The most popular countries in the world for holidays

[amoy]

The most popular countries in the world for holidays - and France comes out on top | Mail Online

This colourful map shows the most popular countries in the world for holidays, with France coming out on top while the UK lingers in seventh place.

With more than 81million visitors annually, France storms into first position, receiving nearly 20million more visitors than runner-up the USA, which is 15 times its size.

The colour coding shows that the top four most visited countries all receive more than 50million tourists a year. Behind the US, China comes in third place, while Spain follows up in fourth position.

The map, created by Movehub, a website that helps people move abroad, shows Italy in fifth place, welcoming more than 46million visitors a year, followed by Turkey with 34million and then the UK with just over 29million.

While we lag behind France, Spain and Italy, the UK does come ahead of Germany, Russia and Greece.
Showing that size in no barrier to popularity, Hong Kong also makes it into the top 20, with more than 22million visitors annually - taking 13th place.

Other exotic entries include Mexico, famed for its Caribbean beaches and tequila, which came in 11th place with 23million visitors, and Thailand, a favourite among Britons for winter sun escapes. With 19million tourists a year, Thailand came in 15th place.

Unusually, the Ukraine and Saudi Arabia also made it into the top 20 most visited countries in the world. Saudi Arabia is home to Mecca, Islam's holiest city, and welcomes 17.5million visitors annually - many on pilgrimage.

Ukraine is also normally popular with tourists visiting from neighbouring countries in the region. However recent unrest and clashes with Russia could affect visitor numbers this year.

Read more: The most popular countries in the world for holidays - and France comes out on top | Mail Online
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[Sakal Gharelu Ustad]

Definitely a low hanging fruit for India. Tourism sector can grow almost 8-10 times from current numbers!!

 

[Peter]

India`s climate along with its poor transportation sector keeps tourists low.However as India becomes more developed things will surely become better and we will see a lot of tourists.

 

[jmj_overlord]

rising crimes against the tourists especially females have affected our tourism sector.....also the issues of hygiene and cleanliness must be looked into urgently to revive our country's tourism....

 

[Blackwater]

rising crimes against the tourists especially females have affected our tourism sector.....also the issues of hygiene and cleanliness must be looked into urgently to revive our country's tourism....

true people(gore) here in Holland talk about slums about India before now talk of rape and slums

 

[shinoj]

France is a Beautiful country to visit. I can vouch for that having visited it.

 

[Razor]

Why is HK and Macau not added to PRC ? PRC might be on top if that is case (after removing internal tourism figures.)
I know "one country two systems" but still aren't they one country ?

 

[Barak2]

Depends on your taste basically. If you would do something that helps you then certainly a lot can be gained throughout if we understand which areas are the most reasonable in every way.

 

[amoy]

Bali Island and Sri Lanka on top of my list for vacation.

Angkor Wat is a must-see that I recommend to u.

~Tapa talks: Orange is the new black.~

 

[LordOfTheUnderworlds]

Poor country like India should not promote tourism too much till it is sufficiently prosperous. Develop infrastructure for family crowd and that's it. Nothing more than that. Otherwise it is a filthy industry.
For a poor country too much of foreign tourists means drugs, prostitution, human trafficking; especially sexual exploitation of children.

 

[amoy]

there're many countries who've simplified their visa regimes for certain areas if not entirely, like visa on arrival at Jeju Island of S.Korea, and Okinawa of Japan.

If India doesnt wanna open up for tourism in one go it can b done in a similar way.

~Tapa talks: Orange is the new black.~

 

[jouni]

It is good that India has a lot of potential for growth in tourism. Some countries, like France have not so good prospects for growth.

 

[brational]

Nice to see that J&K has been divided between Pakistan and China. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have also voluntarily marged with China. Excellent Cartography work by CCP sponsored reporter.