Planning a trip to Bangkok this year? If so, you're not alone. The Thai capital tops MasterCard's new ranking of the world's most visited cities, with nearly 16 million tourists expected to see the city this year.
"Bangkok -- already home to the world's two most-photographed locations on Instagram -- is now the most visited city in the world by international tourists, according to the new Global Destination City Index, eking out London by less than one percent," reports Derek Thompson. Jake Maxwell Watts attributes the city’s popularity to its luxury malls, which attract China's growing tourist population.
"A map of global tourism spending is really a map of people and money," says Thompson. "Southeast Asian tourism has exploded with the growth of the region's upper-middle class. Chinese tourists have surged to 83 million per year, as Jake Maxwell Watts reports. Eleven of the 12 cities with the fastest increase in air travel connectivity are 'east and south of Istanbul,' reflecting the growth of wealth in Asia and its growing importance as a destination for businesses from the U.S. and Europe."
FULL STORY: The New #1 Tourist Destination in the World? It's Bangkok
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Street food vendors are an integral part of the Bangkok urban landscape, but city planners want to see them gone.
Congested, Threatened by Climate Change, Thailand Considers a New Location for Capital
The prime minister of Thailand has proposed the idea of moving the location of the country's capital, currently in Bangkok, to another location.
The World's Best City for Street Food Bans Street Food
The city of Bangkok, Thailand, is famous for its cheap and flavorful street food. City leaders, however, have decided that the city would be less appealing without street vendors.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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