Introduction
Travel has changed beyond all recognition. Take one of the most obvious statistics, for instance: the number of people who travel internationally. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimates that there were 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals in 2018 alone, up from 25 million in 1950. The first million didn’t come about until 1962, and it wasn’t until 1980 that more than 100 million travelers crossed an international border for a holiday. Even by 2015, the world had only seen 1 billion annual visitors but the next 500 million came in just three years! To put it simply: travel is more popular than ever before, and many destinations are seeing record numbers of visitors year after year.
France
France is the most visited country in the world. With over 80 million tourists per year, France has become an iconic destination for travelers looking to immerse themselves in history, culture, and cuisine.
France’s many attractions include:
- Paris the capital city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to some of the world’s most famous attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.
- The French Riviera a stretch of coastline along the Mediterranean Sea known for its beaches and resort towns like Saint Tropez and Cannes.
- Normandy an area of northwest France where you can visit D-Day landing beaches and museums or explore WWII sites like Omaha Beach or Pointe du Hoc where American forces stormed ashore during Operation Overlord (also known as D-Day).
- Bordeaux is a port city that produces some of the world’s best wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec & Sauvignon Blanc so it’ll be hard not to find one you love!
Spain
Spain is the second most visited country in the world, after France. It has a population of 46 million people and an area of 504,000 square kilometers (194,742 sq mi), making it the 50th largest country in terms of area. Spain’s rich history and culture make it one of Europe’s most popular destinations for travelers from all over the world. It boasts a diverse landscape that ranges from dry Mediterranean coastal plains to mountainous regions with green valleys and snow-capped peaks such as those found on its northern coast along with the Pyrenees Mountains range where you can find some breathtaking scenery at sunset time!
United States
- The United States is the most visited country in the world, with over 75 million tourists on average each year. This represents a yearly increase of 7% since 2008, which means that many more people are likely to visit the US than just a decade ago.
China
China: with a population of 1.4 billion, China has the largest number of tourists visiting it. The most popular cities in China are Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The most visited attractions include the Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, and Tiananmen Square.
Italy
Italy is a beautiful country with a rich history. The country has been home to some of the most famous ancient civilizations in human history, including the Etruscans and Romans. Today, it’s still an important cultural center for art and literature. It’s also one of the best places to visit if you’re looking for great food!
Turkey (Last year, Turkey was in sixth place with only five million fewer visitors.)
Turkey is a transcontinental country, straddling the Anatolian peninsula and the Balkan peninsula. It’s one of the most visited countries in the world, with over 40 million international tourists visiting Turkey every year. Approximately 70% of these tourists come from Europe and 30% from Asia. The largest number of foreign visitors to Turkey come from Germany, Russia, and France.
The country has a highly diverse climate, which ranges from humid subtropical along its southern coast to arid desert along its eastern borders with Iraq and Iran; it has many mountains within its borders but also some lowland plains such as narrow coastal plains around major cities (Istanbul).
Germany (Germany slipped from fourth to seventh place.)
Germany is a popular tourist destination, and it’s easy to see why. Germany has a lot of historic sites, including castles and palaces that are centuries old. The country is also the home to some of Europe’s most famous cities, including Berlin and Munich.
Germany is large with many different regions each offering something special for travelers. Some countries may have more natural attractions than others but there’s no denying that Germany has plenty of them! From the Bavarian Alps to the Mecklenburg Lake District in northern Germany, from lakes like wanna see where Berliners go swimming every summer weekend during their hot summers (which average around 21°C/70°F) all year long through snowfalls during winter months when temperatures drop down below -5°C/23°F due southward into Austria where alpine skiing conditions remain stable even during severe winters like those experienced just this past year which saw record low temperatures across much of Europe due to La Niña conditions affecting weather patterns globally.”
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is the world’s most visited country, with over 1.5 billion tourists visiting between 2016 and 2017. The UK has a rich history and is home to many popular attractions such as Stonehenge and Buckingham Palace. Regardless of whether you’re interested in British culture or simply looking for an exciting city break, there are plenty of reasons why the UK should be at the top of your travel list!
The capital city London is one of the most popular destinations for both tourists and locals alike. There are countless things to see and do from museums such as The British Museum or Natural History Museum to landmarks like Big Ben or Piccadilly Circus which attract millions of visitors every year!
If you’re looking for something a little more relaxing then Cornwall might be better suited with its beautiful beaches & lovely countryside offering lots of activities such as surfing & sailing too!
Mexico (Mexico’s 10th place showing was down from eighth the previous year.)
Mexico was the 10th most visited country in the world last year, according to data from the World Tourism Organization.
That was a down from eighth place in 2016 and third place in 2015, when Mexico saw more than 30 million international visitors for the first time. In 2014 it ranked fifth most visited country globally with 29 million international visitors.
The U.S., China, and Brazil have all become major destinations for travelers over the past decade or so due to strong economic growth there as well as improved air travel infrastructure connecting them with other regions around the globe.
Thailand (The country jumped three spots up to the 10th most visited nation in the world.)
With its beautiful beaches, temples, and culture, it’s no wonder Thailand is such a popular destination. The country jumped three spots up to the 10th most visited nation in the world.
Thailand is also home to some of the best food in Asia and maybe even the entire world! You can’t leave without trying some authentic Thai dishes like Pad Thai or Tom Yum soup.
If you’re looking for souvenirs and trinkets for yourself or your family back home, Thailand has plenty of traditional handicrafts that are sure to delight any old-school shopper (you know who you are).
People are visiting more Countries than ever before
The world is getting more and more connected. With the widespread availability of affordable flights, there’s no longer any reason not to explore the town’s backyard or that of a neighboring country. If you’ve never been abroad before, this is an excellent time to take advantage of how much easier it has become to travel far from home.
And it does not just travel itself that has become easier the act of researching where you want to go next is simpler than ever thanks largely to the internet age. Use sites like Trip Advisor and Wikitravel for recommendations on places worth visiting; check out Lonely Planet for ideas about where exactly those places are located; then put together a comprehensive itinerary based on what interests you most about each location (e.g., history buffs might look up Athens while foodies should head straight for Paris).
Conclusion
The report also found that international tourist numbers are rising faster than expected (it predicts a 4.4% increase in arrivals), and the total number of tourists is expected to reach 1.8 billion by 2030. The top 10 most visited countries represent nearly 60 % of all international travel, which indicates how popular these places are for tourists around the world.
