These are the best cities in the Euromonitor Destination Index 2021

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(CNN) -- 

There are many ways to judge a city's success as a tourist destination beyond the number of visitors it receives.

Infrastructure, sustainability, and economics need to be considered;

how it meets the challenges of attracting and accommodating travelers while maintaining quality of life for residents;

and then there is the effectiveness of its response to the covid-19 pandemic.

British market research firm Euromonitor used to be known for its annual Top 100 Urban Destinations list which, until Covid turned everything upside down in 2020, ranked the top destinations by number of international arrivals.

The company then replaced it with its new Top 100 City Destinations Index, which compares the attractiveness of 100 cities around the world using six performance pillars, with the latest report based on data collected in 2021.

In 2019, the top spots on the list were dominated by Asian destinations, with Hong Kong and Bangkok leading the way, but in 2021 the list is now packed with eight European cities in the top 10.

Like the pre-pandemic list, the 2021 index is a snapshot in time.

Last year, cities met again after the global crisis, with some opening up to the world more quickly than others.

Next year's list will undoubtedly be different again, in the rapid panorama of recovery from covid-19.

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Paris leads the world

Paris has been named the most attractive urban destination in the world for 2021. Globally, it ranks first in the category of "tourism performance" and second in "tourism policy and infrastructure".

The city has benefited from the return of American and Asian tourists, according to Euromonitor, although it has yet to get a boost from visitors from the UK, once a big market.

That may change now, as the UK joined France's "green list" on March 31, 2022.

However, it ranks low on health and safety, which the report says is because it has "increased efforts to increase vaccination rates in a vaccine-averse population."

France has been one of the European countries most affected by covid-19, and until the beginning of this month it had close to 27 million cases in total.

Dubai sky high

Ranked No. 1 in the 2020 index, Dubai is second in Euromonitor's list for 2021 and is the only emerging market city in the top 10.

The United Arab Emirates favorite came forward to reopen to international tourists in July 2020 and last year received a boost from Expo2020, postponed by covid-19, which started in October 2021.

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Dubai ranks fourth in the world in the "health and safety" performance category, thanks to the strict covid protocol implemented by the Government of Dubai.

Until April 2022, more than 98% of the population of Dubai is vaccinated and the use of masks remains mandatory in closed public spaces.

"Livable and inclusive"

Residents of the European Union can already enter Amsterdam freely, but there are restrictions for countries outside the area.

Credit: Figurniy Sergey/Adobe Stock

Amsterdam, a small city with a historically large tourist population, so much so that it became the face of overtourism, ranks third in 2021.

The Dutch capital is tackling overtourism with technology: Euromonitor praises its Public Eye crowd control project, which uses artificial intelligence technology to help navigate large flows of people and reduce crowds.

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The report also notes that Amsterdam, along with Barcelona and Oslo, has "taken steps to reduce parking spaces" as well as introducing "extensive bicycle infrastructure to revolutionize its transport networks and create a more livable and inclusive place." ".

Population growth, improving unemployment rates and rising disposable income made it do well in terms of economic and business performance, Euromonitor says, ranking sixth in that performance category globally.

Long live Spain

Madrid ranks fourth in the general classification and number 1 worldwide in the "sustainability" performance category.

It is also the third city worldwide in "politics and tourist attraction".

Thanks to Spain relaxing entry requirements in several markets, Barcelona has also moved up six places in the rankings, to 10th place for 2021.

New York was the highest-ranked US city, at number 7 overall.

Their success was driven by domestic tourism, while Orlando (#22) and Las Vegas (#28) also improved their rankings.

Singapore ranked first in the "business and economic performance" category, although the city-state only ranked 24th in the overall index.

Asian cities stood out in this category, with Taipei and Hong Kong also leading in 2021 in terms of economic recovery, and Macau jumping 18 places to seventh globally.

The British capital slipped down the rankings in 2021.

Credit: Figurniy Sergey/Adobe Stock

Euromonitor also noted the impact of Singapore's high vaccination levels and "living with covid" policy, in contrast to the "zero covid" approach of other Asia-Pacific destinations.

Dublin ranks highest for politics and tourist attraction, and 16th in the overall index.

Euromonitor attributes this to the fact that the Irish capital, like France, is open to American travelers from mid-2021, unlike its UK neighbors.

London dropped three places in the overall rankings in 2021, to number 8.

However, London won in tourist infrastructure.

The report highlights the complete public transport system of the capital, its six commercial airports and points out that "it enjoys a solid position in terms of culture and leisure, as well as in terms of educational offer".

Euromonitor Top 20 City Destinations Index 2021

Covid-19Destinations