The most visited countries: What is South Africa’s ranking?
France remains in the top spot on the list of the most visited countries worldwide, with Spain in second place.
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South Africa was among the top 30 most visited countries in 2023, dropping a few places in 2024 based on current statistics and predictive analyses.
Top 10 most visited countries worldwide, 2024
Based on data from Data Pandas and a predictive analysis, following are the top 10 most visited countries this year:
- France
- Spain
- United States
- China
- Italy
- Turkey
- Mexico
- Thailand
- Germany
- United Kingdom
Top 10 most visited countries worldwide, 2023
Based on data from The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), the top 10 most visited countries in the world last year were:
- France
- Spain
- United States
- Italy
- Turkey
- Mexico
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Greece
- Austria
Top three spots the same for 2023 and 2024
The top three spots remained unchanged for last year and this year with France being in the top spot for the most visited countries in the world.
France continues to be a popular tourist destination for various reasons such as its historical sites, museums, and the romantic charm of the capital, Paris.
Additionally, France’s countryside is full of quaint villages, mountains, vineyards, and even a few castles.
Spain and the United States hold the second and third positions, respectively, for the most visited countries. Tourists find Spain appealing due to its historical richness, sunny coasts, and bull running experiences, among other things. Spain also offers a vibrant nightlife and many UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The BBC reported that the US federal government provides extensive support for travel and tourism, particularly in maintaining and regulating the strong airport infrastructure and airline industry. Experts believe that the diversity of its cities is specifically a reason for the country’s success in tourism. The US is home to many iconic cities that attract tourists, e.g. New York. Additionally, the country boasts a plethora of tourist attractions that cater to a wide range of interests, including its famous amusement parks.
Where does South Africa rank?
In 2023, South Africa ranked 26th in the most visited countries with 8.48 million international tourist arrivals. Based on current data and forecasts, South Africa is expected to rank around 38th position this year.
Markedly, the Western Cape tourism industry is seeing significant growth. The top tourist attractions in this province include Table Mountain and also Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.
Have you visited any of the countries on the top 10 lists?
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