Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Ranking :Bucharest , on …
Euromonitor Internationals Top 100 City Destinations Ranking :Bucharest , on the 55th position
Date: 13-01-2012
Euromonitor International is pleased to release its latest Top City Destinations Ranking, covering 100 of the world’s leading and most dynamic cities in terms of international tourist arrivals. After recording a decline in 2009, international arrivals to countries regained growth in 2010, positively impacting results for the top 100 cities, which saw arrivals increase by 7%. Star performers in 2010 were emerging city destinations located in Asia Pacific, thanks to a strong economic environment and growing travel and tourism dynamism. Most European cities lagged behind as a result of the weak economic prospects in the Eurozone, which impacted intra-regional travel.
Top three destinations
In 2010, Hong Kong, Singapore and London were the most popular city destinations worldwide. Hong Kong topped the ranking with almost 20 million arrivals in 2010 and an outstanding 18% increase compared to 2009. The booming economy of Hong Kong coupled with its growing appeal as a travel and tourism destination is drawing more business and leisure travellers each year. In 2010, mainland China remained the largest source market for Hong Kong, accounting for approximately 60% of arrivals.
Singapore was the second most visited city, attracting 18 million tourists in 2010 16% more than in 2009. The Singapore Tourism Board launched a 3-pronged approach Innovation, Integration and Productivity in 2010 that focused on luxury travel as well as the further consolidation of MICE, travel accommodation and tourist attractions throughout the city. The opening of new tourist attractions like the Marina Sands Resort Sky Deck, new casinos operated by the Las Vegas Sands Corp and by Malaysian-owned Resorts World Sentosa, new shopping centres like the Orchard Central, the Universal Studios Singapore and the Helix Bridge helped bring international visitors to the city.
London closely followed Hong Kong and Singapore in third position, with 15 million arrivals in 2010. London is by far the most popular city in Europe, benefiting from a wide mix of entertainment options, including historical sites, art galleries and restaurants, which make it highly appealing for all kind of visitors. Nevertheless, the city is under pressure, having recorded sluggish 3% growth in 2010 in the face of increased competition from other destinations like Hong Kong and New York City.
Top City Destinations Ranking 2010
City
Ranking
Arrivals
‘000 2010
% volume growth
2009/2010
Hong Kong
1
19,973
18.0
Singapore
2
18,297
16.0
London
3
14,581
2.6
Macau
4
13,098
25.9
Bangkok
5
10,984
10.0
Antalya
6
10,641
20.0
Kuala Lumpur
7
10,351
10.0
New York City
8
8,961
4.2
Paris
9
8,176
5.5
Istanbul
10
8,124
7.7
Dubai
11
7,752
-0.4
Mecca
12
6,122
-12.4
Miami
13
6,003
5.6
Rome
14
5,620
1.4
Shanghai
15
5,397
22.9
Barcelona
16
5,160
15.6
Las Vegas
17
5,130
0.8
Cairo
18
4,998
3.5
Beijing
19
4,901
18.8
Los Angeles
20
4,550
1.1
Pattaya
21
4,430
4.0
Amsterdam
22
4,021
9.0
Tokyo
23
3,817
28.0
Prague
24
3,758
2.5
Moscow
25
3,740
1.4
Phuket
26
3,612
7.5
Dublin
27
3,587
-15.0
Punta Cana
28
3,521
3.1
Vienna
29
3,520
4.7
Madrid
30
3,402
1.1
Kyiv
31
3,343
-5.4
Orlando
32
3,277
0.4
Taipei
33
3,224
11.4
Mugla
34
3,211
9.0
San Francisco
35
2,929
6.3
Edirne
36
2,912
9.7
Toronto
37
2,879
6.2
Berlin
38
2,872
2.6
Seoul
39
2,809
14.2
Chennai
40
2,785
18.0
Guangzhou
41
2,687
16.2
Sydney
42
2,610
0.3
Budapest
43
2,606
-3.9
Denpasar
44
2,600
6.1
Sharm el Sheikh
45
2,558
10.0
Buenos Aires
46
2,509
13.6
St Petersburg
47
2,500
7.8
Warsaw
48
2,450
5.6
Damascus
49
2,436
7.2
Ho Chi Minh
50
2,435
28.4
Cancn
51
2,434
3.8
Delhi
52
2,350
20.0
Brussels
53
2,235
-1.6
Mumbai
54
2,195
10.0
Bucharest
55
2,136
5.4
Aleppo
56
2,116
7.2
Munich
57
2,053
-1.3
Marrakech
58
2,028
6.1
Mexico City
59
2,028
3.8
Jakarta
60
2,000
6.4
Vancouver
61
1,951
0.0
Auckland
62
1,950
3.6
Rio de Janeiro
63
1,929
7.0
Lima
64
1,925
5.1
Milan
65
1,910
0.8
Seattle
66
1,893
-0.3
Lisbon
67
1,881
4.7
East Province
68
1,877
-11.2
So Paulo
69
1,825
4.5
Agra
70
1,813
18.5
Jaipur
71
1,777
18.5
Johannesburg
72
1,771
6.0
Chiang Mai
73
1,769
5.0
Shenzhen
74
1,749
19.5
Christchurch
75
1,744
1.3
Hangzhou
76
1,744
10.9
Athens
77
1,733
-7.0
Venice
78
1,695
1.7
Florence
79
1,690
0.3
Honolulu
80
1,666
5.1
Abu Dhabi
81
1,624
12.8
Halong
82
1,581
28.0
Washington DC
83
1,569
22.4
Burgas
84
1,535
-1.8
Riyadh
85
1,512
-12.1
Varna
86
1,501
-0.2
Cape Town
87
1,486
4.9
Melbourne
88
1,466
3.8
Hurghada
89
1,459
10.0
Edinburgh
90
1,404
6.0
Minsk
91
1,398
9.0
Suzhou
92
1,379
18.8
Zurich
93
1,378
23.1
Sharjah
94
1,335
3.4
Kolkatta
95
1,313
12.0
Algiers
96
1,312
5.8
Chicago
97
1,300
9.8
Krabi
98
1,291
5.5
Queenstown
99
1,265
3.5
Manila
100
1,250
25.6
Source: Euromonitor International
Vietnamese cities record robust growth
Vietnamese cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Halong, recorded the strongest growth in arrivals, at around 28%, in 2010. Rising disposable incomes and improving living standards in Asia Pacific were key contributing factors, as travelling became more affordable. It is also worth noting that improved government policies in Vietnam helped attract more inbound tourists in 2010.
