New York City is back on top with tourists, according to Travel + Leisure's “2010 World’s Best Cities.”
The magazine named New York the best city to visit in the continental United States and Canada. In January, city officials announced that New York beat out Orlando, Fla., in 2009 as the top tourist destination in the country.
About 45.2 million visitors came to the Big Apple last year, down about 3.9 percent from 2008. But in 2010, tourism officials predict a 3.2 percent spike in visitors.
Other locales in the “World’s Best Cities” category are, Florence, Italy; Bangkok; Sydney; and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. These destinations were judged on sights, culture, arts, restaurants/food, people shopping and value. Bangkok, however, topped the charts as the “World’s Best City.”
“The spirit of exploration also prevailed in the choice of the Galápagos as Best Islands in the World, and of Bangkok as Best City,” said Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure. But she added, “It’s worth noting that our survey took place before the political upheaval in Bangkok began in May, and that the U.S. travel warning has now been lifted.”
New Yorker Donald Trump made the list with his Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago ranking as the top resort in the continental United States and Canada.
Just down Interstate 95, Washington, D.C., is ranked at No. 10 among the top U.S. and Canadian cities to visit. Washington hasn’t been on the list since 2005.
Local
The magazine’s editors included a new category this year, Best River Cruises, due to their increasing popularity. Check out www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest or the August edition of the magazine, which comes out July 23, for more.
