Mastercard releases Global Destination Cities Index

Punta Cana, Cusco and Djerba lead Global Destination Cities Index: Play

International travel continues to grow at an incredible rate, transforming local economies and enabling people to broaden their horizons – whether they travel for work or for play. Building on nearly a decade of insight into international travel trends, Mastercard today released Global Destination Cities Index: Play, a look at the international destinations with the highest concentration of visitors traveling for relaxation and leisure, not business.

Punta Cana leads the list of top ten cities where more than 90 percent of overnight visitor travel in 2017 was for purposes beyond business—such as vacation or family visits. The list includes several lesser-known destinations that cater to eco-tourists, history buffs, beach goers and adventure seekers.

With cultures uniquely their own but a common focus on relaxation and fun, the cities are:

  1. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (99.9%)
  2. Cusco, Peru (98%)
  3. Djerba, Tunisia (97.7%)
  4. Riviera Maya, Mexico (97.5%)
  5. Palma de Mallorca, Spain (97.2%)
  6. Cancun, Mexico (96.8%)
  7. Bali, Indonesia (96.7%)
  8. Panama City, Panama (96.3%)
  9. Orlando, United States (94.1%)
  10. Phuket, Thailand (93%)

“Travel allows us to broaden our horizons by exploring new places, people and experiences,” said Francis Hondal, president of loyalty and managed services at Mastercard. “The Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index: Play shows that special cities around the world are tapping into that trend and building a brand of fun, relaxation and enjoyment for like-minded travelers.”

Mastercard is focused on helping cardholders travel the world with peace of mind through seamless planning, conveniences and connectivity at their destination and worry-free acceptance at millions of locations around the globe. Compelling travel offerings and benefits help travelers every step of their journey. More information can be found at mastercard.com.

Additional insights from the 2018 Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index will be released later this year. The Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index ranks cities in terms of the number of their total international overnight visitor arrivals and the cross-border spending by these same visitors in the destination cities, and gives visitor and passenger growth forecasts. Global Destination Cities Index: Play specifically looks at the cities that have the highest concentration of visitors traveling there for non-business purposes according to the International Visitor Survey results from National Tourism Boards.

You might also like

Explore

Taiwan Tourism Administration Invites Indian Businesses to Taiwan for Site Inspection to Expand the MICE Market

First Group Focuses on Yilan, Followed by Taichung and Kaohsiung Inspections in the Second Half of the Year To actively cultivate the international tourist market, the Ministry of Transportation and

HR News

Bernard Martyris appointed as Group Chief Human Resources Officer – Kuoni Group

Bernard Martyris, Chief of Human Resources of VFS Global, has been appointed as the Group Chief Human Resources Officer of Kuoni Group, the 109-year-old Switzerland-headquartered multinational travel service provider. Kuoni Group

Blog

Demystifying AI for the Travel Business

Words by Gaurav Chiripal Thanks to billions of dollars of investment in refining technical performance and commercialization, AI is now accessible and poised to have an ever-increasing impact on the