France has clung onto the title of the world’s most popular travel destination, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
In terms of international arrivals, France welcomed a whopping 76.8 million visitors last year, the exact same number as in 2009.
UNWTO’s latest Tourism Highlights report also revealed that the United States swept in to take second place, with international visitor numbers to the land of Stars and Stripes rising by 8.7 per cent last year.
Sneaking into bronze medal position was surprise entry China, which overtook traditional favourite Spain to take third place with 55.7 million international visitors last year.
Spain had to make do with fourth place, swiftly followed by Italy. Our very own Blighty, Turkey, Germany, Malaysia and Mexico rounded out the top ten in that order.
While 51 per cent of the 480 million international visitor arrivals in various countries last year reported being there for leisure and recreation pursuits, 27 per cent travelled for other reasons, such as visiting family and friends, or for religious reasons.
Fifty-one per cent of travellers hopped aboard a flight to reach their destination, making air travel the key mode of transport for most visitors.
(Image: John Picken)
