You can’t deny the allure of travelling to a new country and seeing a new culture while savouring everything that nature has to offer. It’s safe to say that most people have a bucket list of places they want to visit before they die. According to the World Tourism rankings, there were roughly 1.323 billion international tourist arrivals worldwide in 2017, an increase of 6.8 percent from the year before. According to a recent study, these are the 10 most popular tourist destinations in the globe in 2022.
FRANCE- 86.9 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
In 2017, 86.9 million international tourists visited this European country, which is well-known for its numerous tourist attractions and the world’s most visited country. The most popular tourist destinations are Paris, Strasbourg, Alsace, and Lyon. Furthermore, there are a variety of other attractions, including beaches, small villages, natural parks and woods, adventure sports and historical places that cater to a wide range of tastes. Tourism contributes 9.7% of the GDP, with 30% coming from overseas visitors and 70% coming from domestic tourists.
Fashion houses, art museums and the Eiffel Tower are some of the country’s most well-known landmarks. With nearly 86.9 million foreign visitors in 2017, it was the most visited country on the planet. Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity is the country’s slogan, and it uses 12 time zones, the most of any country in the world. Approximately 11.2 billion glasses of wine and 500 snails are consumed by the average French person each year, according to an estimate.
As expected, travel numbers will plummet dramatically in France in 2022, according to Plum Guide. However, the country’s famed landmarks, both actual and metaphorical, ensure that its streets will be bustling again before we know it.
SPAIN- 81.8 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
As a European tourist destination with a tropical vibe, this country is primarily reliant on tourism, which generates 11% of its annual GDP. As well as beautiful beaches on the Atlantic and Mediterranean and ancient sites, Spain also has a vibrant carnival culture with a plethora of colourful festivals and parades. Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville are among the most visited cities in Spain, as are several of the city’s UNESCO-designated world heritage sites. The Guggenheim Museum is a stunning example of 20th-century design. More than half of all visitors to Spain come from Western European nations such as the United Kingdom (UK), France (France), and Germany (Germany). Tourists usually rent a car as soon as they arrive to explore the city and its surrounds, as rental24h.com can attest.
As the “Kingdom of Spain,” it is surrounded by Morocco, the United Kingdom (which includes Gibraltar and the Isle of Wight), Portugal (which includes Lisbon), Andorra, and France. One of the world’s major tourism businesses is found in the second largest EU country, bringing in billions of Euro to the economy. With 44 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the United States boasts a wide variety of historical and prehistoric sites to explore. La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, one of the world’s most stunning churches, is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
Digital nomads and remote workers flock to Barcelona. People come to the city in droves to learn about its fascinating past, present, and delectable food. Working and travelling may be seamlessly integrated thanks to the city’s burgeoning start-up sector, world-class co-working spaces, and active expat community. Depending on where you choose to go, you can stay in hostels, co-living places, or private apartments. Homelike, for example, provides completely furnished apartments in Barcelona that can be hired online. Visit natvisa.com for information on Spain’s entry visa if you frequently go to the country.
UNITED STATES- 76.9 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
Geographically, the world’s third-largest country offers a vast selection of tourism attractions. Natural wonders like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Alaskan icebergs, and the beaches of Florida are among the world’s best, as are major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, and Honolulu. Visitors from Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico are the most common. As a result, the United States has one of the most extensive shorelines in the world.
With its two rivers, the Mississippi and Missouri, the United States’ longest river, and the world’s fourth-longest river, is formed by the confluence of these two countries’ waterways. Niagara Falls, on the border between the United States and Canada, is one of the world’s most stunning waterfalls, drawing more than 14 million tourists each year. Aside from the country’s many national parks, it is also known for its abundance of forestland and wild areas. Yellowstone National Park, located in Wyoming, was established in 1872 and is the oldest national park. Check out tnvisaexpert.com for additional information about visa renewal or obtaining a new one before you fly to the United States.
CHINA- 60.7 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
To foreign tourists, China may appear to be an improbable destination because of its communist regime and restricted attitude in international affairs. Some of China’s most notable landmarks include the Great Wall of China and the Five Sacred Mountains, as well as other historically significant sites and natural attractions such as the Huangguoshu Waterfall and other Forbidden City landmarks. China is also a budget travel destination with first-rate public transportation. This year, China is predicted to become the world’s most popular tourist destination. Reed Flute Cave is a world-class natural wonder.
Eastern and western regions of the country are very different, having river deltas in the east as well as mountains in the west. With a total length of 21,196 kilometres, the Great Wall of China is the world’s biggest man-made structure by volume. second in popularity is the Forbidden City, an imperial palace that spanned the Ming and Qing dynasties (1420 to 1912). In total, there are almost 9,000 rooms spread across 980 structures on an area of about 72 hectares. The visa requirements for China can be found on this iVisa page. For the sake of our readers, we chose iVisa.
ITALY- 58.3 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world because of its rich history and well-preserved landmarks. The 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy span a wide range of time periods. The Colosseum in Rome is one of the world’s most breathtaking sights. There are numerous Roman ruins, Renaissance structures, and memorials to both World Wars to be found here. Traditional Italian living, adventure sports, beautiful beaches, and incredible food may all be found in little mountain settlements.
