Research from WTTC reveals European capital the most powerful in terms of contribution of the tourism industry to the economy.
New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has shown that Paris is the world’s most powerful city destination. The report, researched in partnership with Oxford Economics, analysed indicators such as Travel & Tourism’s contribution to GDP, employment, and traveller spending.
The French capital takes the crown as the world’s most powerful city destination with a Travel & Tourism sector worth almost $36bn in 2022 in terms of direct GDP contribution to the city. But over the next ten years, WTTC predicts it will drop to third place, although its value will rise to over $49bn.
According to the research, Beijing will have overtaken Paris by 2032, the Chinese city is currently the second biggest destination in the world, with a Travel & Tourism sector worth nearly $33bn. However, it is predicted to grow to a staggering $77bn.
Major cities such as London, Paris and New York will remain global powerhouses, but over the next few years, Beijing, Shanghai, and Macau will be moving up the list of top city destinations, WTTC said. Other cities outside the top 10 showing promising growth as emerging destinations include the Polish capital of Warsaw, which has seen a 14.4 per cent increase in its GDP contribution in 2022 versus 2019.
Many leisure travellers swapped city visits for less-populated destinations such as coastal and rural spots during COVID, but city holidays are back and growing in popularity; major cities worldwide finding it challenging to attract travellers as countries closed their borders.
1. Paris ($35.65bn)
2. Beijing ($32.62bn)
3. Orlando ($31.1bn)
4. Shanghai ($29.69bn)
5. Las Vegas ($22.99bn)
6. New York ($21.09bn)
7. Tokyo ($17.97bn)
8. Mexico City ($16.76bn)
9. London ($14.92bn)
10. Guangzhou ($13.15bn)
The top ten cities with the biggest international travellers spending in 2022 were:
In 2032, the top five cities with the biggest international traveller spending will change to be:
