Study: New York City is top tourist draw in U.S.

The United States is the top country for tourism in 2024. That’s according to data released in May by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with the University of Surrey.

It’s an admirable position to be in. And it aligns with another recent report from the World Travel & Tourism Council, which revealed that the United States is the world’s most powerful travel and tourism market, contributing a record-breaking $2.36 trillion to the nation’s economy last year.

So where, specifically, is everyone going when they explore the United States?

The retreat booking platform BookRetreats.com recently analyzed 77 of the most popular points of interest across the country to identify the top 20 tourist attractions in the United States.

The ranking is based on an evaluation of such factors as place popularity, overall experience (according to over 7,500 visitor reviews) and hotel costs.

Based on these criteria, the nation’s top tourist attraction is New York City’s historic and sprawling Central Park. The total overall score for the park was 4.075 out of a potential 5 points on the ranking.

“Overall, New York’s Central Park is the most worthwhile attraction in the U.S.,” the report says. “Offering 843 acres of lush greenery in the middle of the city, it’s an urban escape unlike any other in the world.”

In second place is the National Mall in Washington, D.C., which earned a score of 3.994, followed by San Diego’s popular Balboa Park, with a score of 3.795.

The rest of the best

The remainder of the top 20 attractions are dominated by New York City hot spots. Here’s a closer look at the rest of the list:

4. Smithsonian National Museum of History, Washington, D.C.

5. Times Square, New York City

6. Rockefeller Center, New York City

7. Niagara Falls, Buffalo, N.Y.

8. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

9. Magic Kingdom Park, Orlando, Fla.

10. Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York City

11. Hoover Dam, Boulder City, Nev.

12. The High Line, New York City

13. Fountains of Bellagio, Las Vegas

14. Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colo.

15. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

16. Zion National Park, Utah

17. San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio, Texas

18. ICON Park, Orlando, Fla.

19. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

20. Brooklyn Bridge, New York City

Nature is where it’s at

The BookRetreats report offered a few additional takeaways, when it comes to the country’s most popular attractions.

For example, nature is the top draw for visitors to this country. That’s evidenced by the fact that 50 percent of the best places to go in the U.S. were found to be natural sites, BookRetreats says.

“While America is known for its impressive theme parks, it’s the natural wonders that really stand out to tourists,” the report says.

Thrills, on the other hand, fall flat. The report shows 70 percent of the bottom 10 U.S. attractions are theme parks. Sorry, Mickey Mouse: It seems like you may not be top of mind for visitors.

The nation’s biggest tourist traps, according to the report? The Hollywood Walk of Fame, SeaWorld San Diego and Six Flags Great Adventure.