Bangkok top city for international arrivals Pendle Asia-Pacific performed well, with Tokyo at No.3, Sydney at No.8 and Singapore at No.9. The yen hit record lows against major currencies in 2024, making it an attractive proposition globally for both business and leisure travel. Close to 13 million international Tokyo trips were recorded in 2024, says Euromonitor International, notably higher than pre-pandemic levels.
New York, at No.6, is the only American city in the top 10. Los Angeles, at No.18, is the next highest. New York takes the top spot in the category for tourism performance, with high demand both internationally and domestically.
Bangkok is the top city for tourism policy and attractiveness and also was the No.1 city worldwide in 2024 for international arrivals. Euromonitor International reports a whopping 32.4 million international trips there in 2024, nearly 10 million more than last year’s No.1, Istanbul, which in 2024 has recorded 23 million. London is No.3 for international arrivals, with 21.7 million trips and 7% growth. Hong Kong is at No.4, with 20.5 international arrivals and 19% growth, and the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia was at No.5, with 19.3 million visitors and 20% growth.
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.
There’s also a major crackdown on short-term rentals. This week Italy banned Airbnb self-check-ins, as the country prepares for a huge influx of visitors for the Vatican’s Holy Jubilee Year in 2025.