Global Tourism Ranking – Most Visited Countries 2024

Page last updated: 19 December 2025

2024 marked the full return of global travel, and current world tourism rankings reveal how the tourism industry has not only recovered but surpassed pre-pandemic levels. As borders remained open and restrictions were lifted, tourists worldwide were eager to explore both new and familiar destinations.

What are the top 10 most popular tourist destinations in the world?

France, Spain, and the United States are the leading destinations for international tourism. 

• For more than 30 years, France has held the top spot as the most visited country globally, reaching the 100-million-visitor milestone for the second consecutive year with 102 million arrivals in 2024 and accounting for 7% of the global tourism market.
  
• Spain followed closely with 93.8 million arrivals in 2024, while the United States ranked third for the most popular destinations on earth, attracting 72.4 million tourists.

• China ranked fourth in 2019, but remains outside the top 10 tourist destinations in the world in 2024, still recovering from its late reopening.

• Greece, Japan, and China saw increases in tourist arrivals in 2024 compared to 2023, while the USA, Italy, and Germany experienced declines compared to their 2019 levels.

Which country is the most visited in Europe?

France is the most popular country in Europe with 102 million visitors in 2024.

• France consistently draws crowds to iconic attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Notre Dame, and its scenic countryside and wine regions.

Which country is the most visited in America?

The United States is the most visited country in the Americas, attracting 72.4 million international visitors in 2024.

• The United States is known for its diverse landscape, vibrant cities, and iconic sights like the Grand Canyon, Statue of Liberty, and Hollywood.

Which country is the most visited in Asia?

Japan became Asia’s most visited country, attracting 36.9 million international tourists in 2024.

This marked a remarkable recovery, with Japan experiencing an over 47% surge from 2023, surpassing its pre-pandemic levels.

• Japan’s recovery was driven by a weak yen, making it an attractive bargain destination, the full reopening of borders, and the return of Asian tourists.

• Thailand followed closely with 35.5 million visitors, solidifying its position as one of Asia’s premier destinations.

• China came in third with 20.14 million visitors.

Which country is the most visited in Africa and the Middle East?

• Morocco took the place as the most visited country in the African region, drawing in 17.4 million international visitors in 2024.

• Saudi Arabia holds the top spot for tourism in the Middle East, with 29.7 million international visitors in 2024.

Global Travel Resources

Which country has the highest tourism rate in the world?

France is the #1 tourist destination in the world continuously for more than 30 years.

• Over 102 million tourists travelled to France in 2024, contributing approximately $77.1 billion in tourism receipts, which averages to about $755 per visitor.

Which country has the world’s biggest tourism industry?

United States: Leading in Tourism Revenue

The United States has the largest tourism economy in the world. Not only does it repeatedly rank among the top three most-visited nations, but it also leads in visitor spending.

• The U.S. welcomed 72.4 million tourists in 2024, who spent $215 billion or 12% of global tourism receipts, equating to an average spend of $2,970 per visitor.

World Tourism Rankings by Country in Terms of Spending

The United States is the most revenue receiving country in the world for tourism, generating $215 billion in receipts. This made up 12% of global tourism receipts, with each tourist spending approximately $2,970 on average during their visit.

• While France and Spain led in terms of the number of arrivals, the United States excelled in total receipts and spending per arrival.

World Tourism Rankings by Country in terms of Total Arrivals (2024)

World Tourism Rankings by Country in terms of Total Arrivals 2024
Rank	Country	Region	Arrivals (million)	Receipts (USD billion)	Receipts per arrival (USD)
1	France	Europe	102	$77.1	$755
2	Spain	Europe	93.8	$106.5	$1,135
3	United States	Americas	72.4	$215	$2,970
4	Turkey	Europe	60.6	$56.3	$930
5	Italy	Europe	57.8	$58.7	$1,015
6	Mexico	Americas	45	$28	$620
7	United Kingdom	Europe	41.8	$84.5	$2,020
8	Germany	Europe	37.5	$37.5	$1,000
9	Japan	Asia Pacific	36.9	$54.7	$1,480
10	Greece	Europe	36	$21.7	$600
11	Thailand	Asia Pacific	35.5	$50	$1,400
12	China (Mainland)	Asia Pacific	30.5	$40	$1,300
13	Austria	Europe	26	$23.5	$905
14	Saudi Arabia	Middle East	29.7	$25	$1,350
15	Hong Kong SAR	Asia Pacific	20.5	$38.9	$1,900
16	Malaysia	Asia Pacific	19	$14	$735
17	UAE	Middle East	18.7	$57	$3,600
18	Canada	Americas	17.9	$49.9	$2,790
19	Netherlands	Europe	16.3	$16.2	$995
20	Poland	Europe	16.1	$12.7	$790

Source: UNWTO, National Tourism Boards. Figures rounded to the nearest decimal.

