The World Economic Forum has released its list of the most attractive countries best able to receive tourists from anywhere in the world. Spain topped the list, followed in the top ten by France, Germany, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Canada and Switzerland.
Most countries on the list kept their positions since the last edition in 2017, with only one country changing position, the United Kingdom, which slipped to sixth place.
Spain has managed to stay at the top of the list since 2015, after its popularity grew thanks to its world-class natural and cultural attractions, from its vibrant cities to its sunny beaches and diverse cultural programs spanning the ages.
Spain also boasts strong infrastructure, on which it has spent millions over the past decade to develop roads, railways and airports, with the tourism sector contributing 5% of Spain’s gross domestic product, a share expected to increase over the next ten years as the global middle class continues to grow.
Among global industries, the travel and tourism sector has flourished since the last report was issued, and its contribution to global GDP is expected to rise from 10% currently to 50% over the next ten years.
In this context, Christoph Wolff, Head of Mobility at the World Economic Forum, said: “At a time when international connectivity continues to increase, we see that competition in travel and tourism continues to grow, and that growing tourism brings great benefits to the economies of many countries, but politicians and businesspeople must manage it properly in order to secure a sustainable future.”
On the other hand, the report stated that whenever large numbers of tourists appear in a place, difficulties follow in accommodating those numbers, as happened at the Thai cave made famous by the film The Beach, which has now been forced to close indefinitely after its coral reefs, seawater and plant life suffered major environmental damage, or Venice, which is currently planning to redirect cruise ships to other ports to avoid damage caused by overcrowding.
The report therefore advises that these cities must learn how to manage tourist flows, and suggested various ways to them, such as encouraging tourists to come outside peak times, consulting residents on tourism-related decisions, and charging visitors entry fees, as is happening in Venice now, or taking a bold step like New Zealand and the island of Palau by requiring tourists to sign an environmental pledge to protect their eco-friendly systems.
One of the most important findings highlighted in this year’s report was also a 1.4% decline in growth of tourism-friendly infrastructure, which includes roads, ports, airports, accommodation and hotels. It therefore recommended that countries work on it as one of the most important strategies in the tourism sector, reasoning that the best way for any country to benefit from the sector is to invest in infrastructure that takes the needs of both local residents and visitors into account.
