![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QNXI7VRGWWVBB2B4US53LVMFKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1fd4e573cdd2492d1aa3a51d5611d7493b1f19dbeb19a57e93776928c5e77fd1&width=400&height=225)
The Petronas Twin Tower illuminated at dusk in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is forecast to see international visitor numbers rise 4.8% in 2019. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CW7O72FE25DDLBMU3LZX7H6JM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=dc817c2c15c94004e0a3d062e75ebc5f4b3b8882517c5a08851ecf430fe541bb&width=400&height=225)
UK-based market research company Euromonitor has released its Top 100 City Destinations 2019 report. Hong Kong is expected to become the world's top most popular city with international travelers, despite political unrest curtailing the number of visitors in the second half of the year. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MQDOWOS43JWADKJEOKPJGE2XAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c19c8fe1028b467f3a3318081594bfd4dc613cb5de3022345025caffdc01866a&width=400&height=225)
Buddhist monks walk in the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, Thailand. The Thai capital, ranking second, is set to see a 6.9 per cent increase in international visitors in 2019. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JKRSXNVKGX2MKTPR7PTJYRBEPU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e30d8c9de64a21e1a25f078c2e4de8882ed289f6a945c328354765c4a2958297&width=400&height=225)
Tourists visit the Ruins of St. Paul's during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday also known as Spring Festival, in Macau, China. Macau climbed the ranks to become the third most popular city for travelers in 2019. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QLA3Q42BTER2HAVLLQD2HO7TP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=845062e84f3aebc39cc277b996744db41d008ad53305918af3430bfc0fc31473&width=400&height=225)
People walk on an aerial walkway connecting supertree structures at the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. The fourth most popular destination, is among the cities to watch in 2019 as it increased regional travel and strong growth in the cruise sector. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MTPF7YHCW2ZPX2VEKUCGXXG7HY.jpg?smart=true&auth=279d29af9f47e994f8e346a9c80e52f4a8cae6608766020179011bea8f17a03b&width=400&height=225)
Tower Bridge and the City Hall are pictured on the River Thames in London. The city is expected to drop to fifth place in 2019 amid uncertainty around Brexit. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DN5FPHWQCU2SGXT5VLWTYKUNKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=600b9ac0279b393689a73633a416029af8db51e36d874733c10f47bb2d3d333f&width=400&height=225)
A woman runs under the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel by the Louvre museum pyramid in Paris, France. Paris, at no.6, is expected to benefit from any shift of European visitors from the United Kingdom for both business and leisure. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DCEQXHUCA22WLAJKXNWV5WO274.jpg?smart=true&auth=4b732514936f00293d095ecadf7087d3e3c901dcd0d11bfb8c242e04c8f03279&width=400&height=225)
Visitors to Dubai mall take pictures of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The emirate retains its 7th ranking and Dubai continues to lead the Middle East region in terms of numbers of arrivals. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6XIWPR6JKODVYZGNX6COEVQ3KI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7033ea257a7d2783d690bd12256f8557e8089c4c1e193a12ac2872bce09dc107&width=400&height=225)
Jama Masjid Mosque in Delhi, India. Delhi, at eight place, is among the cities to watch for in 2019, thanks to its connectivity to locations in north India and improvements in infrastructure. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBPFFDRX46LJQN5UBGXNK6NE2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b7defa5de7a0a1ed3be1ef0cfc36e54ea56f30ee8ab6ca174f93d07c6d1ed90&width=400&height=225)
A couple sit on the terrace of a cafe in Istanbul as seagulls fly over them.A decrease in the value of the Turkish made the capital city appealing as a budget friendly European destination. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QNXI7VRGWWVBB2B4US53LVMFKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1fd4e573cdd2492d1aa3a51d5611d7493b1f19dbeb19a57e93776928c5e77fd1&width=400&height=225)
The Petronas Twin Tower illuminated at dusk in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is forecast to see international visitor numbers rise 4.8% in 2019. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CW7O72FE25DDLBMU3LZX7H6JM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=dc817c2c15c94004e0a3d062e75ebc5f4b3b8882517c5a08851ecf430fe541bb&width=400&height=225)
