Spain named most tourist-friendly country in the world... with the UK ranking fifth behind France, Germany and the US
- Spain was tops in the World Economic Forum’s competitiveness report
- Report ranked 141 countries in categories including safety and price
- Europe dominated the rankings, with six countries placing in the top 10
- Chad ranked last, followed by Guinea, Angola, Yemen and Mauritania
One of Britons’ favourite holiday destinations has been named the most tourist-friendly country in the world for the first time thanks to its ‘excellent’ culture, entertainment and infrastructure.
Spain defeated its European rivals in the World Economic Forum’s biennial travel and tourism competitiveness report, which said its position atop the rankings is ‘a positive sign for the country’s nascent recovery’.
France came in second place and was followed by Germany, the US and the UK, which rounded out the top five.
Spain ranked first in the study due to its 'excellent' culture and tourist infrastructure (pictured: Benidorm)
Switzerland placed sixth on the list, while positions seven to 10 were awarded to Australia, Italy, Japan and Canada, respectively.
In this year’s report the Geneva-based World Economic Forum ranked 141 countries on factors and policies which influence the travel and tourism sector and contribute to a country’s development and competitiveness.
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Each country receives a score in 14 categories, from business environment and safety to health and competitive prices, with the final rankings being determined by an average.
Chad ranked at the bottom of the report, followed by Guinea, Angola, Yemen and Mauritania.
The UK ranked fourth in the World Economic Forum’s biennial travel and tourism competitiveness report
Europe continued to dominate the rankings, with six countries placing in the top 10, and 12 in the top 20.
The report attributed the continent’s success to its ‘world-class tourism service infrastructure, excellent health and hygiene conditions’ and the freedom of travel between countries in the Schengen Area.
In the Americas, the US and Canada were followed by Brazil (28th), Mexico (30th) and Panama (34th). The report said countries in Central and South America fared worse due to infrastructure gaps, safety and security concerns, and business environment issues.
Asia-Pacific’s top performers have more advanced economies fared well, with Singapore (11th), Hong Kong SAR (13th) and New Zealand (16th) coming in behind Australia and Japan. China ranked 17th.
Europe continued to dominate, with six countries placing in the top 10, including France at No 2
The United Arab Emirates was tops in the Middle East in 24th spot, while Africa’s top performer was South Africa in 48th place.
Roberto Crotti, an economist at the World Economic Forum, said in a statement: ‘The diversity in the top 30 shows that a country does not have to be wealthy to have a flourishing tourism sector.
‘But many countries should still do more to tackle travel and tourism challenges, including visa policies, better promotion of cultural heritage, environmental protection and ICT readiness.
‘This in turn would drive economic growth and the creation of jobs.’
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