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Tourists Collectively Spend More Money in This Country Than Any Other

Sept. 25, 2018
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2 min read
Tourists Arriving in Amsterdam
Tourists Collectively Spend More Money in This Country Than Any Other
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Every traveler knows that in some destinations, tourists are bound to shell out a little more cash than others.

But some countries attract such massive amounts of travelers, they can rake in top dollar from the tourism industry by sheer force of numbers.

New data from the World Tourism Organization shows the top countries making the most money from tourism. They are also -- unsurprisingly -- the countries with the highest number of international arrivals. The trade group calculated the total amount of money spent by international-inbound tourists on transportation, goods and services to rank the top nations banking the most profit from visitors. The data also revealed that international tourist arrivals grew 6.8% globally in 2017 — marking the biggest increase since 2010.

When looking at tourism expenditures in US dollars, most tourism spending is happening in Western countries and some Asian destinations like Japan, Thailand and Macao. With $211 billion in international receipts, the US ranked No. 1 and makes up for 16% of the entire world’s tourist expenditures, even though US tourist arrivals decreased by 3.8% in 2017.

The data also discovered that four out of five travelers will stick to traveling within their own regions and that Europe generates almost half of the world’s international arrivals. Within the Americas, North America accounts for two-thirds of the regions arrivals and expenditures. Additionally, out of the top 10 countries with highest tourist receipts and arrivals, seven of them make an appearance on both lists.

Top 10 International Receipts

  1. USA: $211B
  2. Spain: $68B
  3. France: $61B
  4. Thailand: $57B
  5. United Kingdom: $51B
  6. Italy: $44B
  7. Australia: $42B
  8. Germany: $40B
  9. Macao (China): $36B
  10. Japan: $34B

The combined value of these countries make up almost half the world's tourism expenditures.

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Top 10 International Arrivals

  1. France: 87M
  2. Spain: 82M
  3. USA: 76M
  4. China: 61M
  5. Italy: 58M
  6. Mexico: 39M
  7. United Kingdom: 38M
  8. Turkey: 38M
  9. Germany: 38M
  10. Thailand: 35M
Featured image by SOLSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • 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.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $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.
  • Terms Apply.