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Top 10 Most-visited Countries In The World
Published
4 months agoon
By
Editor
Tourism significantly impacts the global economy, contributing billions of dollars and supporting millions of jobs.
It boosts local economies by increasing demand for goods and services, creating employment and generating revenue for governments.
Certain countries become popular tourist destinations because of unique attractions, cultural richness, good infrastructure and strategic location. These elements contribute to a compelling travel experience, attracting visitors from around the globe.
The World Economic Outlook Report shows global tourism grew by 2.9% in 2024, which further proves that humans simply cannot be kept from exploring new places and food choices.
Here is a list of the top 10 most-visited countries in the world:
1. France (89.4 million visitors)
Interesting places to visit in France include the iconic Eiffel Tower, which lights up with a dazzling display every hour after sunset; the Louvre Museum, which houses the mysterious Mona Lisa, and appears much smaller in person than most tourists expect; the French Riviera beckoning with glamorous beaches, and the Loire Valley charms visitors with more than 300 fairytale castles.
The leading nation in tourism across the world continues its reign with nearly 90 million visitors annually. France offers an unbeatable mix of culture, cuisine and captivating landscapes that keep travellers coming back for more.
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2. Spain (83.7 million visitors)
Interesting places to visit in Spain include the captivating Antoni Gaudí’s fantastic architecture in Barcelona, including the still-unfinished Sagrada Família basilica, scheduled for completion in 2026. There are also world-class museums in Madrid, like the Prado, home to masterpieces by Goya and Velázquez.
Spain welcomed 83.7 million sun-seekers and culture enthusiasts last year, combining warm hospitality with diverse attractions.
3. United States (79.3 million visitors)
The United States welcomed 79.3 million international visitors with its incredible diversity of landscapes, cities and experiences.
In Los Angeles, there is Hollywood glamour. In San Francisco, there are hilly streets and the Golden Gate Bridge. The towering skyline, world-class shopping and Broadway shows make New York City an attractive place to visit.
4. China (65.7 million visitors)
The world’s most populous country welcomed 65.7 million visitors in 2024, showing an impressive growth of 4.5% from the previous year.
China combines ancient wonders with futuristic cities. The Great Wall stretches over 13,000 miles across northern China, with restored sections near Beijing providing the most accessible visiting experience. The Forbidden City, home to 24 Chinese emperors, contains 9,999 rooms filled with treasures.
5. Italy (64.5 million visitors)
Italy welcomed 64.5 million visitors drawn to its perfect combination of art, history, food and natural beauty, as travellers can enjoy authentic Neapolitan pizza, fresh pasta in Bologna and creamy gelato everywhere.
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Interesting places to visit in Italy include the open-air museum in Rome, where ancient ruins like the Colosseum and Forum exist alongside Renaissance masterpieces and modern city life, as well as the unique canal network and ornate architecture in Venice.
There is also the Vatican Museums’ art collections gathered by popes over the centuries.
6. Turkey (51.2 million visitors)
Istanbul, the capital city of Turkey, captivates visitors with landmarks reflecting its unique position.
The Hagia Sophia, once a church, then a mosque, now a museum, stands as a testament to the city’s layered history, while the Blue Mosque impresses with its cascading domes and six slender minarets.
Similarly, the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, invites visitors to haggle for treasures among its 4,000 shops.
Turkey recorded massive growth with 51.2 million visitors in 2024, up 11.9% from the previous year.
7. Mexico (45 million visitors)
Mexico attracted 45 million visitors in 2024, showing a significant growth of 9%. The country combines pre-Hispanic history, colonial charm and natural beauty with famous hospitality.
Captivating places to visit in Mexico include the Riviera Maya, along the Yucatán Peninsula, which draws beach lovers to its white sands and clear waters and the capital, Mexico City, surprises first-time visitors with its sophistication, world-class museums and vibrant neighbourhoods.
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8. Thailand (39.8 million visitors)
Interesting places to visit in Thailand include the Grand Palace in Bangkok, which houses the revered Emerald Buddha, while Southern Thailand’s islands and beaches rank among the world’s most beautiful.
Last year, the country welcomed 39.8 million visitors seeking its unique combination of fascinating culture, beautiful beaches and famous hospitality. The “Land of Smiles” offers exceptional value for travellers.
9. Germany (39.6 million visitors)
With 39.6 million tourists, Germany is one of the leading countries in the world for tourism. The European country successfully balances its historical legacy with forward-thinking modernity and beautiful scenery.
Travellers love to explore the Black Forest, Nymphenburg Palace, Pergamon Museum and Cologne Cathedral at night.
Berlin stands as one of Europe’s most dynamic capitals, where sections of the Berlin Wall now serve as an open-air gallery. The city’s Museum Island houses five world-class museums. Munich counterbalances with Bavarian tradition, especially during Oktoberfest, when millions gather to enjoy beer, pretzels and brass band music.
10. United Kingdom (39.4 million visitors)
The United Kingdom welcomed 39.4 million visitors in 2024, earning a place on the list of the most-visited countries in the world.
