Skip to main content

[Yanolja Research Insights] Vol.30 Yanolja Attractiveness Index: Measuring the Attractiveness of Global Tourism Cities

Global Tourism City Attractiveness Index 2025: Uncover What Makes Top Destinations Irresistible



The Rise of Experience-Driven Travel

  • Tourism trends have shifted dramatically: travelers today seek immersive, emotional journeys rather than just infrastructure and visitor volume.
  • Cities must now win both the minds and hearts of visitors, with authentic experiences and lasting memories leading the way.

How Attractiveness Is Measured

  • The Attractiveness Index combines two critical dimensions: Reputation (how visible and talked-about a city is) and Attractiveness (how positively travelers view and feel about their experience).
  • Four main pillars shape a city’s allure:
    • Urban Aesthetics & Natural Scenery
    • Culture & History
    • Experiential Tourism Contents (food, shopping, activities, events)
    • Hospitality (friendliness of locals and service providers).

Key Learning From 2025 Rankings

  • Japanese cities, especially Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, dominated this year’s top ranks thanks to their blend of nature, culture, and exceptional hospitality.
  • Paris held its global reputation for culture, but cities focusing only on heritage faced stiff competition from experience-rich rivals.
  • Emerging Asian destinations, such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai, gained momentum with innovative and balanced offerings. Korean cities—Seoul, Jeju, and Busan—climbed high as food, shopping, and improved hospitality drove their appeal.

What This Means for Cities, Brands, and Visitors

  • Data-driven strategies now guide destination marketing and service innovations, helping cities target exactly what travelers value most.
  • Moments of genuine kindness and memorable service are as important as world-famous landmarks.
  • Cities and brands that listen and adapt to travelers’ real feedback will thrive in tomorrow’s tourism marketplace.


Discover the full city rankings, detailed analytics, and actionable insights on how global travel is changing—visit the official website for complete results and strategies.

Labels:
Location: Seoul, South Korea

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

📢Yanolja Research Giveaway🎉

📢Yanolja Research Giveaway🎉 We are Yanolja Research , Korea’s first private research institute dedicated to travel and tourism studies. We publish Insights (monthly) and the Quarterly Trends in Korea’s Lodging Industry , along with occasional Briefs and Research Reports . By following Yanolja Research on social media, you will be among the first to receive notice of new publications, as well as updates when summary posts or video features based on our reports are released. 📅 Event Period September 12, 2025 (Fri) – October 12, 2025 (Sun) KST 🏆 Winner Announcement Late October (winners will be notified individually) 📌 How to Join 1. Follow Yanolja Research across our social media channels  (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, X, YouTube, Blogger). – The more channels you follow, the greater your chances of winning. 2. Post your quiz answer in the comments of the event post on each platform. 3. Complete the Google Form with the platforms you follow, your account ID, and the...
8 comments
Read more

[Yanolja Research Brief] Vol.5 Korea's Inbound and Outbound Tourism Performance in 2024

Korea’s Tourism Landscape in 2024: Key Highlights 2024 marked a dynamic year for Korea’s tourism industry, with both inbound and outbound travel showing strong signs of recovery. Explore the main trends shaping the sector and discover why now is a pivotal moment for Korea’s travel market. Inbound Tourism: Visitor Numbers Surge, Revenue Lags Visitor Recovery Nears Pre-Pandemic Levels Over 16.3 million foreign tourists visited Korea in 2024, reaching 93.5% of the 2019 record and rising 48.4% from the previous year. Asian travelers made up nearly 79% of all visitors, though full recovery from this region remains just out of reach. Diverse Growth Across Regions Arrivals from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Oceania exceeded 2019 levels, while the Middle East saw a minor dip. Tourism Revenue Stagnates Despite the influx of visitors, tourism income reached only $16.45 billion-just 80% of the 2019 figure. Visitors are Flooding into Korea—But Where’s the Money? Outbound Travel: Koreans Travel...
Post a Comment
Read more

[Yanolja Research Q2 2025 Quarterly Trends in the Korea Lodging Industry] Luxury Hotels Down, Motels on the Rise?

Luxury Slips, Budget Stays Bounce Back According to Yanolja Research’s Q2 2025 Korea Lodging Industry Report, the domestic lodging market demonstrated a pronounced polarization. While the luxury segment recorded sharp declines , budget-friendly accommodations maintained resilience and even expanded their presence . So, what’s behind this contrast? Let’s take a closer look. Sharp Declines in Luxury Hotels and Resorts The luxury sector experienced significant contraction. In Q2 2025, five-star hotels reported a 23% decline in RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) compared with Q2 2024, while resorts recorded a 19% drop. This downturn reflects two key dynamics: prolonged economic stagnation that has weakened consumer sentiment, and the resurgence of outbound travel , which has redirected demand away from domestic luxury accommodations. In other words, consumers who had previously spent on high-end domestic stays have shifted their spending overseas. Value Strikes Back: Motels and Pensions ...
Post a Comment
Read more