This is article is the second part, which covers the top 5 of 10 popular tourist destinations of the world.
Travelling can mean differently to people. For some it is a necessary part of work, a lifestyle for some, and for most of us a luxury or a treat. It is almost a single activity that engages all our senses.
Visiting beautiful places has never been as accessible and affordable as it is today.
Thanks to breakthroughs in science and technology. Modern transportation has made travelling fast and safe.
Here are the top 5 of the 10 most visited tourist destinations in the world.
PHOTO CREDIT: Holgi
No. 5 – Italy
No wonder this country is called Bel Paesa or beautiful country. Its annual visitors of 43.2 million come to Italy for its fine art, history, fashion, and culture.
With most of the world heritage sites, Italy has drawn more history lovers from all over world than any other countries.
Don’t forget Italy is the home of delectable pizzas, pastas and gelato which are gastronomic treats for the so inclined.
Rome, Venice, and Florence are its famous cities of Art. Italy also has its share of scenic coasts, mountains, and lakes.
Topping its tourist destination is the beautiful Canals of Venice, the crown jewel of water cities.
PHOTO CREDIT: Karl Hipolito’s PhotoStream
No. 4 – China
China boasts of 50.9 million tourist each year despite becoming more known as controversial economic giant.
Since the beginning of China’s reform and opening over the last few decades it has seen expansion in its tourism industry.
What contributes to its tourism boom is the country’s increasing middle class and the government’s loosening restrictions of movement.
The Great Wall of China is still its hottest tourist destination. People from all over the world just love to visit this ancient wall.
No. 3 – Spain
With an annual visitors of more than 52 million, Spain seize the Top 3 tourist destination in the world.
Spain used to be a popular summer destination for visitors from Portugal, Central Europe, the British Isles, and France.
Spain’s most visited city is Madrid and Barcelona people come here for various reasons most notably for entertainment, fashion, sports, and the arts.
Running of the Bulls, is one of the most popular events in Spain that attracts millions of tourists. It is held annually in Pamplona a city in Navarra.
The San Fermin festival is celebrated every year from July 6 to 14, where running with a dozen bulls is the climax of the festivity.
No. 2 – USA
The US boasts of more than 54 million tourists each year but it covers 50 states. Where does one starts when traveling to the United States?
Each state seem to have its unique culture and distinct experience to offer.
The United States is melting pot of various cultures and thus, contributes to its diverse cities and attractions that are a challenge to narrow down.
The best advice for a tourist or traveller is to travel by instinct or go with the crowd.
Topping the charts for its most visited city is unsurprisingly the Times Square in New York City. After this, there are still hundreds of places to see and experience around the states.
Depending on what you dig, America has it. From the bright neon lights of Las Vegas with its bouncy night life to the tamer and benign pleasures of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Florida.
If you’re into history and sciences then there’s the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
There are so many and much to see and do in this country. So prepare to stay for longer time to cover more ground.
No. 1 – France
France have more than 74 million visitors each year. Its most popular destinations are Paris, French Riviera, and Provence.
A visit to Paris the capital city of France is incomplete without going to the Louvre, a most visited art museum in the world.
Of course there is also the Musée d’Orsay and the Beaubourg equally popular stopovers for the art enthusiasts.
The French Riviera boasts of 115 kilometres of coastline and beaches, 18 golf courses, 14 ski resorts and thousands of restaurants.
Getting 300 days of sunshine a year it attracts more than 10 million tourists per year. This is a haven for those willing to pay for the finer things in life.
For nature lovers or travellers looking for a break from a bustling urban scene Provence is just the right place. The Gorges du Verdon and other natural parks provides a laid back provincial feel and historical sights.
There you have the top 10 international tourist destinations.
Brief descriptions of each destination are just teasers meant to whet your appetite for travel. The world is a mystery and an adventure waiting for you to explore.
Again, these top 10 tourist destination share one thing in common. They invest on building infrastructures to cater to millions of visitors each year.
To ensure that infrastructure outlay are best spent and quality edifices are put up, one could just wonder if their government implements a comprehensive infrastructure management scheme considering that the tourism industry is there to stay.
Perhaps one could ask, does each country have effective infrastructure asset management program so that both its citizen and tourists are using efficient and well-maintained infrastructure?
[note note_color=”#ffd700″ text_color=”#0028ff” radius=”10″]Please feel free to share your travel experiences if you’ve toured or visited any of the places mentioned above. Write your account into the comment box at the bottom of this post. Thank you.[/note]
CPU DERECHO 