Au revoir, France: which country likely to become the most visited by 2040

When choosing a place to spend our vacation, we want to get as much as possible - warm sea, rich culture, and beautiful locations. Currently, France holds the lead in all respects, but the ranking of the most visited countries in the world may change soon.

According to Express, a study conducted by Google and Deloitte showed that France will soon be overtaken by neighboring Spain in terms of the number of tourists. Forecasts show that by 2040, Spain will receive a staggering 110 million visitors. France, with 105 million tourists, will be in second place.

This will mean a 24% increase in the number of tourists arriving in Spain. And this is despite the fact that in 2023 the country received 84 million visitors, which was already a record. The numbers continued to grow, and in March 2024, 6.3 million foreign tourists visited Spain, which is 21% more than in the same month a year earlier.

Barcelona remains the most visited city in Spain. Despite the fact that local residents have begun to protest to reduce the number of visitors, the city's popularity only continues to grow. In 2024 alone, it was visited by more than 11.71 million foreign tourists.

One of the city's must-see sights is the Sagrada Familia Basilica, a stunning church the construction of which began on March 19, 1882. Another attraction of the city is the Güell Park, designed by the legendary architect Antoni Gaudí, which is considered a striking example of modernism.

The capital of Spain, Madrid, is another popular tourist destination. 94 million foreign tourists visited the city in 2024, and popular tourist attractions include the Royal Palace of Madrid, the stunning Retiro Park, and numerous galleries and museums. Other cities popular with tourists include Seville, San Sebastian, and Granada.

The Balearic and Canary Islands, which are popular seaside resorts, are also part of Spain and are experiencing a boom in tourism too. Last year, 15.3 million tourists visited the Balearic Islands, and almost 18 million visited the Canary Islands. Mallorca as the most popular of the Balearic Islands and Tenerife as the most visited of the Canary Islands are great places for families, couples and party lovers.

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