What Country Was the Top Tourist Destination in 2016?

By Alice Nichols

The World Tourism Organization’s World Tourism Barometer recently released the top tourist destinations in 2016. The list of countries was compiled by analyzing international tourism numbers. The results were surprising and showed that the most visited tourist destination in 2016 was France.

France is a diverse country with a rich culture and has been a popular tourist destination for generations. From the grandeur of Paris to the beauty of the French Riviera, the country has something to offer travelers from all backgrounds and walks of life.

France is home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, and Arc de Triomphe. In addition to its monuments, France is renowned for its food, wine, fashion, art galleries, and world-class ski resorts.

France was closely followed by Spain as the second most visited tourist destination in 2016. Spain is known for its Mediterranean climate and vibrant culture with cities such as Madrid and Barcelona being extremely popular with both local and international tourists.

It also boasts some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches along its Costa del Sol stretch of coastline on the southern coast as well as picturesque villages in its rural areas such as Galicia in northwest Spain. Notable attractions include Seville’s Alcazar palace complex and Granada’s Alhambra fortress while adventure seekers can take advantage of water sports such as scuba diving or sailing off the island of Ibiza.

The United States was ranked third on this list with around 75 million international visitors coming to America in 2016 alone. The country has something for everyone from its bustling cities such as New York City and Los Angeles to its natural wonders like Yosemite National Park or Niagara Falls. Other attractions include Miami Beach for a taste of Latin America or San Francisco for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge and cable cars that snake up steep hillsides along with many other iconic sights throughout this large country.

Conclusion:

In 2016, France emerged as the top tourist destination according to figures released by the World Tourism Organization’s World Tourism Barometer which analyzed international tourism data from that year. Closely following behind were Spain and then America rounding out the top three destinations globally.