Top 25 Most Visited Cities

by s.s. yoga

As in the year before, Hong Kong in 2012 hosted the most foreign visitors. – AFP

Have a look at the top 25 cities that received the most foreign visitors in 2012.

EVERYONE and their grandparents seemed to have headed to Asia in 2012. And Kuala Lumpur snagged a spot in the top 10 most visited cities by foreigners in that year – coming in at sixth.

The number of international tourist arrivals in 2012 was tracked by London-based market research firm Euromonitor, which released the report recently. According to AFP, Hong Kong maintained its top ranking with 23,770,200 foreigners visiting its shores in that year.

In fact, Asian cities tightened their stranglehold on the market, taking six of the top seven positions; the monopoly was broken only by London at fourth.

In addition, more than half of the top 25 cities that received the most foreign visitors were in Asia. China assumed four spots – two more if you include the SAR regions of Hong Kong (No. 1) and Macau (No. 5). Thailand has three with Bangkok at No. 3, tying overall with the United States but New York came in only at eighth.

AFP reported analysts as attributing Bangkok's high position to the wild popularity of the 2012 Chinese film Lost In Thailand. As a result, London was pushed a rung below its No. 3 perch achieved in 2011.

Here are the top 25 city destinations based on the number of international arrivals in 2012 as recorded by Euromonitor:

1. Hong Kong – 23,770,200 visitors

2. Singapore – 21,345,700

3. Bangkok, Thailand – 15,822,600

4. London, Britain – 15,461,000

5. Macau – 13,360,800

6. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 13,339,500

7. Shenzhen, China – 12,100,400

8. New York City, USA – 11,618,000

9. Antalya, Turkey – 10,296,600

10. Paris, France – 9,780,800

11. Istanbul, Turkey – 8,820,100

12. Rome, Italy – 8,670,000

13. Dubai, UAE – 8,023,000

14. Guangzhou, China – 7,879,600

15. Phuket, Thailand – 7,217,000

16. Mecca, Saudi Arabia – 6,852,900

17. Pattaya, Thailand – 6,564,300

18. Taipei, Taiwan – 6,561,200

19. Prague, Czech Republic – 6,547,700

20. Shanghai, China – 6,539,700

21. Las Vegas, USA – 6,298,000

22. Miami, USA – 5,987,000

23. Barcelona, Spain – 5,459,100

24. Moscow, Russia – 5,036,200

25. Beijing, China – 5,035,400

Source: The Star

Club Med Cherating Beach Is Asia's Top 10 Resort

A local resort has been listed as one of the region’s finest all-inclusive resorts.


THE Club Med Cherating Beach in Kuantan has made it to Asia’s top resorts list. In a ranking released by TripAdvisor, the resort was ranked fifth in the region’s Top 10 All-Inclusive Resorts as part of the travel site’s 2013 Travellers’ Choice Awards. 


Award winners were determined based on the most highly rated all-inclusive resorts on TripAdvisor, as determined through the reviews and opinions of millions of travellers worldwide. 


Club Med Cherating Beach is the only all-inclusive resort in the country to be included in the list.


Situated in an exceptional natural setting between lush jungle and the South China Sea, the resort is a 80ha paradise that showcases diverse fauna that include macaque monkeys, gibbons, monitor lizards, rare birds and multicoloured butterflies. 


Travellers can enjoy an excursion in a dugout canoe, opt for a rejuvenating session at the spa or relax on the golden stretch of sand at the beach. 


“All-inclusive resort is an outstanding option for travellers who want an all-in-one vacation solution, and we’re thrilled to highlight some of the finest around the world,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor.

“For those considering a no-hassle stay that provides the convenience of having almost everything you need on property and included in the price, travellers suggest these amazing properties,” she added.


The average nightly rate of award-winning resorts are approximately RM1,550.54 per night.


“We are honoured to have won the TripAdvisor 2013 Travellers’ Choice Awards for All-Inclusive Resorts, coming in as one of the top 10 in Asia. Being acknowledged as one of the best affirms our position in the hospitality industry as it gives our guests the assurance they look for when planning a holiday,” said Eduardo Rojas, Club Med Cherating Beach general manager.


The Travellers’ Choice Awards recognise a total of 100 properties and dedicated lists for seven regions around the globe including Asia, Africa, Europe, Caribbean, Mexico, Spain and Turkey. TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site. 


Top 10 All-Inclusive Resorts, Asia:


1. Kurumba Maldives, Vihamanafushi, Maldives
2. Maafushivaru, South Ari Atoll, Maldives
3. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Vabbinfaru, Maldives
4. Club Med Kani, North Male Atoll, Maldives
5. Club Med Cherating Beach, Kuantan, Malaysia
6. Hotel Mermaid & Club, Kalutara, Sri Lanka
7. Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa, Centara Grand Island, Maldives
8. Club Med Bali, Nusa Dua, Indonesia
9. Club Med Bintan Island, Bintan Island, Indonesia
10. Heritage Village Club Goa, Cansaulim, India

Top 10 All-Inclusive Resorts, World:

1. Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso, Playa Paraiso, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
2. Royalton Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba
3. The Beloved Hotel, Playa Mujeres, Cancun, Mexico
4. Iberostar Grand Rose Hall, Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica
5. Excellence Playa Mujeres, Playa Mujeres, Cancun, Mexico
6. Le Blanc Spa Resort, Cancun, Mexico
7. Iberostar Grand Bavaro Hotel, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
8. Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, Playa Maroma, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
9. The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
10. Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Don Pablo Collection, Bahia de Samana, Samana Province, Dominican Republic


For the complete list of winners from the 2013 Travellers’ Choice Awards for All-Inclusive Resorts, visit http://www.tripadvisor.com.my/TravelersChoice-AllInclusive.

Facts About Asia

Asia is a continent that has the largest landmass and population in the world. It has the world's 60% of population that accounts to almost 4 billion people. The two countries that hold half of Asia's population are India and China. Though China is ahead of India at present; it is believed that in another 20 years time India will have the highest population in the world.

The boundaries of Asia are made of Suez Canal and Ural Mountains in the west, the Caucasus Mountain and the Caspian and the Black Seas to the south. The south also extends to the Indian Ocean, to the north the Arctic Ocean and to the far- east the Pacific Ocean. Asia is further divided into six sub- continents namely Central Asia, East Asia, North Asia, India Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Southwest Asia. The western most point of Asia is Cape Baba in the Northwestern Turkey. Its eastern most point is Cape Chelyuskin in Siberia.

The width of the continent is 5300 miles. Asia also has the world's top three leading economies namely India, China and Japan. China has shown impressive growth in economy in last decade and it has taken over Japan to become the second largest economy in the world after the United States of America. The three main financial centers of Asia are Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore. The main religions practiced in the continent are- Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Islam.

The highest and the lowest point on the Earth both lie in Asia, the highest point is the Mount Everest and the lowest is the Dead Sea. The top ten highest mountains are also located in Asia.

A home of wide variety of religion, caste, culture and creed Asia is a colorful continent.