Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people “traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes”. Tourism is important, and in some cases, vital for many countries. It was recognized in the Manila Declaration on World Tourism of 1980 as “an activity essential to the life of nations because of its direct effects on the social, cultural, educational and economic sectors of national societies and on their international relations.” International tourism receipts grew to US$1.03 trillion (€740 billion) in 2011, corresponding to an increase in real terms of 3.8% from 2010. But, lets cut to the chase, here is the list of 10 most visited cities by international tourist arrivals in 2011.

10. Bangkok (7,2 million tourists)

09. Istanbul (8,1 million tourists)

08. Dubai (8,1 million tourists)

07. Hong Kong (8,7 million tourists)

06. Kuala Lampur (9,0 million tourists)