Ever wondered which city receives the most visitors globally? Well, it’s not London, Paris, or even New York City. Believe it or not! The ever-changing global marketplace means more people than ever travel for business and leisure. With the enormous recent growth of developing economies (and their populations), you may find some surprising cities on this list. Did yours make it? Check out our list of the top 25 most visited cities in the world.
25. Barcelona
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
A major Spanish party city, Barcelona had almost 6 million visitors in 2013. Besides the beautiful beaches and vibrant clubs, the city brought in plenty of business visitors as it is the fourth most economically powerful city in the European Union (as measured by GDP).
24. Milan
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
A global fashion centre, Milan brought nearly 6 million visitors in 2013. Beyond its high couture, Milan is also Italy’s centre of finance and commerce, bringing in loads of business people in addition to tourists.
23. Las Vegas
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
The first city to reach above the 6 million visitor mark, Las Vegas may attract visitors looking for “Sin City”, but it also is the third most popular convention city in the United States. Las Vegas is also home to a vibrant night light with numerous casinos and shows running along the famous 4 mile strip.
22. Shanghai
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
The financial centre of mainland China, Shanghai brought in 6.5% less visitors in 2013, likely due to China’s economic slowdown. However, the city saw 6.1 million visitors, which is still a hefty number to visit Shanghai and its port: the busiest container port in the world.
21. Prague
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
The fifth most visited European city, Prague saw 6.2 million visitors in 2013. Many were likely there to tour its historic city centre which is listed on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.
20. Miami
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
The playground for wealthy Americans and Latin Americans who enjoy beautiful weather nearly everyday, Miami is not just about the party. A major banking centre of Latin America, Miami brought in almost 6.3 million tourists in 2013, an increase of 4.1% from the previous year.
19. Taipei
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
Nearly 6.7 million people visited Taipei in 2013. Forming part of a major high-tech industrial zone, Taipei receives heaps of business visitors but is also known for its tourist sites such as the National Palace Museum. Taipei is also known for its lively street-food scene and many night markets, including expansive Shilin market.
18. Pattaya
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
A favorite of Russian tourists and Bangkok weekenders for its warm weather, sandy beaches, and wild nightlife scene, Pattaya had nearly 7 million visitors in 2013. Only 62 miles (100 km) from Bangkok, it’s a popular weekend trip for locals and tourists alike.
17. Mecca
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
Known as Islam’s holiest city, Mecca is home to about 2 million people. The annual hajj (pilgrimage for all able Muslims) draws in most of Mecca’s visitors, bringing annual visitation numbers over 7.5 million.
16. Guangzhou
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
Just 75 miles (120 km) away from #1 on our list and 90 miles (145 km) away from #6, Guangzhou is one of China’s most important transportation hubs and is also known for its thriving food scene. Due to China’s economic slowdown, visitors dropped by 3% in 2013 to 7.6 million.
15. Phuket
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
The second of three Thai cities on the list of the world’s most visited cities, Phuket is also Thailand’s largest island. Known for its popular beaches and crystal clear water, Phuket saw over 8 million visitors in 2013.
14. Rome
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
The “eternal city”, Rome boasts a history going back nearly 3,000 years. Focused on by nearly every pope since the Renaissance to make it into a centre of culture and art, Rome continues to charm, bringing in almost 9 million visitors in 2013.
13. Seoul
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
Making up almost a quarter of South Korea’s GDP despite occupying less than 1% of its land, Seoul is a major destination for business travelers and a sprawling metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples, palaces and street markets. Seoul attracted over 8.6 million visitors in 2013.
12. Dubai
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
A small fishing village 100 years ago, Dubai has now transformed itself into a regional and global powerhouse. Home to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, Dubai has done well encouraging its tourism industry, which sees over 10 million visitors annually.
11. Istanbul
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey (and the largest urban area in Europe and the Middle East) with over 14.4 million residents. Its position as an important hub was further reinforced in 2013 as its visitor numbers grew by almost 12% to over 10.4 million.
10. Antalya
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
It may be strange to see a city other than Istanbul as Turkey’s most visited city, but Antalya did indeed bring in almost 700,000 more visitors. A major reason for this Mediterranean city’s popularity is its proximity for Russian tourists. To further boost its global notoriety, it will also hold the 2015 G-20 summit in November.
9. Kuala Lumpur
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur was once home to the country’s executive and judicial branches. Though they moved to Putrajaya in 1999, Kuala Lumpur (or KL) has established itself as a major economic zone for Southeast Asia, bringing in over 11 million visitors annually.
8. Shenzhen
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
China’s first Special Economic Zone, Shenzhen brought in nearly 12 million visitors in 2013. These visitors were mostly business-related to this tech mega-city, nicknamed China’s Silicon Valley.
7. New York City
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
Besides being the world’s most financially powerful city and the heart of America, New York City doesn’t break the top five – though it is the top American city on our list, growing by 2% in 2013 to bring in almost 12 million travelers.
6. Macau
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
Asia’s equivalent (and then much more) to Las Vegas, Macau is a gambling mecca, attracting over 14 million visitors in 2013. Its giant casinos and extravagant malls have earned it the nickname, the “Las Vegas of Asia.” It was also the last European colony in Asia (given up by the Portuguese in 1999) and is the most densely populated region in the world.
5. Paris
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
The city of love, Paris also boasts the largest business district in Europe, La Défense. Over 15 million people traveled to Paris in 2013 for business and tourism, with many likely stopping by the world’s most visited art museum, the Louvre.
4. London
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
The largest economic powerhouse in Europe, London has more overseas banks (480) than any city in the world. Combine that with the proliferation of British culture around the world and this mega-city brought in nearly 17 million visitors in 2013, making it the most visited city in Europe. (Sorry, Paris.)
3. Bangkok
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
Experiencing the third highest growth in visitors year over year (after Istanbul and Phuket) at 10.4%, Bangkok is forty times larger than Thailand’s next largest city. Its nearly 18 million visitors were a healthy mix between tourists (largely backpackers) and business people as Bangkok is the headquarters of many multinational corporations in Southeast Asia.
2. Singapore
Photo Courtesy of Euromonitor
With a trade-to-GDP ratio of 408%, trade and business are central to Singapore’s existence. The tiny city/country beats out Bangkok by nearly a third, clocking in 22.5 million visitors annually. Singapore is also known for eclectic street firs, served in hawker centres such as Tiong Bahru and Maxwell Road.
1. Hong Kong
Hong Kong at night
The most visited city in the world should come as no surprise to those plugged into the business world. One of the world’s most vertical cities and the city whose transit network covers 90% of its residents – the most in the world – Hong Kong beat out other cities by far, drawing in 25.6 million visitors in 2013. It’s also a major port famed for it’s tower-studded skyline and lively food scene.
Check out our list of the 22 of the Richest People Under 25. The mystery young woman who tops the list also comes from this fabulous city.