Travel Patterns: A closer look at the top-most travelled countries every year

Travel Patterns: A Closer Look at the Top Most Travelled Countries Every Year
Country	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
France	90.91 M	41.68 M	48.40 M	93.20 M	100.0 M	102.0 M
Spain	83.51 M	18.93 M	31.18 M	71.66 M	85.17 M	93.80 M
United States	79.44 M	19.21 M	22.28 M	50.87 M	66.48 M	72.40 M
Italy	64.51 M	25.19 M	26.89 M	49.81 M	57.25 M	57.80 M
Turkey	51.19 M	15.89 M	29.93 M	50.45 M	55.16 M	60.60 M
Mexico	45.02 M	24.82 M	31.86 M	38.33 M	42.15 M	45.00 M
United Kingdom	39.42 M	10.71 M	6.29 M	30.74 M	37.22 M	41.80 M
Germany	39.56 M	12.45 M	11.69 M	28.46 M	34.80 M	37.50 M
Greece	31.35 M	7.37 M	14.71 M	27.84 M	32.74 M	36.00 M
Japan	32.00 M	4.12 M	0.25 M	3.83 M	25.07 M	36.90 M
Austria	31.88 M	15.09 M	12.73 M	26.22 M	30.91 M	26.00 M
China	65.73 M	7.97 M	5.66 M	–	–	30.50 M

Source: UNWTO, National Tourism Offices. China data unavailable for 2022-2023.

Top 10 City Destinations for 2024

According to Euromonitor’s Top 100 City Destinations Index 2024, the top 10 most popular tourist destinations are:

1. Paris, France
2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
3. Madrid, Spain
4. Tokyo, Japan
5. Amsterdam, the Netherlands
6. Berlin, Germany
7. Rome, Italy
8. New York, United States of America
9. Barcelona, Spain
10. London, United Kingdom
    

In contrast, the top 10 city destinations in terms of international arrivals for 2024 include:

1. Bangkok: 32.4 million arrivals
2. Istanbul: 23 million arrivals
3. London: 21.7 million arrivals
4. Hong Kong: 20.5 million arrivals
5. Mecca: 19.3 million arrivals
6. Antalya: 19.3 million arrivals
7. Dubai: 18.2 million arrivals
8. Macau: 18 million arrivals
9. Paris: 17.4 million arrivals
10. Kuala Lumpur: 16.5 million arrivals

What are the prospects for tourism in 2025?

Global tourism is expected to establish new records in 2025, with arrivals projected to reach 1.55 billion, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 5-7%.

• Projected total arrivals: 1.55 billion 
• Projected receipts: $1.78  trillion 
• Projected GDP contribution: $11.5 trillion (10.2% of global GDP)
• Projected employment: 371 million jobs
• Expected growth vs 2024: +5.4%
• Recovery status: New record; 105-107% of 2019 levels

Key 2025 Trends (YTD):

• Asia-Pacific is completing recovery (reached 92% of 2019 by April)
• China outbound tourism accelerating (on track for 155M+ trips)
• Strong summer season in Europe (July-August at record levels)
• Africa is maintaining double-digit growth momentum
• Middle East stabilising after early-year softness

Most Visited Places in the World (2026 Forecast) – Global Tourism Outlook

Global tourism is projected to reach 1.58 billion international arrivals in 2026, representing a 5-7% increase above 2019 pre-pandemic levels and establishing a new all-time record. This outlook highlights trends for the most visited countries in the world and how major regions are expected to perform.

What is the Number One Tourist Destination in the World (2026 Forecast)?

Based on current trends, France is expected to remain the #1 most visited country in the world in 2026, followed by Spain and the United States. Rankings will be finalised when full-year data is released, but growth continues to concentrate in countries with strong air capacity, visa facilitation, and large urban gateways.

Top Destinations in 2026: Most Popular Tourist Destinations in the World

Established leaders are expected to remain near the top in 2026. The biggest tourist destinations in the world will continue to be concentrated in Europe, followed by strong performers in the Asia Pacific and the Americas.

2026 Key Projections:

• International arrivals: 1.58 billion tourists (+2% vs 2025)
• Tourism receipts: $1.80 trillion USD (new record high)
• Tourism GDP: $12.3 trillion (10.5% of global GDP)
• Global employment: 382 million jobs supported worldwide
• Average spending per tourist: $1,180 per visitor

Regional Growth Forecast 2026:

• Europe: 770 million arrivals (+2% YoY) – mature growth trajectory
• Asia-Pacific: 375 million arrivals (+7% YoY) – the fastest recovery, finally surpassing 2019
• Middle East: 105 million arrivals (+7% YoY) -145% of 2019 levels
• Americas: 235 million arrivals (+8% YoY) -World Cup 2026 boost
• Africa: 80 million arrivals (+5% YoY) -115% of 2019 levels

Top Growth Drivers for 2026:

• Full recovery of China’s outbound tourism (160 million trips projected)
• FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America (5+ million additional visitors)
• Winter Olympics 2026 in Italy (Milan-Cortina)
• Global air passengers exceeded the 10 billion milestone
• Visa liberalisation and e-visa expansion in 50+ countries
• Digital nomad and remote work travel surge (40+ million nomads)
• India’s outbound boom (40 million trips, +10% growth)

Fastest Growing Destinations 2026:

• Saudi Arabia: +15% growth (Vision 2030 investments, mega-projects)
• Japan: +15% growth (Asia tourism recovery, weak yen advantage)
• Vietnam: +20% growth (China-driven regional travel boom)
• India: +19.6% growth (domestic and inbound expansion)
• Indonesia: +10% growth (Bali-led tourism recovery)

Major Events Shaping 2026:

• FIFA World Cup 2026 (USA, Canada, Mexico) – June to July
• Winter Olympics 2026 (Milan-Cortina, Italy) – February
• USA Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary celebrations)

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References

UNWTO: World Tourism Barometer September 2025

WTTC: Economic Impact Research 2024-2025

UNWTO: Impact Assessment and Recovery Tracking

Euromonitor: Top 100 City Destinations 2024IATA: Air Transport Statistics and Forecast