Euromonitor International, the world's leading independent provider of strategic market research, recently released its annual Top City Destinations Ranking, with Hong Kong ranking first for the sixth consecutive year. London ranked second followed by Singapore, Bangkok and Paris, while Macao rose to sixth position.

To calculate its ranking, Euromonitor International evaluated inbound overnight passenger data in 100 of the world's leading cities in terms of international visitor arrivals. The report reveals that the growing number of outbound visitors from Mainland China greatly influenced the rankings, with improved flight connections from China and relaxed or no-visa restrictions for Chinese visitors substantially assisting in the country's march up the rankings of the Asian destinations, including Macao. Arrivals in 2014 grew 7.4 per cent year-on-year, boosting Macao's performance in the rankings.

Shenzhen, New York, Istanbul and Kuala Lumpur closed out the seventh to tenth spots.