In 2016, Bucharest Attracted 10.4% More Tourists Than in 2009
Bucharest is the European destination with the highest growth in the number of overnight tourists, surpassing cities such as Lisbon, Berlin, or Amsterdam, according to the Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index report.
In 2016, Bucharest attracted 10.4% more tourists compared to 2009, and the preferred travel periods are May-June and September-October.
The following positions in the ranking of cities recording an increase in the number of tourists include Lisbon – 10.2%, Sofia – 9.4%, Warsaw – 9.4%, and Budapest – 8.6%.
Globally, Gross Domestic Product has grown by 21.8% since 2009, while the amounts spent by overnight tourists have increased by 41.1%.
The growth in the number of overnight tourists across all 132 analyzed cities has exceeded Gross Domestic Product by 55.2% since 2009.
In the top 20 urban destinations, most trips are made for recreational purposes, with the exception of Shanghai, where nearly half of the tourists, specifically 48.4%, travel for business interests.
On the other hand, Kuala Lumpur is the city with the highest number of tourists visiting for vacation – 92.2%.
The Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index ranks cities in terms of the total number of overnight tourists and cross-border spending by these tourists in 2016, while also providing forecasts for tourist growth in 2017.
Source: Capital
Frequently Asked Questions
Which European city had the highest tourism growth in 2016?
Bucharest recorded the highest growth in overnight tourists in Europe, with a 10.4% increase compared to 2009.
When is the best time to visit Bucharest according to the report?
The preferred travel periods for tourists visiting Bucharest are May-June and September-October.
How does tourism growth compare to global GDP?
Since 2009, overnight tourist spending has grown by 41.1%, significantly outpacing the 21.8% growth in global GDP.