The Global Destination Cities Index, published annually by Mastercard, ranks 132 of the most popular cities for foreign tourists by analyzing international overnight arrivals data to predict the fastest growing destinations across the globe.
Now in its seventh year, the index (released last month) has named Bangkok the top-ranked destination city, followed by London in the second-place spot. Paris, Dubai, and New York round out the top five.
Prague has squeaked onto the list of the world’s most-visited cities at number twenty; according to the report 87 percent of visits to the Czech capital are for pleasure while 12 percent of visitors are on business. The index also noted that June and July are peak months for visiting Prague.
Visitors to the top 20 overwhelmingly spent more while shopping, as opposed to dining, except in Europe, where meals captured a greater share of spending in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Istanbul, Milan, Paris, Prague, and Vienna.
The Global Destination Cities Index projects visitor volume and spending estimates for the 2016 calendar year, while delivering a deeper understanding of how people travel and spend around the world.