Every two years, the World Economic Forum publishes a report known as the "Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report." The report ranks countries on certain factors like safety, hygiene, and price competition. If you are thinking of traveling abroad, then you might want to check out our list of the top 7 countries to visit.
Australia
Australia is a popular destination for tourists because of its vibrant cities, natural wonders, and temperate climate. Perth and Melbourne are iconic cities that attract the most tourists in Australia. The Kangaroo Island and Great Barrier Reef are also some of the primary destinations in the country.
The United States
The United States offers a lot of variety to tourists. As a result, it scored 2nd in terms of attracting the highest number of tourists per year. If you are into nature and outdoors, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon are a must-see. If you want something of the urban life, you will definitely find something interesting in San Francisco, New York, and Chicago.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom makes a lot of effort to boost their tourism. Fortunately, all those efforts do not go to waste. In fact, tourism generates around 9% of the country's total GDP. Also, almost 10% of the total jobs in the United Kingdom cater to tourism. Its capital London is the most visited city on the planet.
Japan
Japan's unique culture and natural beauty definitely helped it score high on the list. Japan's tourism continues to grow year after year. In fact, the country attracted 24 million tourists in 2016. There are a lot of things to see and visit in Japan, offering tourists a lot of variety. When it comes to World Heritage sites, Japan has 20 of them. You might know a few of these sites such as the Himeji castle and the ancient monuments located in Kyoto.
Germany
This central-western European country is the 7th most visited in the world. Berlin, the country's capital city, is the 3rd most visited city in the world. It offers tourists one of a kind tours to some of the mysterious and magnificent castles in Europe, such as the Neuschwanstein Castle and Heidelberg Castle. With such credentials, it's no wonder the country lands such a good spot in this list.
France
Everybody knows about the country that's home to the "City of Love." Aside from the countless romantic films that feature France and Paris, the country is also a global center for philosophy, science, and art. In fact, France sits at number 1 spot when it comes to attracting the most tourists per year. Paris, the capital city, is the 5th most visited city on the planet.
Spain
Spain sits in the number one spot on the list for good reasons. The country boasts long stretches of coastline beaches that offer picturesque sceneries for tourists. Since Spain is one of the oldest countries still around today, it offers tourists a wide and deep variety in terms of culture and history. Plus, Spain is relatively safe and clean. Prices are also just right.
