Tourists attractions aren't always what you'd necessarily assumed. There are the expected ones--The Taj Mahal, Great Pyramids, and Stonehenge for example that have worldwide appeal but there are also lesser known attractions that are surprisingly popular such as Everland, a South Korean theme park that beat all the aforementioned tourist hot spots to make it to the top 50. Surprisingly those three didn't even make it on the list at all.
Last year Travel + Leisure compiled a list of the 50 most visited tourist attractions. To compile the comprehensive list the magazine gathered the most recent data supplied by various attractions or government agencies, media outlets and industry reports.
From their findings, theme parks have an overwhelming presence as tourist attractions. With Disney Parks landing two of the coveted top ten spots on the list as well as many New York hot-spots crawling into top ten.
Tourist attractions count as cultural and historical sites, natural landmarks and officially designated spaces.
Here is the top five:
1) Times Square, New York
The heart of the city that never sleeps gains 39,200,000 visitors a year. With broadway shows, flashing lights and sweeping high rise buildings, the chaos of Times Square is beguiling for tourists and a must see on a virgin New York City vacation.
2) Central Park, New York City
One of the most famous parks on the globe, that stretches across 850 acres of Manhattan real estate is not only a draw for tourists that visit but also residents. 38,000,000 annual visitors come to the park to experience it's wooded splendor, classic architecture, grassy spaces, horse-drawn carriages and zoo.
3) Union Station, Washington D.C.
With an annual visitor rate of 37,000,000 this busy station is home to approximately 12,500 passengers in transport daily. The tourist traffic is also very high with its classical to baroque architecture and more than 70 retail outlets.
4) Las Vegas, Nevada
Sin City draws in more than 29,467,000 tourists with its reputation for crazy nights, casinos and anything goes atmosphere.
5) Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario
The massive waterfall draws in approximately 22,500,00 visitors annually. Spilling six million cubic feet of water, it is one of the most visited falls in the world.
See the full list of fifty here.
