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(CNN) - The appetite of the world to travel is voracious.
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Since 2009, the number of international visitors during the night has grown by 76% worldwide, according to third-party investigations and property analysis of the financial services company Mastercard.
For the fourth consecutive year, Bangkok is the number 1 most popular city in the Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index.
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In 2018, the Thai capital received 22.78 million visitors who spent the night, with a growth forecast of 3.34% for 2019.
Many of Bangkok's visitors come from these five main destinations, listed in order: Mainland China, Japan, South Korea, India and the United Kingdom. Popular attractions include the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and for a day trip outside the city, the Damnoen Saduak floating market.
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Paris and London occupy the number 2 and 3 for visitors, both receiving more than 19 million international visitors to spend the night in 2018.
The Mastercard index classifies 200 cities according to the patented analysis of visitor volume and expenditure data that are publicly available.
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All but one of the 10 main cities in number of visitors in 2018 saw an increase in international visitors during the night, with increases generally predicted for 2019.
London was the only city in the current top 10 that saw a decline in visitors for one year after year, a drop of almost 4%.
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Asia-Pacific cities have seen the largest regional increase in international travelers since 2009, with an increase of more than 9% stimulated by the growing number of travelers from mainland China.
The index also classifies cities according to the expenses made by international visitors who spend the night. According to that measure, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is the number one city. International visitors who spent the night there spent $ 30.82 billion in 2018, spending a whopping $ 553 per day, on average.
In comparison, visitors to Bangkok, the most popular city by number of visitors, spent an average of $ 184 per day. Bangkok ranked third for total overnight international visitor spending (20,030 million), with Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at number two ($ 20,090 million).
Top 10 cities ranked by number of visitors in 2018
1. Bangkok, Thailand: 22.78 million international visitors who spent the night
Bangkok
2. Paris, France: 19.10 million international visitors during the night
The Louvre Museum in Paris.
3. London, England: 19.09 million international visitors who spent the night
4. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 15.93 million international visitors who spent the night
5. Singapore: 14.67 million international visitors who spent the night
6. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 13.79 million international visitors who spent the night
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Credit: MOHD RASFAN / AFP / Getty Images)
7. New York, USA USA: 13.60 million international visitors who spent the night
8. Istanbul, Turkey: 13.40 million international visitors who spent the night
Istanbul, Turkey. The Süleymaniye Mosque, completed in 1558, rises above the estuary of the Golden Horn, which is packed with ships on a May afternoon.
9. Tokyo, Japan: 12.93 million international visitors who spent the night
Tokyo, Japan: The futuristic city was ranked seventh, in conjunction with Toronto, for its habitability.
10. Antalya, Turkey: 12.41 million international visitors who spent the night
Antalya, Turkey (Burak Kara / Getty Images).
