Beijing to overtake Paris as the world’s top tourism city by 2032

Tourism’s next top city may surprise you.

Beijing is quickly becoming the world’s most lucrative city for travel and tourism. Picture: Getty Images

Elle Halliwell

@elle_halliwell

less than 2 min read

5:00PMFebruary 02, 2023.

Updated 6:35AMFebruary 03, 2023

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For decades Paris has charmed tourists with its lamplit avenues, striking Haussmanian apartments and café culture, making it one of the world’s top travel destinations.

But the crown of France’s tourism queen is slipping, with a very different city set to take over the title of the world’s most ‘powerful’ travel destination by the next decade.

New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council predicts that while the French capital still reigns as travel’s current powerhouse based on factors including contribution to GDP and traveller spend, China’s major cities are not far behind.

The beauty of Paris, France will always draw a crowd. Picture: Getty Images

WTTC CEO Julia Simpson said Asian cities including Macau, Shanghai and Beijing were climbing the list of the world’s top destinations for travel and tourism and could soon regularly overtake the likes of London, New York and Paris.

“Tourists will always have favourite cities that they will return to, but as other countries prioritise travel & tourism, we are going to see new and emerging destinations challenging the traditional favourites,” she said.

Beijing, famed for attractions including the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City, is tipped to bring in US$77.28 billion annually from travel and tourism by 2032, the most of any global city, with Shanghai close behind.

The Great Wall of China remains one of Beijing’s top tourist attractions. Picture: Getty Images

Paris, and Orlando and Las Vegas in the US are predicted to remain in the top five cities with regards to tourism GDP in real terms by the same year.

Currently, Paris sits above Beijing, Orlando, Shanghai and Las Vegas with the highest real GDP contribution in the travel and tourist sector. New York, Tokyo, Mexico City, London and Guangzhou round out the top ten.

China has been investing heavily in infrastructure, traveller accommodation, transport and tourist attractions in the past decade, leading to a boom in domestic and international tourism.

Nanjing Road in Shanghai, China. Shanghai is currently the third most ‘powerful’ city in terms of travel and tourism GDP, and is set to trump Paris, France by 2032. Picture: Getty Images.

Predicted top 10 tourist city hot spots for 2032

1. Beijing

2. Shanghai

3. Paris

4. Orlando

5. Las Vegas

6. Guangzhou

7. New York

8. Macau

9. Bangkok

10. Tokyo

(In 2032, based on predicted direct tourism and travel in real GDP)