The regal majesty of London, capital of England, remains an attractive spot for visitors across the world with numerous attractions such as The British Museum (which houses the greatest collection of Egyptian artefacts outside of Cairo), Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
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Headline
Leader Of UK Christian Group Convicted Of Sexually Abusing Women
Published
10 hours agoon
August 23, 2025By
Editor
Chris Brain, 68, the leader of a UK Christian group once backed by the Church of England, has been convicted of sexually abusing nine women in his congregation.
A jury delivered the final verdicts on Thursday.
Brain led the Nine O’Clock Service, an evangelical movement in Sheffield during the 1980s and 1990s. The group was known for its nightclub-style worship, held at 9 p.m. on Sundays, which included live music and drew large crowds of young people.
Prosecutors said Brain used his authority to control members of the congregation, isolating them from family and friends, and used his position to commit sexual assaults. He also maintained a group of young women known as the “lycra nuns” who assisted him, his wife, and his daughter at home, prosecutor Tim Clark told the court.
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The leader of the UK Christian group was charged with 36 counts of indecent assault and one count of rape involving 13 women between 1981 and 1995. He denied the charges, claiming any sexual contact was consensual.
Following a trial at Inner London Crown Court, he was convicted of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women. He was acquitted of 15 other charges, while the jury could not reach a verdict on four additional indecent assault charges and the rape allegation. The Crown Prosecution Service said it would “carefully consider” whether to seek a retrial.
The Nine O’Clock Service had received approval from the Church of England. In 1990, the Archbishop of Canterbury-elect George Carey met with Brain to discuss his methods, and his ordination was expedited. Prosecutors said the group even spent heavily to purchase the costume worn by Robert De Niro in the 1986 film The Mission for his ceremony.
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Brain resigned shortly before a BBC documentary aired in 1995, accusing him of inappropriate sexual behaviour. Carey later said he was “crushed and let down” when the allegations became public.
In court, Brain admitted to receiving massages from congregation members that sometimes became sexual but denied manipulating or controlling them.
Bishop of Sheffield Pete Wilcox said in a statement: “What happened was an appalling abuse of power and leadership that should never have occurred. Where concerns were raised in the past and were not acted upon properly, that was a failing of the Church. For those institutional failures, I offer an unreserved apology.”
Headline
Russia Claims More Ukraine Land As Hopes For Summit Fade
Published
10 hours agoon
August 23, 2025By
Editor
Russia on Saturday said its forces had taken two villages in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, increasing the military pressure as world leaders struggle to broker an end to the conflict.
South Africa added its voice to those calling for a summit between Ukraine and Russia.
Russian forces are slowly advancing in the embattled eastern region of Donetsk, grinding closer to Kyiv’s key defensive line in costly metre-for-metre battles.
Moscow’s defence ministry said on Telegram that its forces had captured the villages of Sredneye and Kleban-Byk.
The taking of Kleban-Byk would mark a further advance towards Kostiantynivka — a key fortified town on the road to Kramatorsk, where a major Ukrainian logistics base is located.
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On Friday, Russia said its troops had captured three villages in the Donetsk region it claimed to have annexed in September 2022.
On Saturday, Ukrainian military officials said its forces had stopped a Russian advance and recaptured the village of Zeleny Gai in the Donetsk region in a post to Telegram.
In July, Russia claimed the capture of the village, on the border with Dnipropetrovsk, adding that it was an important stronghold used by Ukraine to protect the area.
– Ramaphosa backs summit –
The latest Russian advances come as hopes dim for a summit between Russian and Ukrainian presidents — a solution championed by US President Donald Trump as part of his efforts to end the conflict.
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday added his voice to calls for a Russia-Ukraine summit during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“President Ramaphosa stressed the urgency of holding bilateral and trilateral meetings between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine and the United States as key to signal a firm commitment to ending the war,” said a statement from his office.
Ramaphosa, who currently chairs the G20, also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, the statement added. He will speak with other European leaders in the coming weeks.
Ramaphosa spoke on Monday with Vladimir Putin, whom he described in October at the BRICS summit as a “dear ally” and a “valued friend”.
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However, for the first time since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, South Africa earlier this year backed a UN resolution declaring that Russia had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky said he had told Ramaphosa he was ready for any kind of meeting with Putin.
“However, we see that Moscow is once again trying to drag everything out even further,” he said on X.
He called on the Global South to send “relevant signals and (push) Russia toward peace”.
On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said “no meeting” was planned as Trump’s mediation efforts appeared to stall, while Zelensky accused Russia of trying to prolong the offensive.
AFP
Headline
US Suspends Work Visas For Nigerian, Foreign Truck Drivers
Published
22 hours agoon
August 23, 2025By
Editor
The United States government has suspended the issuance of work visas for Nigerian and other foreign truck drivers, citing job security concerns and safety risks for American citizens.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on Thursday, saying it takes immediate effect.
According to him, the rising number of foreign truck drivers on U.S. highways is both threatening lives and reducing opportunities for American truckers.
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“Effective immediately, we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers.
“The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” Rubio said.
The move comes under President Donald Trump’s renewed clampdown on immigration since returning to office in January 2025.
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As part of new measures, travellers from countries with high visa overstay rates or weak travel databases will be required to pay a bond of $5,000 to $15,000 before obtaining certain categories of visas.
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria also directed all visa applicants to disclose their social media handles from the past five years, warning that failure to comply could result in denial of applications and possible ineligibility for future visas.
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