Photographs: Tony Gentile/Reuters
Although there are many cities that see large number of visitors, but not all are able to earn top dollars.
Let's take a look at some places that earned most tourist dollars in the world, according to MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: Tourists gather in Times Square in New York City.Photographs: Charles Platiau/Reuters
New York City
Country: The United States
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $18.6 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 1
International tourism is becoming a vital and resilient export for the leading destination cities in the world and its economic and social benefits are far-reaching.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: Pedestrians walk along Oxford Street in London, United Kingdom.Photographs: Paul Hackett/Reuters
London
Country: The United Kingdom
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $16.3 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 2
It is well established that the hospitality industry, the transport industry and food and beverage catering industry, among others, are the primary and direct beneficiaries of the demand created by international visitors.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: People walk past the Printemps department store in Paris, France.Photographs: Charles Platiau/Reuters
Paris
Country: France
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $14.6 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 3
Employment in these industries also tends to be labour intensive, which makes tourist spending a potent driver of employment creation in a destination city.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: A skytrain passes over vehicles in Bangkok, Thailand.Photographs: Kerek Wongsa/Reuters
Bangkok
Country: Thailand
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $14.3 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 4
International visitors to a destination city also seek new and rewarding experiences, especially in the arts, popular culture and entertainment, as well as historical and heritage sites unique to the city.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: Singapore's The Marina Bay Sands hotel, left, and ArtScience Museum, right.Photographs: Matthew Lee/Reuters
Singapore
Country: Singapore
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $13.5 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 5
These visitors and their spending are therefore powerful catalysts for nurturing and driving the growth of creative industries and urban cultures, while preserving the past in ways that uniquely contribute to the attractiveness of the city in question.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: Japan's Mt Fuji, covered with snow, is seen through Shinjuku skyscrapers in Tokyo.Photographs: Kimimasa Mayama/Reuters
Tokyo
Country: Japan
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $12.7 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 6
So the benefits of international tourism frequently exceed what can be computed in dollar and cents, but affect the very quality and dynamism of urban culture itself.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: Part of Gangnam area is seen down the Han River in Seoul, South Korea.Photographs: Lee Jae Won/Reuters
Seoul
Country: South Korea
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $10.8 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 7
To the extent that the destination cities succeed in attracting more international visitors, there is the inevitable pressure on improving public infrastructure and facilities.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: A view of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, in Dubai.Photographs: Mosab Omar/Reuters
Dubai
Country: United Arab Emirates
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $10.4 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 8
With the right policy responses, a virtuous circle can be set in motion; more international visitors leading to more and better investment to improve the cityscape and the overall urban environment, which in turn makes the destination city more attractive to more international visitors.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: An aerial view of Sydney's Opera House and Circular Quay in the city's central business district.Photographs: Mark Baker/Reuters
Sydney
Country: Australia
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $10.4 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 9
Businesses are then encouraged to invest in the city, further improving employment and income.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: Tourists stroll along Barcelona's harbour in Spain.Photographs: Gustau Nacarino/Reuters
Barcelona
Country: Spain
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $8.9 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 10
Thus, in a slower-growing global economy, destination cities could play a much larger role in sustaining global service trade while supporting their respective national economies through stronger growth in employment and income in their urban economies.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: A view of Istanbul's financial district in Turkey.Photographs: Murad Sezer/Reuters
Istanbul
Country: Turkey
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $8.6 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 11
Destination cities have always been important, but they are set to become even more so in the future.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: A view of Taipei 101 building, the landmark of Taiwan.Photographs: Stringer/Reuters
Taipei
Country: Taiwan
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $8.1 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 12
It has been more than four years since the global financial crisis erupted in 2008.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: A view of the KLCC Park in central Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Photographs: Sim Wei Yang/Reuters
Kuala Lumpur
Country: Malaysia
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $7.8 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 13
Against this background, international travel and cross-border spending have shown to be very resilient as evidenced by data from the cities covered by MasterCard's Global Destination Cities Index.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: A view of the downtown area in Los Angeles.Photographs: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
Los Angeles
Country: The United States
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $7.8 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 14
So despite the persistent weakness of constrained demand in the global economy, international travel is growing strongly.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: An aerial view shows vehicles travelling on intersections at night in downtown Shanghai, China.Photographs: Aly Song/Reuters
Shanghai
Country: China
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $6.9 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 15
The destination cities in emerging markets expanding the fastest in air connectivity lie in the Middle East and Asia.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: Trams travel in downtown Milan, Italy.Photographs: Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters
Milan
Country: Italy
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $6.6 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 16
Milan is a major tourist destination not only in Italy, but also in Europe.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: Snowboarders ride a chair lift during night skiing on Grouse Mountain with Vancouver, British Columbia, down below, in Canada.Photographs: Andy Clark/Reuters
Vancouver
Country: Canada
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $6.5 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 17
Vancouver is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Canada.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: An aerial view of St Peter's Square in Rome, Italy.Photographs: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters
Rome
Country: Italy
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $6.4 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 18
Rome is one of the most ancient cities in the world.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: Cyclists visit a Dutch tulip field in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.Photographs: Michael Kooren/Reuters
Amsterdam
Country: The Netherlands
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $6.3 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 19
Amsterdam is one of the most open and progressive cities in the world.
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20 cities earning most tourist dollars in the world
Image: Visitors look at a model of Miami Beach, constructed out of lego bricks, displayed at Legoland Florida during its grand opening celebration in Winter Haven, Florida.Photographs: Pierre DuCharme/Reuters
Miami
Country: The United States
Tourist dollars earned in 2013: $6.3 billion
Global rank in overnight visitor spend: 20
Miami is world famous for its sunny beaches.
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