World Tourism rankings
Encyclopedia
The World Tourism rankings are compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as part of their World Tourism Barometer publication, which is released three times throughout the year. In the publication, world tourism
is ranked both by the number of visits and by the tourism revenue generated.
in 2010, the top ten African destinations were:
in 2010, the top ten destinations were:
Notes
in 2010, the top ten destinations were:
in 2010, the top ten destinations were:
in 2010, the top ten destinations were:
Notes
in 2009, the top ten African destinations were:
in 2009, the top ten destinations were:
Notes
in 2009, the top ten destinations were:
in 2009, the top ten destinations were:
in 2009, the top ten destinations were:
Notes
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
is ranked both by the number of visits and by the tourism revenue generated.
International tourist arrivals by country of destination 2010
Out of a global total of 940 million tourists, the top ten international tourism destinations in 2010 were (see the barometer for the full rankings):| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Early Modern France |
76.80 million |
| 2 |  United States |
59.75 million |
| 3 |  Mainland China |
55.67 million |
| 4 |  Spain |
52.68 million |
| 5 |  Italy |
43.63 million |
| 6 |  United Kingdom |
28.13 million |
| 7 |  Turkey |
27.00 million |
| 8 |  Germany |
26.88 million |
| 9 |  Malaysia |
24.58 million |
| 10 |  Mexico |
22.40 million |
Africa
Out of the total of over 49 million tourists to AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in 2010, the top ten African destinations were:
| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Morocco |
9.29 million |
| 2 |  South Africa |
8.07 million |
| 3 |  Tunisia |
6.90 million |
| 4 |  Zimbabwe |
2.24 million |
| 5 |  Mozambique |
2.22 million (2009) |
| 6 |  Algeria |
1.91 million (2009) |
| 7 |  Botswana |
1.55 million (2009) |
| 8 |  Nigeria |
1.41 million (2009) |
| 9 |  Kenya |
1.39 million (2009) |
| 10 |  Namibia |
0.980 million (2009) |
Middle East
Out of the total of over 60 million tourists to the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
in 2010, the top ten destinations were:
| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Egypt |
14.05 million |
| 2 |  Saudi Arabia |
10.85 million |
| 3 |  Syria |
8.55 million |
| 4 |  United Arab Emirates |
7.43 million |
| 5 |  Bahrain |
4.94 million (2007) |
| 6 |  Jordan |
4.56 million |
| 7 |  Israel |
3.45 million |
| 8 |  Lebanon |
2.17 million |
| 9 |  Qatar |
1.66 million (2009) |
| 10 |  Oman |
1.52 million (2009) |
Notes
The Americas
Out of the total of almost 150 million tourists to the AmericasAmericas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
in 2010, the top ten destinations were:
| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States |
59.75 million |
| 2 | Mexico |
22.40 million |
| 3 |  Canada |
16.10 million |
| 4 |  Argentina |
5.29 million |
| 5 |  Brazil |
5.16 million |
| 6 |  Dominican Republic |
4.13 million |
| 7 |  Puerto Rico |
3.68 million |
| 8 |  Chile |
2.77 million |
| 9 |  Cuba |
2.51 million |
| 10 |  Colombia |
2.39 million |
Asia and the Pacific
Out of the total of almost 204 million tourists to Asia and the PacificAsia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
in 2010, the top ten destinations were:
| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainland China |
55.67 million |
| 2 | Malaysia |
24.58 million |
| 3 |  Hong Kong |
20.09 million |
| 4 |  Thailand |
15.84 million |
| 5 |  Macau |
11.93 million |
| 6 |  Singapore |
9.16 million |
| 7 |  South Korea |
8.80 million |
| 8 |  Japan |
8.61 million |
| 9 |  Indonesia |
5.91 million |
| 10 |  Australia |
5.89 million |
Europe
Out of the total of almost 477 million tourists to EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 2010, the top ten destinations were:
| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Modern France |
76.80 million |
| 2 | Spain |
52.68 million |
| 3 | Italy |
43.63 million |
| 4 | United Kingdom |
28.13 million |
