Germany, where the number of incoming foreign tourists has been growing for the eighth consecutive year, entered the top ten countries with the highest tourist demand
As "Russkaya Germaniya" notes, the ranking of visited countries is based on data for 2017. The first place was taken by France – it was visited by 86.7 million people. The second place went to Spain, which received 75.9 million travelers that year. The third spot in the ranking was taken by the USA with 75.9 million visits, and the fourth by China (60.7). Italy rounds out the top five. A total of 58.3 million travelers visited the country in 2017.
Further in the top ten of the most attractive countries for tourists were Germany (37.5 million), as well as Mexico (39.3 million), the United Kingdom (37.7), Turkey (37.6 million), and Thailand (35.4 million).
According to statistics, the majority of tourists visiting Germany are citizens of the Netherlands, Switzerland, the USA, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, and France. These seven countries account for more than 50% of Germany's inbound tourist flow.
Notably, 48% of European tourists come to Germany by car, 33% by plane, and 7% by train. For trips from countries on other continents, 97% of tourists choose the plane.
Given the favorable growth trend, the German National Tourist Board (GNTO) expects a further increase in the number of tourist visits to Germany, which is expected to exceed 121 million by 2030. According to forecasts, two-thirds of trips will be made by Europeans, while tourists from other countries will account for one-third of all trips.
The World Tourism Organization ranking is based solely on data on the number of incoming tourists, not on the amounts spent in each country. Meanwhile, in terms of the amount of money spent by tourists in a country, the USA leads, where tourists left $210.7 billion last year. Next in descending order are Spain, France, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
The report also emphasizes that tourism is the foundation for the growth and development of the service sector, as well as transport links between and within countries.