Market research group Euromonitor International has just announced a list of the world's top 100 destination cities in 2024.
Vietnam has two cities on this list, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. While Ho Chi Minh City ranked 76th - up 9 places compared to last year, Hanoi held the 83rd position, up 15 places on the list.
The ranking is based on the overall attractiveness of cities, derived from comparing 55 different metrics across six key dimensions: economic and business performance, tourism performance, infrastructure, tourism policy and attractiveness, health and safety, and sustainability.
As two major cities in Vietnam, there are many reasons why Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City attract international tourists such as cuisine, culture, and travel experiences.
Hanoi has many historical and cultural relics such as the Temple of Literature, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hoan Kiem Lake... and famous street foods such as banh mi, vermicelli, pho... Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City is a modern, vibrant, youthful city, providing diverse and rich entertainment and shopping venues.
According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, in the first 11 months of 2024, the total number of tourists to Hanoi is estimated at 25.33 million, up 11.7% over the same period last year. Of which, international tourists are estimated at 5.67 million, up 35.8% over the same period last year, exceeding the planned target of 5.5 million visitors.
In 11 months, the number of international visitors to Ho Chi Minh City is estimated at 5,336,000, up 15.6% over the same period last year, reaching nearly 89% of the 2024 plan, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism.
Apart from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the remaining locations on the list include New York, Amsterdam, Sydney, Singapore, Tokyo, Rome, Milan... most of which are cities in Europe. There are only 2 Asian representatives in the top 10: Tokyo and Singapore.
Euromonitor International also revealed that by 2024, the strong increase in tourism demand will cause the number of international visitors worldwide to increase by 19%, with international tourism spending reaching a total of 1.9 trillion USD.
Between 2024 and 2030, average spending per trip is estimated to reach $1,264, with the strongest growth in markets such as the Netherlands, China and Poland.
