Revealing the results of its 2017 Top 100 City Destinations survey, market researcher Euromonitor International says the Asian territory pulled in 26 million visitors in the previous year — a number predicted to swell to 44 million by 2025.
In second place, with an impressive 21.25 million visitors in 2016 and annual growth of close to 10%, is Bangkok.
Its big-city rival London has been pushed firmly into third place, with 19.2 million visitors in 2016 and 19.8 million expected in 2017.
Top cities for international tourists
1. Hong Kong: 26.55 million in 2016; 25.7 million expected in 2017 (-3.2% growth).
2. Bangkok: 21.25 million in 2016; 23.27 expected in 2017 (9.5% growth).
3. London: 19.19 million in 2016; 19.8 expected in 2017 (3.4% growth).
4. Singapore: 16.6 million in 2016; 17.6 million expected in 2017 (3.4% growth).
5. Macau: 15.39 million in 2016; 16.3 million expected in 2017 (5.9% growth).
6. Dubai: 14.9 million in 2016; 16.57 million expected in 2017 (11.2% growth).
7. Paris: 14.39 million in 2016; 14.26 million expected in 2017 (-0.9% growth).
8. New York City: 12.65 million in 2016; 13.1 million expected in 2017 (3.6% growth).
9. Shenzhen, China: 12.57 million in 2016; 12.96 million expected in 2017 (3.1% growth).
10. Kuala Lumpur: 12.29 million in 2016; 12.8 million expected in 2017 (4.5% growth).
11. Phuket, Thailand: 10.6 million in 2016; 12 million expected in 2017 (14% growth).
12. Rome: 9.4 million in 2016; 9.6 million expected in 2017 (1.8% growth).
13. Tokyo: 9.27 million in 2016; 9.7 million expected in 2017 (4.8% growth).
14. Taipei: 9.2 million in 2016; 9.3 million expected in 2017 (1% growth).
15. Istanbul: 9.17 million in 2016; 8.6 million expected in 2016 (-5.8% growth).
16. Seoul: 9 million in 2016; 7.66 million expected in 2017 (-14.9% growth).
17. Guangzhou, China: 8.6 million in 2016; 9 million expected in 2017 (5.3% growth).
18. Prague: 8.18 million in 2016; 8.5 million expected in 2017 (4.5% growth).
19. Mecca, Saudi Arabia: 7.96 million in 2016; 8.7 million expected in 2017 (9.8% growth).
20. Miami, Florida: 7.8 million in 2016; 8 million in 2017 (3.1% growth).
21. Delhi, India: 7.4 million in 2016; 10.26 million expected in 2017 (37.7% growth).
22. Mumbai, India: 7.19 million in 2016; 8.9 million expected in 2017 (23.5% growth).
23. Barcelona, Spain: 7.04 million in 2016; 7.6 million expected in 2017 (8.3% growth).
24. Pattaya, Thailand: 7.02 million in 2016; 7.3 million expected in 2017 (4.2% growth).
25. Shanghai: 6.9 million in 2016; 7.2 million expected in 2017 (4.3% growth).