World's Most Attractive Urban Destinations of 2023 Revealed

12-12-23

Paris was once again named the world's most attractive urban destination, according to an annual report by market research firm Euromonitor International.

The Top 100 Urban Destinations 2023 Index, produced in partnership with data firm Lighthouse, analyzes major cities around the world and ranks them based on criteria such as tourism, sustainability, economic performance, and health and safety.

Europe reigned supreme with seven of the top 10 cities and 63 countries in the top 100. The only non-European cities in the top 10 were Dubai (No. 2), Tokyo (No. 4) and New York (No. 8).

Madrid ranked third, while Amsterdam, Berlin and Rome came in at #5, #6 and #7, respectively. Barcelona and London rounded out the top 10.

Asia performed well in the top 20, with Singapore (11th), Seoul (14th), Osaka (16th) and Hong Kong (17th) making the list.

The report attributes Europe's success to "rapid urbanization and widespread adoption of technology." Travelers now want high-speed Internet, flexible booking options and spaces to work remotely. Euromonitor International says: "Improving sustainability, transport networks and social impact are some of the key objectives cities are embracing today to increase competitiveness, improve their tourism offering and deliver a seamless customer journey."

Tokyo entered the top 10 for the first time, which, according to the report, is due to improved tourism infrastructure, relaxed regulations for covid-19 and a weak yen, offering international visitors excellent value for money.

Istanbul received the highest number of international visitors in 2023

The top 100 list includes four new countries, all of which can boast improved tourism performance this year - Washington at 48th, Montreal at 68th, Santiago, Chile at 88th and Vilnius in Lithuania at No. 92.

International travel continued to recover strongly, with the number of trips expected to reach 1.3 billion by the end of 2023, generating around $1.7 trillion in global tourism spending.

Istanbul tops the list for the number of international arrivals in 2023, followed by London and then Dubai. The cities with the highest year-on-year growth were Hong Kong (2,495%) and Bangkok (142%), due to the fact that they were among the last to reopen after the covid-19 pandemic.

However, the boom in visitors can have negative consequences for local communities and the environment. Nadejda Popova, a senior manager at Euromonitor International, discussed in a statement the ways in which cities are dealing with the challenge of overtourism.

"Some destinations are imposing restrictions, high taxes or reducing hotel capacity to limit tourist inflows and preserve cultural heritage, while others are adopting dispersion strategies that promote alternative or off-the-beaten-path destinations," she said.

He predicted that the rising cost of living, fluctuating inflation and geopolitical volatility will be the biggest obstacles to tourism growth in 2024 and 2025. Consumers will be looking for value-for-money travel propositions and many will choose to vacation a little closer to home.

The top 20 cities in Euromonitor's Top 100 Urban Destinations 2023 Index are:

1. Paris, France

2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Madrid, Spain

4. Tokyo, Japan

5. Amsterdam, Netherlands

6. Berlin, Germany

7. Rome, Italy

8. New York, United States

9. Barcelona, Spain

10. London, United Kingdom

11. Singapore

12. Munich, Germany

13. Milan, Italy

14. Seoul, South Korea

15. Dublin, Ireland

16. Osaka, Japan

17. Hong Kong, Hong Kong

18. Vienna, Austria

19. Los Angeles, United States

20. Lisbon, Portugal