Shanghai ranks ninth in global ranking of tourism cities: Report

Shanghai ranks ninth in the comprehensive strength of global tourist cities, according to a major industry report released at the World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development 2025 in Beijing on Sept 11.

The World Tourism Cities Development Report (2024-2025), a flagship publication of the World Tourism Cities Federation released annually since 2014, placed Shanghai ninth following a comprehensive evaluation of cities over the past year.

The report assessed 100 cities worldwide across six criteria: city popularity, industrial prosperity, city intelligence, tourism safety, economic contribution, and tourist satisfaction.

New York, Tokyo, and Paris topped the overall rankings. Beijing moved up one place to seventh, and Hong Kong ranked 11th.

In terms of individual indicators, Beijing was recognized as the third safest city for tourists. Chinese cities also excelled in smart tourism, with Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, and Macao securing five of the top 10 positions.

The report highlights the idea that livable cities are inherently attractive to tourists, advocating for a sustainable balance between tourism and residents' quality of life. It also emphasizes the increasing role of digitalization and artificial intelligence in shaping the future of global tourism.

The World Tourism Cities Federation, initiated by Beijing in 2012, is the world's first international tourism organization with cities as its main members. It currently counts 257 members across 87 countries and regions and is described as "the fastest-growing international tourism organization".