Paris named world’s most attractive city in 2024 rankings

Paris has been crowned the world’s most attractive city for the fourth consecutive year in the 2024 Top 100 City Destinations Index by Euromonitor International. Known as the City of Light, Paris hosted more than 70 million visitors this year, bolstered by the Olympics and the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. The city’s exceptional tourism infrastructure and policies contributed to its continued dominance in the rankings.

Europe shines, but London misses the top 10

Europe dominated the rankings, with six cities making the top 10. Madrid secured second place, followed by Rome (No. 4), Milan (No. 5), Amsterdam (No. 7), and Barcelona (No. 10). Meanwhile, London, which ranked No. 10 last year, dropped to No. 13 in 2024, despite its high ranking for tourism infrastructure. It fell short in categories like sustainability, health and safety, and tourism policy.

Asia-Pacific and New York shine

The Asia-Pacific region performed well, with Tokyo at No. 3, Sydney at No. 8, and Singapore at No. 9. Tokyo experienced a record-breaking 13 million international trips in 2024, driven by the weakened yen and its global appeal.

New York, at No. 6, is the only American city in the top 10, excelling in tourism performance with high international and domestic demand. Los Angeles followed at No. 18.

Bangkok leads in international arrivals

Bangkok was named the top city for international arrivals, recording 32.4 million trips in 2024, far surpassing Istanbul, the 2023 leader, with 23 million trips. London ranked third with 21.7 million arrivals, while Hong Kong and Mecca rounded out the top five.

Key trends in 2024 tourism

Euromonitor International highlighted several trends shaping tourism in 2024:

• Visa simplification: Many destinations introduced electronic travel authorizations and visa-free entry to attract travelers.
• Managing overtourism: Measures like tourism taxes and restricted visiting hours were implemented to address overcrowding in popular destinations.
• Short-term rental regulations: Cities like Rome introduced bans on self-check-ins for platforms like Airbnb ahead of large events such as the Vatican’s Holy Jubilee Year in 2025.

Top 10 city destinations for 2024

1. Paris
2. Madrid
3. Tokyo
4. Rome
5. Milan
6. New York
7. Amsterdam
8. Sydney
9. Singapore
10. Barcelona

Top 10 cities for international arrivals in 2024

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