Despite ongoing protests, Hong Kong is poised to be the most-visited city in the world for 2019. This is according to Euromonitor International, which annually releases its list of the most popular cities with international visitors.
The predictions for 2019 were made using estimates based on part-year arrivals data. According to this data, Hong Kong is likely to be named the most popular city destination in the world for 2019. Bangkok is expected to take second place, followed by Macau and Singapore. London is predicted to round out the top five most popular cities.
According to the report, Asia continues to outpace other regions, accounting for 43 of the top 100 cities. This number has steadily increased from 34 cities in 2013. Hong Kong's popularity is helped by its proximity to China, vibrant shopping scene and strong cultural heritage. "The city is expected to maintain its leading position in 2019, despite anti-government protests during the second half of the year negatively impacting inbound arrivals," the report says.
The report also lists Delhi, India, Hurghada, Egypt and Fukuoka, Japan as cities to watch in terms of growth. With health and wellness tourism on the rise, India has gained attention for its yoga retreats and Ayurveda practices, and Delhi is focusing on luxury, medical, sports and cultural tourism. Hurghada is popular among European visitors for its water sports, nightlife and entertainment avenues, and it is also considered to be safe. Fukuoka has a diverse range of offerings and popular local cuisine, and it's rich in history, with numerous museums, historic and cultural sites.
The research covers over 400 cities and only counts international tourists visiting another country for at least 24 hours. It excludes domestic visitors, same-day visitors, people in transit and cruise passengers, and further information can be found here.
