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New York City is no longer one of the world's top 10 tourist destinations

Dec. 04, 2019
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3 min read
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New York City is no longer one of the world's top 10 tourist destinations
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Well, it was good while it lasted.

According to EuroMonitor's top cities report, the entire continents of North and South America may no longer have cities that can crack the list for the top 10 destinations in the world.

The report highlights the top 100 cities based on 2018 international arrivals — meaning international tourists who visited for at least 24 hours — as well as 2019 projections from current data.

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In 2018, New York City clung to its No. 8 spot. But based on current numbers, it's expected that it will plunge three spots by the end of the year — excluding it and the Americas from the 2019 list. London may drop two spots, down to No. 5, and Kuala Lumpur is projected to slip from No. 9 to No. 10. This is what the list is expected to look like by year's end:

  1. Hong Kong, 26.7 million
  2. Bangkok, 25.8 million
  3. Macau, 20.6 million
  4. Singapore, 19.8 million
  5. London, 19.6 million
  6. Paris, 19.1 million
  7. Dubai, 16.3 million
  8. Delhi, 15.2 million
  9. Istanbul, 14.7 million
  10. Kuala Lumpur, 14.1 million

New York City is still the most popular urban destination in the U.S., as well as North and South America, followed by Miami (expected to be the 29th most popular city for tourists in the world in 2019); Los Angeles (33rd) and Las Vegas (38th). All will loose ground based on current projections. In fact, only 13 of the top 100 cities are in the Americas.

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Rabia Yasmeen, the author of the report, wrote that, "Despite high concern for safety and security among visitors, stringent policies and a travel ban under the Trump administration, most U.S. destinations performed well during 2018 when compared with the previous year.”

"However," Yaseem added, "most U.S. cities in [the ranking] experienced a decline ... due to increased competitiveness from other regions such as Asia and Europe."

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According to the report, only 13 of the top 100 cities are in the Americas. The majority (expected to be 42 in 2019), are in Asia — a number that has increased significantly from 34 back in 2013.

Europe remains a popular spot for tourists, too. It maintained 32 cities in the rankings, the same number as last year. What's interesting to note, though, is that the number of inbound arrivals to London decreased, possibly the result of Brexit uncertainty and tightened visa restrictions, Yaseem surmised.

If you want to beat all the crowds, though, you'll want to make sure Singapore, Delhi, Hurghada, Egypt; and Fukuoka, Japan are all on your list for next year. They're all listed as cities to watch in the report. EuroMonitor predicts Hurghada might even crack the top 50 in the next years, as it leapt 45 places this year.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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