The Thai capital has bounced to the top of an annual list of the world's most popular travel destinations after spending several years in the wilderness¹ (of second place).

 

在最新发布的年度最受欢迎旅游目的地榜单上，泰国首都曼谷重回首位。此前数年曼谷一直徘徊在榜单第二名。

 

Its return to the throne came at a cost to London which, after occupying pole position for two years, is trading places with its Asian rival.

 

Bangkok is projected to host 21.47 million "international overnight visitors" this year, according to the 2016 report by financial services corporation MasterCard.

 

That figure is more than two times the city's population of about 10 million.

 

London, meanwhile, is expected to welcome 18.88 million visitors this year.

 

Paris is in third place with 18.03 million forecast visitors.

 

Ranked fourth with 15.27 million visitors, Dubai "made a quantum leap to become the global top-ranked" in visitor spending, the report says.

 

Based on a new estimate provided by the government of Dubai, its visitor spending of $31.3 billion this year far exceeds London's estimated $19.8 billion, which comes second.

 

Top 10 destination cities in 2016

 

1. Bangkok, Thailand

2. London, England

3. Paris, France

4. Dubai, UAE

5. New York, USA

6. Singapore

7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

8. Istanbul, Turkey

9. Tokyo, Japan

10. Seoul, South Korea

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