| 5 | Turkey |
27.00 million |
| 6 | Germany |
26.88 million |
| 7 |  Austria |
22.00 million |
| 8 |  Ukraine |
21.20 million |
| 9 |  Russia |
20.27 million |
| 10 |  Greece |
15.01 million |
Notes
International tourist arrivals by country of destination 2009
Out of a global total of 882 million tourists, the top ten international tourism destinations in 2009 were (see the barometer for the full rankings):| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Modern France |
76.82 million |
| 2 | United States |
54.96 million |
| 3 | Spain |
52.18 million |
| 4 | Mainland China |
50.88 million |
| 5 | Italy |
43.24 million |
| 6 | United Kingdom |
28.20 million |
| 7 | Turkey |
25.51 million |
| 8 | Germany |
24.22 million |
| 9 | Malaysia |
23.65 million |
| 10 | Mexico |
21.45 million |
Africa
Out of the total of 46 million tourists to AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in 2009, the top ten African destinations were:
| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco |
8.34 million |
| 2 | South Africa |
7.01 million |
| 3 | Tunisia |
6.90 million |
| 4 | Mozambique |
2.22 million |
| 5 | Zimbabwe |
2.02 million |
| 6 | Algeria |
1.91 million |
| 7 | Botswana |
1.55 million |
| 8 | Nigeria |
1.41 million |
| 9 | Kenya |
1.39 million |
| 10 | Namibia |
0.980 million |
Middle East
Out of the total of almost 53 million tourists to the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
in 2009, the top ten destinations were:
| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt |
11.91 million |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia |
10.90 million |
| 3 | United Arab Emirates |
6.81 million |
| 4 | Syria |
6.09 million |
| 5 | Bahrain |
4.94 million (2007) |
| 6 | Jordan |
3.79 million |
| 7 | Israel |
2.32 million |
| 8 | Lebanon |
1.85 million |
| 9 | Qatar |
1.66 million |
| 10 | Oman |
1.52 million |
Notes
The Americas
Out of the total of over 140 million tourists to the AmericasAmericas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
in 2009, the top ten destinations were:
| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States |
54.96 million |
| 2 | Mexico |
21.45 million |
| 3 | Canada |
15.74 million |
| 4 | Brazil |
4.80 million |
| 5 | Argentina |
4.31 million |
| 6 | Dominican Republic |
3.99 million |
| 7 | Puerto Rico |
3.55 million |
| 8 | Chile |
2.75 million |
| 9 | Cuba |
2.41 million |
| 10 | Colombia |
2.30 million |
Asia and the Pacific
Out of the total of almost 181 million tourists to Asia and the PacificAsia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
in 2009, the top ten destinations were:
| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainland China |
50.88 million |
| 2 | Malaysia |
23.65 million |
| 3 | Hong Kong |
16.93 million |
| 4 | Thailand |
14.15 million |
| 5 | Macau |
10.40 million |
| 6 | South Korea |
7.82 million |
| 7 | Singapore |
7.49 million |
| 8 | Japan |
6.79 million |
| 9 | Indonesia |
6.32 million |
| 10 | Australia |
5.58 million |
Europe
Out of the total of over 461 million tourists to EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 2009, the top ten destinations were:
| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Modern France |
76.82 million |
| 2 | Spain |
52.18 million |
| 3 | Italy |
43.24 million |
| 4 | United Kingdom |
28.20 million |
| 5 | Turkey |
25.51 million |
| 6 | Germany |
24.22 million |
| 7 | Austria |
21.36 million |
| 8 | Ukraine |
20.80 million |
| 9 | Russia |
19.42 million |
| 10 | Greece |
14.92 million |
Notes
International tourist arrivals by country of destination 2008
Out of a global total of 917 million tourists, the top ten international destinations in 2008 were:| Rank | Country | International tourist arrivals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Modern France |
79.22 million |
| 2 | United States |
57.94 million |
| 3 | Spain |
57.19 million |
| 4 | Mainland China |
53.05 million |
| 5 | Italy |
42.73 million |
| 6 | United Kingdom |
30.14 million |
| 7 | Ukraine |
25.45 million |
| 8 | Turkey |
24.99 million |
| 9 | Germany |
24.89 million |
| 10 | Mexico |
22.64 million |