strategic port – so it should come as no surprise it receives so many visitors.
The city, located on the east coast of the country, has been described as the "showpiece" of the booming economy of mainland China and is a popular tourist destination, renowned for its historical landmarks.
Highlights include the Bund, City God Temple, Yu Garden and the awe-inspiring Lujiazui skyline.
Amsterdam - 6.35 million visitors
Famed for its canals, 'special” coffee shops, culture, lovely parks and red-light district, Amsterdam has something to offer pretty much everyone. The ultimate 'small big city', Amsterdam combines the advantages of a cosmopolitan capital with a compact, easy-to-navigate size.
Its main cultural attractions, including the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Hermitage Amsterdam and Anne Frank’s House, help draw more than six million visitors annually.
As well as being a popular place to visit, the city was ranked second best city in the world to live by the Economist Intelligence Unit last year (second to Hong Kong).
Tokyo - 5.80 million visitors
Nearly six million people are set to visit Japan’s capital this year, attracted by an intoxicating mix of high-tech modernity and ancient history and culture.
Described as one of the three “command centres” for the world economy (along with London and New York City), Tokyo is notoriously pricey – and was named the most expensive city for expatriates. It has also moved up the MasterCard ranking (now in third place) for visitor spending – reflecting the higher cost of living in the city.
Popular tourist attractions include Tokyo Tower, the Studio Ghibli anime centre and Ueno Park, which is home to many of the city’s museums and a favoured spot to see the cherry blossoms.
Vienna - 5.37 million visitors
Vienna, a Unesco world heritage site, boasts a rich cultural heritage as evidenced in its architecture – which includes baroque castles and gardens and the late-19th-century Ringstrasse lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks.
In addition to the appeal of its musical heritage and many museums, Vienna ranks as the world's number one destination for international conventions, which significantly boost visitor numbers, and it hosts more balls than any other city in the world.
Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with the place and want to stay. A Mercer study ranked Vienna as the best city in terms of quality of living, for four years in a row (2009–2012).
Taipei - 5.19 million visitors
Taipei is a shopper’s paradise offering everything from world-famous night markets (head to the Shilin district for one of the best) to huge shopping and entertainment centres.
Must-visit areas include Ximending (popular with trendy teens, earning it the nickname the 'Harajuku' of Taipei) and the Xinyi district, home to one of the world's tallest buildings and the city’s nightlife.
If you prefer parks, green spaces and nature reserves you won’t be disappointed. Yangmingshan national park, Taipei zoo and Da-an forest park are all worth a visit. Although the national park is a bit further to get to, visitors are rewarded with the sight of its famous cherry blossoms and hot springs.
Riyadh - 5.05 million visitors
The capital of Saudi Arabia and its largest city, Riyadh, makes it to number 19 on MasterCard’s Most Popular Cities list, attracting more than five million overnight visitors.
One of the richest cities in Saudi Arabia, the capital draws visitors for business as much as pleasure.
A popular destination for tourists is the King Fahd Road, considered by many to be the most beautiful street in Saudi Arabia. Expect stunning contemporary architecture with high-rise buildings such as the Kingdom Centre, Al Faisaliah Center and Al Anoud Tower.
Los Angeles - 4.84 million visitors
The City of Angels is the second most populated city in the US (after New York) and a substantial economic centre attracting many business visitors.
The home of Hollywood, LA is often billed as the 'creative capital of the world' due to the fact that one in every six of its residents works in a creative industry. If you want to take in a show, you won’t be disappointed. There are said to be more than 1,100 annual theatrical productions and 21 openings every week.
Add to that the 841 museums and art galleries (LA boasts more museums per capita than anywhere else in the world) and it’s no surprise to find nearly five million people are expected to visit the city this year.
0 comments:
Post a Comment