by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:12 AM ET, Mon October 22, 2018
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) released its annual Cities Report at the WTTC Asia Leaders Forum in Macau, which named Shanghai as the largest tourism market in the world.
The WTTC report showcases how 72 of the top tourism cities generated over $625 billion for their respective counties' GDP last year. Shanghai is No. 1 on the list with a tourism impact of $35 billion.
China's domination continued with Beijing ranking No. 2 at $32.5 billion, and Paris rounded out the top three with $28 billion. The United States made its impact with Orlando ($24.8 billion) and New York City ($24.8 billion) finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
Tokyo ($21.7 billion), Bangkok ($21.3 billion), Mexico City ($19.7 billion), Las Vegas ($19.5 billion) and Shenzhen ($19 billion) rounded out the top 10. The WTTC also named Cairo as the fastest growing city in 2017.
"With 54% of the world's population living in urban areas, cities have become global economic hubs, driving growth and innovation," WTTC CEO Gloria Guevara said in a statement. "They attract huge quantities of people who travel to experience their culture, do business, and live. This growth has also resulted in a rise in city tourism - a trend which is forecasted to maintain momentum."
The WTTC report listed the top ten cities in terms of job creation, including Jakarta, Beijing, Mexico City, Shanghai, Bangkok, Chongqing, Delhi, Mumbai, Ho Chi Minh City and Shenzhen.
In addition, the study found that four of the five fastest growing cities over the past ten years are located in China, with Chongqing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Guangzhou highlighting the country's tourism growth.
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