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As 2016 wraps up and we look ahead to the travel possibilities of 2017,
it’s interesting to see which destinations were most popular this year.
Recently, MasterCard did a study of 132 cities and destinations, ranking
them in order of most-visited and fastest-growing. It released the
annual Global Destinations Cities Index report for 2016 using data from
tourists’ spending.
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10 Seoul
At No. 10 on the Global Destinations Cities Index report for 2016 is
Seoul with 10.2 million international overnight visitors. While in
Seoul, you can stroll through beautiful, historic Bukchon Hanok Village
or check out the Buddhist temple of Bongeunsa — or enjoy world-class
cuisine. |
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9 Tokyo
Making it into the top 10 travel destinations this year at No. 9,
Tokyo’s projected number of international overnight visitors was 11.7
million. Japan is home to countless temples and shrines. You can spend
time visiting some of these if you travel to Tokyo or go by the famous
Harajuku district. |
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8 Istanbul
Istanbul fell from the top five in 2015 to the eighth most-visited
destination of 2016 with 11.95 million international overnight visitors.
According to The Independent, a decline in tourism this year could be a
result of “terrorism and political instability.” However, if you’re one
of the millions who are still traveling there, you can’t pass trying
some neighborhood restaurants. |
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7 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur’s projected number of international visitors this year was
12.02 million. Located in the city’s Chinatown area, the Sri
Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest Malaysian temple and worth a visit if
you’re passing through. |
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6 Singapore
With 12.11 million projected international overnight visitors, Singapore
comes in at No. 6 on the list. If you’ve never been to Universal Studios
in the U.S., there’s one in Singapore you can go to while you’re
visiting. Along with amusement parks, Singapore has everything from
temples, gardens, and wildlife preserves to resorts, food markets, and
museums — and one of the world's great restaurant scenes.
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5 New York City
New York City’s projected number of international overnight visitors for
2016 was 12.75 million people. If you find yourself in one of NYC’s
bustling boroughs, make time, at the very least, to grab dinner followed
by a Broadway show in Manhattan and do some landmark sightseeing of the
Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building.
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4 Dubai
Dubai kept its spot in the top five from 2015 with 15.27 million
overnight visitors. Known for its luxury, Dubai calls to those who
appreciate great food, modern architecture, and intriguing sites such as
Atlantis, The Palm’s underwater suites.
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3 Paris
Paris kept its place in third with 18.03 million international visitors
this year. Enjoy roaming the City of Love, wandering into cheese shops
and bakeries, or taking a more touristy route by visiting the Eiffel
Tower or Notre-Dame Cathedral. |
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2 London
Dropping into second place, London had 19.88 million international
overnight visitors. A seemingly endless list of famous landmarks and
rich history makes London a continually popular destination for
travelers — not to mention culinary diversity.
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1 Bangkok
Up from 18.24 million international visitors in 2015, Bangkok was the
No. 1 most-visited destination of 2016 with 21.47 million international
overnight visitors. What isn’t there to do in Bangkok? Beautiful
temples, gardens, wildlife, floating markets, a lively nightlife, and
popular restaurants put this city —rightfully so — at the top of the
list.
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