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More than 500 million tourists visit Europe every year. GlobalData, an analytics and consulting company, analyzed the data to find out which of 44 European countries are the most visited.
France has been a regular at the top of the list for years, and is poised to reclaim its title as the world’s most visited country.
The most visited country in the world
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, France was the most visited country in the world, attracting 88.1 million tourists in 2019, according to GlobalData.
Spain took the top spot in 2021, but France is on track to overtake it by welcoming 66.6 million international visitors in 2022.
“Along with Italy and Spain, France represents a significant growth segment in Western Europe. The country is popular not only with visitors from within Europe – particularly the UK, Germany and Belgium – but also with visitors from further afield, including China and the US,” said Hannah Free, travel and tourism analyst at GlobalData.
France is the most visited country in the world.i
The number of international arrivals to France is expected to increase at an annual rate of 12.1% from 2022 to 2025, GlobalData said.
The firm also predicts that France will attract an estimated 93.7 million international tourists per year by 2025, cementing its title as the world's most visited country.
Why is France a popular tourist destination?
According to GlobalData, one of France's biggest draws is its transportation. Traveling between major cities is relatively easy with high-speed train connections.
France is also well connected to other European countries via long-distance overnight trains.
New sleeper trains launching this year will take passengers from Paris to Vienna, Berlin and Milan, with the French capital also set to connect with Barcelona in 2024.
The country ranked second
Spain ranks behind France in the ranking of the most visited countries in the world.
While all countries saw a sharp drop in tourist numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain beat France to the top spot, welcoming 26.3 million visitors in 2021.
In recent years, Spain has become an increasingly popular destination.
The Spanish government is also aiming to attract even more tourists in the next few years.
According to GlobalData, by 2025, Spain is expected to attract 89.5 million international tourists.
“Tourism to France and Spain will continue to grow strongly in the coming years, with festivals, culture and cuisine being major draws for tourists,” Free said. “Both countries have a lot to offer visitors, with their own unique culture, cuisine and atmosphere. In addition, they are both relatively large, with diverse landscapes, each with its own unique coastline.”
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