The index looks at leading cities from around the world and ranks them on criteria including tourism, sustainability, economic performance and health and safety.
ALSO READ: European towns that spell magic during Christmas
Europe dominates the 2024 rankings with six cities in the top 10. Madrid is at No.2, Rome and Milan are at No.4 and No.5, Amsterdam is at No.7 and Barcelona is at No.10.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
London, which was at No.10 last year and recently topped an alternative World’s Best Cities index, only makes it to No.13 on the list, between Seoul at No.12 and Dubai at No.14.
ALSO READ: A European paradise where you can live and work without visaWhile London ranks just after Paris for the best tourism infrastructure, it failed to break Euromonitor International’s top 10 for tourism policy, health and safety or sustainability.Asia-Pacific cities performed strongly, with Tokyo ranking No. 3, Sydney at No. 8, and Singapore at No. 9. The yen’s record lows in 2024 boosted Tokyo’s appeal for both business and leisure, with nearly 13 million international visits, surpassing pre-pandemic numbers. New York, ranking No. 6, is the only American city in the top 10, while Los Angeles is No. 18. Bangkok leads in tourism policy and drew the most international arrivals, with 32.4 million visits in 2024, surpassing last year’s leader, Istanbul, which recorded 23 million.
ALSO READ: Air India to now charge extra for checking in second bag on Europe & UK flights
Euromonitor International notes several trends for 2024. Numerous destinations have simplified their visa processes, implementing electronic travel authorizations and expanding short-term visa-free entry.
On the other hand, overtourism has become a big global headache too. To manage the overflow of visitors in the busiest tourist destinations, cities are introducing measures such as tourism-related taxes and restricted visiting hours.
