World's top 10 attractive destinations

[welcomewiki]

Switzerland

Switzerland is the world's most attractive destination, rich in cultural and natural resources besides being a business hub.
It is safe, has excellent health and hygiene indicators states the WEF study. The transport and tourism infrastructure are also among the best in the world, making it very easy and comfortable for visitors to move around the country. Further, the country's natural and cultural resources are among the richest in the world.
The natural environment is assessed as being among the most pristine in the world (ranked 9th). On environmental sustainability, Switzerland is ranked second. Switzerland boasts of excellent ground transport infrastructure (ranked first worldwide), with top-quality roads and railroads and an excellent domestic transport network.
The tourism infrastructure is ranked 7th, with readily available hotel rooms and automated teller machines (ATMs) for cash withdrawals. Such high-quality infrastructure makes a tourist's stay in the country easy and comfortable, an experience that is reinforced by the high level of general safety and security (ranked 8th).
International tourist arrivals (thousands), 2007 -- 8,448
International tourism receipts (US$ millions), 2007 --12,182

[welcomewiki]

Germany

Germany is the third most attractive destination in the world. It ranks high in cultural resources, ranked 4th for 32 world heritage cultural sites and second for the number of international fairs and exhibitions held in the country.
The country's infrastructure is among the best in the world, ranked 5th for the quality of its ground transport infrastructure and 7th for its air transport infrastructure.
Germany scores better than Switzerland and Austria for the policy rules and regulations in the travel and tourism industry. It has a transparent policy-making system, well protected property rights, and bilateral Air Service Agreements that are assessed as open. The country has good quality of transport infrastructure.


International tourist arrivals (thousands), 2007 -- 24,425
International tourism receipts (US$ millions), 2007 -- 36,029


Image: Tourists visit the frozen waterfalls at the famous Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm) in the Bavarian resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. | Photograph: Alexandra Beier/Reuters

[welcomewiki]

France

France is the fourth most attractive place in the world. The country attracts tourists with its rich cultural heritage (ranked 4th for the number of World Heritage cultural sites and 7th for creative industries).
The country also hosts many international fairs and exhibitions (ranked 5th) attracting business travellers.



France's ground transport infrastructure is among the best in the world (ranked third), with the quality of roads and railroads particularly well assessed, as well as its air transport infrastructure (ranked 5th). France has a strong and well-enforced environmental legislation.
International tourist arrivals (thousands), 2007 -- 81,900

International tourism receipts (US$ millions), 2007 -- 54,228


Image: Tourists walk through artificial fog at the Miroir d'Eau (Mirror of Water), a public art piece on the quay of the Garonne river in Bordeaux. | Photograph: Gelu Sulugiuc/Reuters

[welcomewiki]

Canada

Canada is the highest-ranked country in the Americas region, ranked fifth out of the 133 countries surveyed. It has jumped four places this year beating the United States for the top regional spot.
Canada's natural resources, 9 world Heritage natural sites make it a tourist's delight. Many international fairs and exhibitions are held in the country. Canada's air transport infrastructure is ranked 1st out of all countries.



It also ranks high in tourism and ICT infrastructure and facilitating a good online travel and tourism environment. Canada's policy environment is very conducive to the development of the tourism sector.
International tourist arrivals (thousands), 2007 -- 17,931
International tourism receipts (US$ millions), 2007 -- 15,486


Image: Tourists use a pedalo in Rodney Bay. | Photograph: Simon Baker/Reuters

[welcomewiki]

Spain

Spain is ranked just behind France in Europe and bags the sixth position in the world. Spain is ranked first out of all countries for the richness of its cultural resources, with many world Heritage sites, a large number of international fairs and exhibitions, and sports stadium capacity.



Spain's tourism infrastructure is ranked first, with many hotel rooms, car rental facilities and ATMs, and its air transport infrastructure ranked t 10th position.

International tourist arrivals (thousands), 2007 -- 59,193
International tourism receipts (US$ millions), 2007 -- 57,795