Top most visited destinations and cities for the year ending 2010 in terms of international tourist arrivals.
The economic crisis that started in 2008 has caused a drop in international travel, in the top 100 cities there is an average 3.5% drop. There is no part of the planet that has not been effected. One of the worst years for international travel and tourism.
Here is the list of the Top Most Visited Cities 2010 along with the % change from 2008/2009:
Rank – % Growth
- London -4.7
- Bangkok -2.2
- Singapore -4.3
- Kuala Lumpur 5.2
- Antalya 3.5
- New York City -10.7
- Dubai 2.6
- Paris -6.9
- Istanbul 7.0
- Hong Kong -3.8
- Mecca 6.1
- Rome -1.5
- Miami -9.4
- Las Vegas -14.9
- Los Angeles -8.0
- Barcelona -5.3
- Cairo -11.0
- Shanghai -2.0
- Pattaya -3.3
- Dublin -7.0
- Bucharest 24.1
- Macau -6.2
- Amsterdam -14.5
- Prague -9.1
- Moscow -12.0
- Kiev -4.8
- Beijing 2.3
- Vienna -5.4
- Phuket 0.5
- Madrid -6.4
- Tokyo -17.1
- Muğla 2.4
- San Francisco -8.8
- Orlando -14.7
- Taipei -5.1
- Berlin 0.2
- Budapest -5.4
- Rio De Janeiro 0.3
- Edirne 6.6
- Toronto -11.5
- Stockholm 2.7
- Mexico City -13.0
- Seoul 5.1
- Denpasar 19.8
- Delhi 1.5
- St Petersburg -2.8
- Brussels -5.9
- Warsaw -16.7
- Jerusalem -2.4
- Guangzhou 0.9
- Buenos Aires -11.5
- East Province 9.8
- Mumbai 1.5
- Munich -2.7
- Chennai 1.5
- Sydney -8.7
- Cancún -6.0
- Sharm el Sheikh -18.0
- Vancouver -14.9
- Marrakech 14.5
- Punta Cana 3.1
- Ho Chi Minh -3.8
- Milan -0.5
- Jakarta 15.9
- Athens -11.0
- Seattle -10.8
- Lima -13.1
- Oslo -7.7
- São Paulo 2.7
- Lisbon -7.5
- Riyadh 6.0
- Florence -1.3
- Chiang Mai 5.0
- Tel Aviv -2.4
- Johannesburg -8.9
- Venice -3.8
- Agra 1.5
- Hangzhou 1.5
- Burgas -8.3
- .Auckland -2.5
- Varna -7.9
- Jaipur 1.5
- Shenzhen -2.1
- Abu Dhabi 9.7
- Cape Town -8.7
- Chicago -1.8
- Honolulu -17.9
- Wellington 3.4
- Sharjah 11.1
- Minsk 4.0
- Washington DC -16.1
- Halong -0.3
- Hurghada -15.0
- Krabi 4.4
- Christchurch -3.5
- Suzhou -3.4
- Sofia -3.1
- Kolkatta 1.5
- Montreal -9.6
- Palma de Mallorca -4.2
North American cities were the hardest hit with the highest decline due to financial crisis and strengthening of the dollar. The overall winner is the Middle East with religion as the main draw, where Mecca is the final destination, fears and threats of terrorism has not effected the religious pursuit.
The fastest growing city was Bucharest at 24%, due to recent accession into the EU meant more low cost airlines now fly here and is now a growing European market where inflation has not really been prominent.
Indonesia is a surprise, with small growth, it still remains a rising star, thanks to AirAsia’s expansion in connecting Malaysia and Indonesia which increased the number of Malaysian visitors.
The recession has hit far and wide. Sharm el Sheikh, Honolulu and Tokyo recorded the highest drops. Trends suggest travellers are avoiding long haul, luxury destinations like Hawaii.
A recovery is not expected until at least 2012, after one of the worst years in international travel. Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa are the new emerging markets. Accelerated expansion of low cost carriers and rising middle classes are travelling in greater numbers. Cities serving as main airport hubs are expected to benefit the most.