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. It is the centre of the country’s economy, contributing one-third of Vietnam’s GDP. The city is famous for its remnants from the French War and US War, such as Independent Palace, Notre Dame Saigon (Immaculate Conception Cathedral Basilica), War Remnants Museum, and many modern skyscrapers. It also houses the busiest airport in Vietnam, and acts as the transfer point for many tourists who want to visit other places in the country.
Halong is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The bay features thousands of limestone hills and mountains in various sizes and shapes. The limestone in this bay is said to have gone through 500,000 years of formation. With beautiful landscapes, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam.
Upcoming sporting events to foster future visits in Kyiv, So Paulo and Rio de JaneiroUpcoming large sporting events like the Euro 2012 football championship, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games are expected to be the main drivers of inbound tourism development in host cities such as Kyiv, So Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in the near future.
In preparation for these events, all cities are aggressively investing in infrastructure development, which is set to positively impact the future of travel and tourism. In Kyiv, for example, government authorities are paying special attention to the modernisation of airports as these will serve as points of arrival for most Western Europeans. All major events are key to boosting travel and tourism before, during and after the events through increased awareness of the host cities, mainly as leisure tourism destinations.
Tokyo rebounds
Tokyo rebounded strongly in 2010, after recording a 17% decline in arrivals in the previous year. The removal of the ban on visas for individual Chinese travellers back in July 2009, coupled with the completion of expansion projects at Narita International Airport and Tokyo Haneda Airport during 2010, were key in fostering inbound flows during 2010. Ongoing support for the Visit Japan Campaign (VJC) was also key in attracting more tourists to the city in 2010 from India, Russia and Malaysia. However, the tsunami disaster in March 2011 will lead to declinining arrivals in the near term.
Antalya welcomes new tourists
As growth in arrivals from main source countries like France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria slowed significantly in 2010, Antalya saw a new wave of tourists from the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Eastern European countries, including Iran, Japan and Russia, flock to the city. This resulted in a strong 20% rise in arrivals in 2010, to almost 11 million tourists, up from nine million in 2009.
With very long coastal areas and a great deal of natural beauty, Antalya works as a magnet for tourists from colder countries like Russia. In the past few years, golf tourism has also turned into an important growth driver for tourists travelling to the city. In Turkey, most golf facilities are in the vicinity of tourist resorts, around the coastal regions which have the necessary facilities like accommodation, restaurants and entertainment. The Ministry of Tourism plans to establish another 11 golf courses in these tourist areas as well as in Istanbul.
Steady growth ahead
Euromonitor International foresees an even stronger growth for arrivals in 2011. Uncertainty in the global economy, especially in the US and Europe, which are major tourism source markets, is likely to cause slower, but still positive, growth. The hosting of the 2012 Olympic Games in London is likely to alleviate some of the pressure felt by the UK city as a tourist destination as it benefits from increased media exposure and stronger arrivals in the short term.
Euromonitor International expects cities in emerging markets to continue to steal share of global arrivals, especially in Asia Pacific. This shift will be accelerated by the expansion of low-cost carriers, open skies agreements and rising middle classes that are travelling in ever greater numbers, especially intra-regionally. This is likely to give rise to international city break packages from travel retailers.
Given the uncertain economic outlook for developed markets, there is still the challenge of a possible shift in consumer behaviour. With less disposable income, travellers may be prone to taking fewer and shorter trips to save money. Also, cost-conscious consumers will use the internet to run price comparisons and seek the cheapest forms of transport, which may hinder the industry’s ability to raise prices. Even among high-income travellers, value for money will remain important in the future. While people may be willing to spend more on travel, they will make sure it is money well spent.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Annual research programme
Euromonitor International’s Top City Destinations Ranking (2011 edition) was built from the results of the global travel research programme conducted in 58 core countries by in-country analysts, which follows Euromonitor International’s methodology and definitions for travel and tourism.
City arrivals data was sourced directly from national statistics offices, airport arrivals, hotel/accommodation stays or other methods for all 58 core countries and 150 market insight countries under review.
Main secondary sources included governmental, inter-governmental and other official sources; national and international specialist trade press and trade associations; industry study groups and other semi-official sources; and reports published by major operators, travel retailers, online databases and the financial, business and mainstream press. Trade interviews were conducted with national tourist offices, trade associations and travel operators to fill gaps in secondary research.
Country data was then cross-checked on a regional basis by the regional research teams based in London, Vilnius, Chicago and Singapore. Examples of regional sources reviewed included TourMis and European Cities Marketing for Europe. Further top-down checks were conducted by the in-house global research team. Where irregularities were found between editions, supplementary research was conducted to confirm or amend those findings. Euromonitor International is satisfied that the results of the in-country research, coupled with the top-down global perspective, ensure that the Top City Destinations Ranking is robust with a high level of data validation.
It is important to note that the Top City Destinations Ranking is not an exhaustive list and that its purpose is to highlight leading cities gleaned from the findings of Euromonitor International’s annual research programme.