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In this article, we’ll take a look at the 30 friendliest cities in the world. If you need to see the best, head straight to the 10 friendliest cities in the world.
Travel and tourism, one of the leading indicators of global economic health, is one of the most important sectors in the world. In 2019, 334 million jobs were supported internationally directly or through this sector, representing 10. 4% of global gross domestic product (GDP). The sector has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the loss of 62 million jobs and $4. 5 trillion in GDP in 2020 alone.
Nevertheless, the travel and tourism sector is making a strong recovery. According to the latest insights from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), about 975 million international tourists travelled between January and September 2023, marking a substantial 38% increase compared to the same period last year. Global tourism reached 87% of pre-pandemic levels during this period, and is anticipated to approach 90% by the end of this year.
UNWTO knowledge indicates that in the first nine months of this year, arrivals to the Middle East were 20% above pre-pandemic levels, making it the region in the world to exceed 2019 levels. On the other hand, Europe accounted for 56% of the overall global with 550 million foreign tourists, 94% of pre-pandemic levels.
Moreover, in the same period, the number of pre-pandemic visitors to Africa and the Americas recovered by 92% and 88%, respectively. In contrast, Asia and the Pacific reached only 62% of 2019 levels.
Meanwhile, the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) predicts a tremendously rich long-term for the tourism sector. The sector is expected to contribute $15. 5 trillion to the global economy (or 11. 6% of GDP). ) by 2030, employing 430 million people worldwide, or 12% of the workforce.
According to a recent global survey conducted through Hilton and Ipsos, the most sensible explanation for why to travel in 2024 for most respondents is to rest and recharge, focusing on quality sleep on their travels.
The survey of 10,000 users across nine countries also found that a remarkable 80% of global users consider it vital to be able to e-book all their holidays online, with 86% of Millennials and 83% of Gen Z leading the way. reduce the tension enjoyed by 76% of respondents globally.
The survey also highlighted a shift in travelers’ priorities, with more and more of them valuing reports more than goods. To prioritize recreational travel, 64% of global travelers plan to cut other spaces from their non-public spending. In addition, 47% of travelers intend to spend more on exploration and adventure, and Millennials and Gen Z spend a higher percentage of their budget than other generations on those reports.
Additionally, following the pandemic, there has been a huge change in how people conduct business. Therefore, new trends have emerged, such as blended leisure and business travel. According to the survey, more than one-third of Gen Z and Millennial business travelers intend to prolong their business visits in order to enjoy leisure time either before or after their work responsibilities.
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL), Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB) and Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG) are among the world’s leading agencies.
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), an airline company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, serves over 300 locations across 60 countries. On October 12, Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) posted earnings for the third quarter of 2023, reporting a Non-GAAP EPS of $2.03, beating market estimates by $0.08. The revenue over the period was $15.49 billion, up 10.8% compared to the revenue over the same period last year.
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Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB), headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a lodging service provider. Polen Focus Growth Strategy made the following comment about Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) in its Q3 2023 letter to investors:
“Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNB) continues to experience double-digit expansion in nights booked and revenue. Private rentals continue to grab the share of the global hotel market, and Airbnb continues to grab the share of the personal rental market. We expect many years of physically powerful earnings and monetary expansion, however, this quarter’s percentage value appreciation is most likely similar to Standard’s decision.
Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), founded in 1996, offers online and restaurant reservations and similar facilities worldwide. The company is popular with various coverage budgets. At the end of the third quarter of 2023, 81 hedge funds tracked through Insider Monkey had stakes in Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), compared to 78 in the previous quarter. The total price of those holdings exceeds $8. 02 billion.
Here are some of the comments from Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)’s Q3 2023 Earnings Call:
“In the third quarter, our travelers booked 276 million, or more than a quarter of a billion nights of accommodation, up 15% from last year, and we had gross bookings of $40 billion, a 24% increase. Interanual. La expansion of overnight stays remains at 24% in the third quarter compared to 2019. Overnight stays and gross bookings were record quarterly numbers for the company and exceeded our previous expectations. Third quarter profit of $7. 3 billion increased 21% and adjusted EBITDA of $3. 3 billion increased 24%, either compared to the third quarter of last year, and exceeded our previous expectations.
Finally, our non-GAAP earnings per share in the quarter grew 36% year-over-year, and was nearly 60% higher than in the third quarter of 2019. Our earnings per share growth benefited from our improved profit levels, as well as our strong capital return program, which reduced our end-of-quarter share count by 10% versus the third quarter of 2022.”
In addition, each user has another experience when traveling. If you’re making plans to have fun or are looking to start a new life abroad, there’s no denying that the other people there will leave a lasting impression on you. In today’s article, we’ve put together a list of the friendliest cities in the world for our readers. You can also check out our articles The 30 Most Hostile Cities in the World Until 2024 and The 30 Friendliest Countries in the World.
