The 10 most visited countries in 2023

The year was marked by a significant rebound in tourism, with global inbound tourist arrivals reaching 1.3 billion.

This indicates a significant boost in the global financial landscape concerning tourism. The World Tourism Organisation corroborates this, stating that the world has bounced back from the setbacks of the pandemic.

"Preliminary estimates on the economic contribution of tourism, measured in tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP) point to USD 3.3 trillion in 2023, or 3% of global GDP. This indicates a recovery of pre-pandemic TDGDP driven by strong domestic and international tourism," the report reveals.

According to the 2023 issue of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Europe was the most sought-after destination with seven of the top 10 destinations on the continent.

Here's a list of the most visited countries in 2023:

France

France drew an impressive number of 100 million visitors, staying number one on the list. The country is expected to repeat the number in 2024, influenced mainly by the Paris Olympics. Its capital, Paris, is the second most visited city in the world.

Spain

With 85 million people, Spain secured the second spot. It is the 3rd most popular country on earth. It boasts vibrant cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Historic landmarks such as La Sagrada Famíla, Gibralfaro Castle and Alhambra Palace are the country's strongest points.

United States

The United States came in third, with 66 million tourists exploring its vast and varied attractions. WTO explains it will maintain the same numbers for 2024.

Italy

Italy's rich history, art, fashion, and, of course, cuisine, brought in 57 million visitors. Iconic sites like Rome, Venice, and Florence remained ever-popular.

Turkey

Bridging the continents of Europe and Asia, the cultural heritages and scenic beauty in Turkey attracted 55 million visitors, with the city of Istanbul standing out as an especially magnetic attraction.

Mexico

Mexico wins the 6th place for the most visited countries in the world with 42 million visitors. This makes it the most visited country in Latin America in 2023.

United Kingdom

England's capital city, London, attracts visitors with a wide range of sights, including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, and the British Museum, which includes the largest collection of Egyptian artefacts outside of Cairo. These fascinating sites appealed to 37 million tourists globally.

China

China, with its rich history, saw 36 million tourists, despite a drop in numbers due to previous travel restrictions. The number of international tourists visiting China decreased from 65.7 million following the implementation of strict COVID-19 travel measures.

Germany

Germany drew in 35 million tourists to place 9th globally. In March 2023 alone, there were 31.8 million overnight stays recorded by accommodation establishments, marking a 26.5% increase from March 2022. However, this was still 3.7% lower than the pre-pandemic figures of March 2019.

Greece

Greece, known for its ancient ruins, idyllic islands, and village-square markets, rounds up the top ten with 33 million visitors. According to the Greek Reporter, the first 10 months of 2023 saw 23 million international air arrivals, an 11.5% increase from the same period in 2022.