Rome is one of the world’s oldest cosmopolitan cities, and its art, architecture, and culture have had a lasting impact on the world. Etna, Stromboli, and Vesuvius are all active volcanoes in Sicily, which is the fifth most popular tourist destination in the world. Because of its proximity to the nation’s largest cities, it is a persistent source of threat. The Institution of Bologna, in Italy, was founded in 1088 and is the oldest university in the world currently in operation. Every traveler’s bucket list includes a trip to Italy.
MEXICO- 39.3 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
Travelers flock to the country’s beaches, which line the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, which make it a popular stop between the United States and Central America. Deserts, mountains, and jungles abound in this vast and varied country. Mexico City, the capital of the 31-state union known as the United Mexican States, is the official seat of government. In addition to being known as the Land of Extreme, it is home to towering mountains and deep canyons in the country’s centre, lush rainforests in the south and east, and vast desert in the north.
Over 450 beaches dot the Mexican coastline, earning it the title of the world’s most beautiful beach destination. An yearly migration of millions of monarch butterflies takes place in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two more well-known tourist destinations include Chile’s “Chihuahua al Pacifico” Railway in Mexico’s Copper Canyon, a network of gorges larger than the Grand Canyon itself. As much as 2,400 metres above sea level are traversed by the 37 bridges and 86 tunnels.
UNITED KINGDOM- 37.7 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
Many Europeans and North Americans choose to visit the United Kingdom because of its historical landmarks, well-developed tourism infrastructure, and a glimpse into the country’s active cultural life. The Tower of London, the London Bridge, and the London Eye are all major tourist attractions in London, which is the world’s most visited city. It welcomed 37.7 million foreign visitors in 2017 and brought in 17.2 billion dollars in income. As a result, both the industrialised South and the northern countryside are popular destinations for domestic tourists, with Northerners preferring to travel to the southern towns.
The capital city of the United Kingdom is London, which has a metropolitan population of 10,310,00. It is located on the banks of the Thames and is thought to have Roman origins. Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the monarchy, which has been ruled by Queen Elizabeth II since February 6, 1952. Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, and Newcastle make up the rest of the major cities. In 2022, it will be one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet.
TURKEY- 37.6 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
Before 2015, Turkey was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. In addition to its close proximity to Europe and Asia, the Aegean and Mediterranean shores, a wide variety of historical landmarks, as well as its rich cultural diversity, Greece is a popular destination for tourists. The number of overseas visitors to the country has steadily decreased since 2017. As a result of the various terrorist incidents and political unrest that occurred in 2015, many tourists chose not to visit the country.
Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city, while Mount Ararat, at 5,137 metres above sea level, is its highest peak. Byzantine art can be clearly seen in the rock-hewn sanctuaries found in the Goreme National Park, which is recognised for its stunning landscapes carved by erosion and its surrounding area. For the first time, it was added to the World Heritage List in 1985, and there are now 15 properties on the list. The Byzantine emperor Justinian I ordered the construction of Hagia Sophia, also known as the Church of the Holy Wisdom or the Church of the Divine Wisdom.
GERMANY- 37.5 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
Almost 38 million dollars and 2 million employment are generated by Germany’s tourism industry, which welcomed more than 37.5 million foreign visitors in 2017. It is recognised as one of Europe’s safest countries, with numerous cultural, historical, and environmental landmarks. The most popular tourist destinations in Germany are Berlin, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Nuremberg, and Munich. Several protected woodlands and World War II-era historical sites are popular destinations for tourists. Many trans-European holidays begin here as well. One of Europe’s most attractive little villages, Germany’s Rothenburg ob der Tauber is worth a visit.
Berlin, the nation’s capital and cultural epicentre, dates all the way back to the 13th century. All of Germany’s major cities are within commuting distance of Munich. The Alps, the Eifel, and the Hunsr’ck mountain ranges in the Rhineland are among of the country’s most notable mountain ranges. The world’s largest and most renowned celebration, the Munich Oktoberfest, takes place from the last week of September through the first Sunday in October every year.
THAILAND- 35.4 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
Thailand is one of the world’s most fascinating and attractive destinations. Sand beaches, warm weather, authentic Thai cuisine, low prices, and a wealth of world-class tourist amenities make it a popular destination for tourists from across the world. About 20% of Thai GDP comes from tourism, and the country is expected to attract more than 100 million visitors by the year 2032. A growing number of patients from around the world are flocking to Thailand to take advantage of its affordable and high-quality medical care.
Located in Southeast Asia’s hippest city, Bangkok, the Thai capital is known for its stunning temples and palaces. Travelers from all over the world go to the country’s beaches, which are among its most popular draws. Beaches in Thailand have white sand, clean water, and longtail boats moored to the shore. One of Thailand’s most famous tourist destinations is the Phi Phi Islands. There are six islands in the group, but only Phi Phi Don, which is the largest, is inhabited. The surrounding islands can be visited on day trips. The Great Buddha of Thailand, standing 140 kilometres north of Bangkok in Ang Thong Province, Thailand, is the country’s ninth-tallest statue.