Helmut Melzer
"In recent years, as a kind of backlash against globalization, the run on the regions that have tried more and more to unfold in their originality sparked off."
Harry Gatterer, Zukunftsinstitut Vienna
It is - taken in a fashion concept - the lifestyle of a foreign society, the customs and culture that make city breaks what they are: a plunge into an unfamiliar or even unknown world. The experience stranger. And despite the media, globalization and global transport networks, a visit to the vibrant metropolises remains a varied adventure: Modern cities are living, constantly changing, constantly redefining themselves.
The top cities
Which cities worldwide are the current magnets of foreign visitors, recorded annually the credit card company Master Card - and ranks the cities according to their arrivals. In the ranking 2016 Bangkok left all behind - with 21.5 million visitors, ahead of London (19,9 million) and Paris (18 million). The biggest surprise is Dubai's jump in the top ranking with 15.3 million visitors, ahead of New York (12.8), Singapore (12.1), Kuala Lumpur (12), Istanbul (11.9), Tokyo (11.7 Mio .) and ranked 10 Seoul with 10.2 million visitors.
But in the fast lane lurk quite different, for our latitudes quite exotic destinations. Osaka, for example, has been able to point to the strongest growth among international visitors, with 24,2's percentage of customer numbers rising in the last seven years. The forecasts also see trend destinations (which of course also include professional visits): Chengdu (20.1 percent), Abu Dhabi (19.8 percent), Colombo (19.6 percent), Tokyo (18.5 percent), Riyadh (16.5 percent), Taipei (14.5 Percent), Xi'an (14.2 percent), Tehran (13 percent) and Xiamen (12,9 percent).
In addition, many cities are experiencing a crucial phase of change, which makes things even more exciting. Some are currently growing explosively to megacities, as is the case in Laos or Nigeria. In India or China, on the other hand, this extreme development is nearing completion, and cities are changing to livelier places due to a degree of prosperity. "Tourism is a global phenomenon. As a kind of backlash against globalization, in recent years the run on the regions, which have tried more and more to unfold in their originality, sparked, "explains trend researcher Harry Gatterer of the Zukunftsinstitut Vienna.
Trends in EU regions
Of 30's most popular tourist destinations, in terms of overnight stays, six each were in Spain (Canarias, Cataluña, Illes Balears, Andalucía, Communidad Valenciana and Communidad de Madrid), France (Île-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes, Languedoc-Roussillon, Aquitaine and Brittany) and Italy (Veneto, Tuscany, Lombardia, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio and Provincia autonoma di Bolzano / Bolzano).
In addition, four of the EU's most popular tourism regions, 30, were located in Germany (Upper Bavaria, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein), two each in Greece (Notio Aigaio and Kriti) and Austria (Tyrol and Salzburg) and one each in Ireland (Southern and Eastern), Croatia (Jadranska Hrvatska), the Netherlands (Noord-Holland) and the United Kingdom (Inner London).
The first city trips
The urge to discover the unknown for a long time has a long tradition. Already in the early Middle Ages the first pilgrims started the journey to the religious centers. At the beginning of the renaissance, the city break even reached a climax: on the "Grand Tour", young noblemen were to receive the last ship of their completed training en route. The educational journey was born. And traveling to the big cities was so lively in fashion. At the same time, significant historical events such as the Council of Trent or the Congress of Vienna attracted crowds of travelers.
The journey becomes mainstream
And yet a journey into the distance was reserved for a long time for the wealthy elite. It was not until the 1980s that the true mass phenomenon of holiday travel developed through broad prosperity. Since then, the city destinations and their counterparts have been competing for the beach and the rural area around the often economically significant factor tourist. According to the World Tourism Organization UNWTO, 2016 were a total of 1,24 billion tourists worldwide, leaving around 1,2 trillions of dollars in their respective host countries. And the travel boom remains unchecked. If 1995 was 528 million travelers, the UNWTO predicts huge 2030 billion tourists around the world for 1,8.
As designated Europe hotspots 2018 apply besides the usual suspects especially Milan, Prague, Dublin, Edinburgh, Reykjavik, Florence and Stockholm. The Option editors also enjoyed Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Lisbon and Paris in particular.
Top 10 places in Austria in summer
after overnight stays
Vienna in total - 1.477.739
Sankt Kanzian am Klopeiner See (picture) - 498.541
Salzburg - 374.690
Podersdorf am See - 290.653
Bad Radkersburg - 289.731
Schladming - 273.557
Graz - 259.724
Bad Tatzmannsdorf - 251.803
Bad Hofgastein - 234.867
Innsbruck - 227.683Top 10 places in Austria in winter
after overnight stays
Vienna in total - 1.345.926
Schladming (picture) - 354.900
Salzburg - 328.932
Bad Hofgastein - 250.986
Bad Tatzmannsdorf - 245.127
Saalbach-Hinterglemm - 242.209
Graz - 238.530
Bad Waltersdorf - 234.994
Obertauern - 230.955
Bad Radkersburg - 228.384Sustainable travel
In a study by the WU Institute for International Marketing Management and the Competence Center for Empirical Research Methods of the WU, an online survey questioned the extent to which a sustainability certification of a travel provider plays a role for customers. The general value attitude on the topic of sustainability proved to be decisive. Another important aspect is the social desirability in the personal environment of the customer: If a certification for sustainability is considered important in the circle of friends or in the family, the persons are more likely to opt for certified travel providers. In addition, customers attach great importance to credibility and transparency when it comes to quality seals. Accordingly, certifications are valued more than seals of quality because they combine longer, structured and transparent processes with them.
Photo / Video: Shutterstock.
Amsterdam and Barcelona are also among my favorites, even if they are already very crowded. I find the ranking of Sankt Kanzian am Klopeiner See quite surprising. I would have guessed Hallstatt ...