The Canadian city of Toronto surpassed Rome to become the third most popular international destination for American tourists in 2013, according to a Hotels.com report released Friday. It joins the ranks of London and Paris, who retained their popularity among travelers.
Why a sudden uptick in travel to Canada's most populous city?
"With the Canadian exchange at a three-year low, now is an opportune time for U.S. travelers to cross the border and explore the country's cultural and entertainment capital," a Hotels.com release states.
With 4 Canadian cities in the top 10 travel destinations for Americans, these sentiments appear to be correct. Here's a list of the top 10:
1. London
2. Paris
3. Toronto
4. Rome
5. Vancouver, Canada
6. Tokyo
7. Hong Kong
8. Montreal
9. Barcelona, Spain
10. Niagara Falls, Canada
The report also gives predictions for this year's travel trends. Increased tourism efforts in Mexico City, known for its food and culture, appear to be paying off as the city jumped the list to become the 17th most popular destination for U.S. travelers in 2013.
Dubai, which surpassed Madrid, Florence and Venice as the 14th most popular travel destination, is another city to watch in the coming year, according to the release. In addition to 16 new hotel openings, Hotels.com credits international superstar Justin Beiber's first concert in the Middle East for the city's rise in popularity.
Asian-Pacific cities such as Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok also saw a surge in American tourism in 2013, the release said.
The report also detailed what U.S. cities were favored among international visitors in 2013. New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami and Los Angeles were the top 5 destinations for the second year in a row, according to the report.
