The world’s most popular cities for tourist: London comes second to Hong Kong

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London has come second to Hong Kong in a ranking of the world's most popular cities among tourists.

Euromonitor International's annual "top city destinations ranking" covers 100 of the world's leading cities in terms of tourist arrivals.

London benefited from its iconic stature, the success of the London Olympics in 2012, as well as its cultural and sporting credentials. It climbed past Bangkok which fell to third place due to political unrest in Thailand and a decline in Russian arrivals

However, delays to create another runway could jeopardise its position in future. Heathrow is currently operating at near maximum capacity, while Gatwick, Luton and London City are predicted to be at capacity by 2030.

Hong Kong took the top spot thanks to its popularity with Chinese tourists. The city, which is regarded as the gateway between China and the rest of the world, reported that Chinese tourists accounted for 67 per cent of all visitors in 2014.

Singapore and Paris make up the rest of the top five.

Top city destinations ranking

  1. Hong Kong

  2. London

  3. Singapore

  4. Bangkok

  5. Paris

  6. Macau

  7. Shenzhen

  8. New York City

  9. Istanbul

  10. Kuala Lumpur

  11. Antalya

  12. Dubai

  13. Seoul

  14. Rome

  15. Taipei

  16. Guangzhou

  17. Phuket

  18. Miami

  19. Pattaya

  20. Shanghai

  21. Prague

  22. Las Vegas

  23. Mecca

  24. Milan

  25. Tokyo

  26. Barcelona

  27. Amsterdam

  28. Vienna

  29. Los Angeles

  30. Venice

  31. Moscow

  32. Johannesburg

  33. Delhi

  34. Orlando

  35. Berlin

  36. Mumbai

  37. Budapest

  38. Ho Chi Minh City

  39. Beijing

  40. Florence

  41. Madrid

  42. Riyadh

  43. Warsaw

  44. Cancun

  45. Lima

  46. Nairobi

  47. Chennai

  48. Johor Bahru

  49. Dublin

  50. Denpasar

  51. Athens

  52. San Francisco

  53. Agra

  54. Hangzhou

  55. Toronto

  56. Mugla

  57. Sydney

  58. Brussels

  59. Jerusalem

  60. Edirne

  61. Munich

  62. Hanoi

  63. Jaipur

  64. Zhuhai

  65. Punta Cana

  66. Cairo

  67. Buenos Aires

  68. Sofia

  69. St Petersburg

  70. Chiang Mai

  71. Lisbon

  72. Heraklion

  73. Halong

  74. Pulau Pinang

  75. Mexico City

  76. Siem Reap

  77. Jerba

  78. Cracow

  79. Jakarta

  80. Rio de Janeiro

  81. Honolulu

  82. Manama

  83. Andorra la Vella

  84. Zurich

  85. Tel Aviv

  86. Marrakech

  87. Nice

  88. Vancouver

  89. Sharm el Sheikh

  90. Melbourne

  91. Guilin

  92. Frankfurt

  93. Amman

  94. Jeju

  95. Rhodes

  96. Marne-La-Vallee

  97. Samui

  98. Kolkatta

  99. Taichung

  100. Artvin