UK-based market research company Euromonitor has released its Top 100 City Destinations 2019 report. Hong Kong is expected to become the world's top most popular city with international travelers, despite political unrest curtailing the number of visitors in the second half of the year. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MQDOWOS43JWADKJEOKPJGE2XAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c19c8fe1028b467f3a3318081594bfd4dc613cb5de3022345025caffdc01866a&width=400&height=225)
Buddhist monks walk in the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, Thailand. The Thai capital, ranking second, is set to see a 6.9 per cent increase in international visitors in 2019. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JKRSXNVKGX2MKTPR7PTJYRBEPU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e30d8c9de64a21e1a25f078c2e4de8882ed289f6a945c328354765c4a2958297&width=400&height=225)
Tourists visit the Ruins of St. Paul's during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday also known as Spring Festival, in Macau, China. Macau climbed the ranks to become the third most popular city for travelers in 2019. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QLA3Q42BTER2HAVLLQD2HO7TP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=845062e84f3aebc39cc277b996744db41d008ad53305918af3430bfc0fc31473&width=400&height=225)
People walk on an aerial walkway connecting supertree structures at the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. The fourth most popular destination, is among the cities to watch in 2019 as it increased regional travel and strong growth in the cruise sector. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MTPF7YHCW2ZPX2VEKUCGXXG7HY.jpg?smart=true&auth=279d29af9f47e994f8e346a9c80e52f4a8cae6608766020179011bea8f17a03b&width=400&height=225)
Tower Bridge and the City Hall are pictured on the River Thames in London. The city is expected to drop to fifth place in 2019 amid uncertainty around Brexit. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DN5FPHWQCU2SGXT5VLWTYKUNKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=600b9ac0279b393689a73633a416029af8db51e36d874733c10f47bb2d3d333f&width=400&height=225)
A woman runs under the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel by the Louvre museum pyramid in Paris, France. Paris, at no.6, is expected to benefit from any shift of European visitors from the United Kingdom for both business and leisure. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DCEQXHUCA22WLAJKXNWV5WO274.jpg?smart=true&auth=4b732514936f00293d095ecadf7087d3e3c901dcd0d11bfb8c242e04c8f03279&width=400&height=225)
Visitors to Dubai mall take pictures of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The emirate retains its 7th ranking and Dubai continues to lead the Middle East region in terms of numbers of arrivals. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6XIWPR6JKODVYZGNX6COEVQ3KI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7033ea257a7d2783d690bd12256f8557e8089c4c1e193a12ac2872bce09dc107&width=400&height=225)
Jama Masjid Mosque in Delhi, India. Delhi, at eight place, is among the cities to watch for in 2019, thanks to its connectivity to locations in north India and improvements in infrastructure. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBPFFDRX46LJQN5UBGXNK6NE2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b7defa5de7a0a1ed3be1ef0cfc36e54ea56f30ee8ab6ca174f93d07c6d1ed90&width=400&height=225)
A couple sit on the terrace of a cafe in Istanbul as seagulls fly over them.A decrease in the value of the Turkish made the capital city appealing as a budget friendly European destination. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QNXI7VRGWWVBB2B4US53LVMFKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1fd4e573cdd2492d1aa3a51d5611d7493b1f19dbeb19a57e93776928c5e77fd1&width=400&height=225)
The Petronas Twin Tower illuminated at dusk in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is forecast to see international visitor numbers rise 4.8% in 2019. Alamy
Dubai ranks among world's top 10 most popular city destinations in 2019
Hurghada, Egypt, is forecast to make the biggest leap up the ranks of the most popular 100 cities in 2019
![Deena Kamel](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F0357f044-2550-41af-bfe5-55c0fbeff34a.png?smart=true&auth=6abd6634301a14db937d0c13538c68342c45d5964b8a29e86b6af9727b83a2f9&width=70&height=70)
Deena Kamel
05 December, 2019
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