According to BBC Travel, five cities from different parts of the world continue to attract millions of foreign visitors. These cities are now melting pots of diverse cultures that they interestingly create their own.
The five countries mentioned in the said list has been around for several years, swapping positions periodically. Although there are many bases in determining the attraction of the cities to foreigners, there are clear indicators on what makes a city welcoming to visitors. Culture is one factor, but the list now show how significant the political, social and technology aspects in a city are to visitors.
The influx of visitors on a particular city is somewhat also parallel to the said city's growth. We cannot simply compare one to another because of their varying characteristics to determine the primary reason of influx and loss of visitors. But we can show their distinct traits and popular landmarks that place them in the list as the world's most visited cities. Check out the top five cities in the world below:
London
London regained the top spot of the BBC Travel list. Last year, London placed second next to Bangkok. London regains the leading spot thanks to an eight percent growth in visitors, gaining a total 18.68 million of visitors and $19.3 billion of dollars. Surely, one can feel the regal appeal of the city with its royal palaces like the Buckingham Palace and the iconic Tower of London.
Bangkok
Used to be the top most visited city with millions of foreign visitors, the capital of Thailand posted 16.42 million visitors this year, with an 11% decrease. One factor of this decrease in their tourism is the recent political conflict in the country, according to CNN. Nonetheless, the solid Asian culture Bangkok offers remained appealing to visitors, placing the city on the second spot. The temples of Thailand, its floating market and its old-century tradition with its elephants made Bangkok the place to be.
Paris
As formerly the center of Western culture in the world, Paris still captures Europe thanks to its food, fashion, and art. The heart of France makes it in the third spot with 15.57 million visitors and $17 billion worth of network this year. Eiffel Tower is the most notable landmark for many people, making it as a top economic contributor.
Singapore
Singapore exemplifies a hybrid culture of Asian and Western qualities, showing 12.47 million visitors the best of both worlds. It also has $14.3 billion dollars thanks to its million visitors who come in for business apart from leisure. Singapore's modern architecture and technology secured the city a spot in its list. Moreover, Singapore is known for its famous landmarks like the Fountain of Wealth, Universal Studio theme park, the Merlion Park at Sentosa and many more.
Dubai
The City of Gold had beaten a more popular choice, which is New York City. Dubai posted 11.95 million visitors and $10.9 billion dollars worth of earnings. With its Burj Khalif, the tallest building in the world, and its magnificent sands, Dubai overthroned a USA representative on this list. Yahoo Travel said that Dubai's advances in technology and economic developments had helped the city elevate its position in the list.
Join the Conversation