Singapore is world’s 9th most attractive city destination in 2024

This marks Singapore’s debut in the top 10.

Singapore has secured the ninth spot amongst the world’s most attractive city destinations, according to Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Index 2024.

Singapore has dominated the Economic and Business Performance pillar and is renowned as the world’s freest economy.

Bangkok tops the tourism policy and attractiveness pillar, moving up eight places, followed by Singapore in second place and Paris in third.

The report also revealed that Asia stands out in the top 10 cities with Tokyo landing in the top three cities and Singapore entering the top 10 for the first time. 

Asia also saw strong representation in the rest of the top 20, as Taipei (11th), Seoul (12th), Osaka (16th), and Bangkok (17th) all made the list.

Paris retained the title of the world's leading city destination, followed by Madrid in second place, and Tokyo in third.

Sydney secured eighth place, reflecting growth as it climbed 14 steps up.

Global international arrivals saw a 19% increase in 2024, driven by strong tourism demand. Europe remained the most popular region, reaching 793 million international trips in the same year.

Bangkok topped the list of international arrivals by city with 32 million trips in 2024. The city surpassed the pre-pandemic level of international tourism flows in 2023 and continued dynamic growth of over 30% in 2024.

International tourism spending totalled $2.5t (US$1.9t) in 2024. The global average spend per arrival will reach $1,692 (US$1,264) by 2030.

Moreover, between 2024 and 2030, inbound average spend per trip is expected to show the highest growth in markets such as the Netherlands, China, and Poland.

“Less-travelled destinations and third-tier cities are expected to rise in popularity as travellers seek hidden gems, off-season experiences, and responsible tourism,” said Nadejda Popova, global head of loyalty at Euromonitor International.

“Consumers will prioritise culturally enriching, personalised experiences, making them the new travel currency,” Popova added.

Euromonitor International Top 100 City Destinations Index 2024 compares 55 different metrics across six key pillars for 100 city destinations to create an overall city attractiveness score.

The six key pillars include economic and business performance, tourism performance, tourism infrastructure, tourism policy and attractiveness, health and safety, and sustainability.

($1 = US$0.75)