30 Friendliest Cities in the World
To determine the friendliest cities in the world, we utilized a consensus opinion-based rankings approach. We gathered information from relevant Reddit threads, where users not only share their experiences but also inquire about various locations where tourists felt welcomed. The subreddits we included in our search were r/AskReddit, r/solotravel, r/digitalnomad, r/TravelHacks, and r/travel among others.
Each city was given a score based on the number of mentions, so every time a city was mentioned, it scored 1. Therefore, the more mentions and references there are, the higher the score and score in our article.
We need our readers not to forget that those kinds of lists of friendliest cities are subjective and don’t include cities that deserve to be at or near the most sensible on this list. However, we hope to produce a more comprehensive list of the 30 friendliest cities in the world by combining reviews from the aforementioned Reddit threads.
By the way, Insider Monkey is an online investment page that tracks corporate insiders’ movements and hedging budget. Using a consensus approach, we identified the most productive inventory selections among more than 900 hedging budgets that make an investment in U. S. stocks. Top 10 Consensuses Hedge fund stocks outperformed the S index
First up on our list of the friendliest cities in the world is Liverpool, located in North West England, United Kingdom. Many travelers on Reddit expressed their admiration for the friendly residents of the city.
Geneva, a city in Switzerland at the southern end of vast Lake Geneva, has a low crime rate and its people are friendly and hospitable.
In 2018, a total of 3,232,871 overnight stays were recorded in the city.
Jaipur, the Pink City, is a popular tourist destination in Rajasthan, India, and its inhabitants are perceived as welcoming to visitors.
Izmir, a city on the Turkish Aegean coast, is welcoming and home to many historic buildings, excellent fish restaurants, and beautiful beaches.
The city received 1. 97 million tourists in 2019.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)’s 2021 Safe Cities Index, Tokyo, Japan’s bustling capital, is among the ten safest cities in the world.
Furthermore, the city enjoys a stellar reputation for welcoming visitors.
Next on our list of the friendliest cities in the world is Seville. Located in the south of Spain, it stands out for its historic churches and palaces, Arab buildings, flamenco dance and much more.
In addition, the rest of the people in Seville are friendly, smiling and outgoing.
Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is known for its friendly and welcoming people, who warmly welcome visitors. Many other people on Reddit report having had positive reports in the city.
New Orleans, in the southern state of Louisiana, is one of the friendliest cities in the world on our list. It is known for its colorful nightlife, exclusive cuisine, and rich cultural heritage.
In addition, the city’s friendly and welcoming citizens welcomed 18. 51 million in 2018.
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is a fantastic city for tourists to visit, with a rich history and wonderful attractions. Many travelers on Reddit expressed their admiration for the city’s friendly residents.
The rest of the inhabitants of Muscat, the port capital of Oman, are incredibly friendly and welcoming to visitors. It is not uncommon to receive some invitations when visiting the city.
Cape Town, a coastal city in South Africa, offers a wealth of history, nature, gastronomy, and many tourist attractions.
A total of 98,260 tourists arrived in Cape Town by air in January 2023. It’s one of the friendliest cities in the world on our list.
The rest of the inhabitants of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, are known for being humble and hospitable. In 2022, they warmly welcomed around 18. 7 million visitors.
A number of travelers on Reddit have reported that people in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, UK, are always kind, accommodating, and approachable.
Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates, is known for being kind, inclusive, and respectful of other cultures. According to InterNations’ Expat City Ranking 2022, Dubai has been ranked as the second most productive city for expats to live and work.
According to our methodology, it is one of the friendliest villages in the world.
Many other people on Reddit report having had positive reports in Auckland, a giant city in the north of New Zealand’s North Island. The city received around 1. 8 million foreign visitors in 2019.
The people of Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, are known for being humble and welcoming to tourists and expats. It is the third most productive city to work and live in as an expat, according to InterNations’ Expat City Ranking 2022.
In addition, according to our methodology, it is one of the friendliest towns in the world.
The rest of the inhabitants of Barcelona, a city in northeastern Spain, are very welcoming and friendly to visitors. In 2022, the city’s hotels and other accommodation institutions welcomed 9. 7 million visitors.
Munich, located in southern Germany, Bavaria, is known for its long and intense history, architectural and cultural heritage, stunning natural landscapes, and most importantly, its warm and welcoming citizens.
Most people in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, are friendly, respectful, and willing to help. According to a Mastercard ranking, Bangkok was the most popular destination in the world in 2019, with more than 22. 7 million foreign visitors.
Montreal, located in the province of Quebec in Canada, is open to diversity, making it a wonderful place for newcomers to thrive.
Click to continue reading and see the 10 friendliest towns in the world.
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The 30 friendliest cities in the world are published on Insider Monkey.