Most Visited Tourist Attrraction s in the World.

Times Square, New York

It is interesting to work out what the most visited tourist attractions in the world are. For starters, what is a tourist attraction? Is it a cultural or historical site, a natural landmark, or officially designated spaces?  Then there is the source of statistics used, and the way statistics are worked out. Do you include only those attractions that charge admission fees, or do you include those with free admission? What is a tourist? Do you include local or international visitors?

Travel + Leisure Magazine has just released a list of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. The magazine’s ranking combined the most recent data from an array of organizations, publications and news organizations, government agencies, industry reports, and reputable media outlets. The list has an American bias, with only the 10^th attraction outside the USA.

This is the list

No. 1 Times Square, New York City; Annual Visitors: 39,200,000

Times Square is a major intersection in New York City that was named after the Times Building (now One Times Square), where The New York Times was formerly headquartered. Nicknamed "The Crossroads of the World," Times Square is located at Broadway and Seventh Avenue and extends from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. . Times Square has become an illustrious landmark and a symbol of New York City.

Central Park

No. 2 Central Park, New York City; Annual Visitors: 38,000,000

Central Park extends from 59th to 110th streets between 5th and 8th avenues, Central Park is one of the iconic sights of New York City.  The Parkis entirely man-made except for the glacier scarred protruding rocks. The Park consists of lakes, hills, forest, formal gardens, and a vast lawn.  The various bridges and arches of the park enhance the charm of the place.

Union Station

No. 3 Union Station, Washington, D.C.; Annual Visitors: 37,000,000

This is a train station and leisure destination that was opened in 1907. In the Attic block, above the main cornice of the central block, stand six colossal statues (modeled on the Dacian prisoners of the Arch of Constantine) designed by Louis St. Gaudens. These are entitled "The Progress of Railroading" and their iconography expresses the confident enthusiasm of the American Renaissance movement: Prometheus (for Fire), Thales (for Electricity), Themis (for Freedom and Justice), Apollo (for Imagination and Inspiration), Ceres (for Agriculture) and Archimedes (for Mechanics). The substitution of Agriculture for Commerce in a railroad station iconography vividly conveys the power of a specifically American lobbying bloc. St. Gaudens also created the 26 centurions for the station's main hall.

Las Vegas Strip

No. 4 Las Vegas Strip, Annual Visitors: 29,467,000

Las Vegas is a famous gambling and holiday city in the middle of a desert in the USA. The 7km stretch of its main street, Las Vegas Boulevard, is commonly known as the Las Vegas Strip and is a buzz 24 hours a day. Dazzling neon light displays light up the colossal hotels and casinos at night with spectacular lighting displays. 19 of the worlds largest hotels are on the Strip.

Niagara Falls

No. 5 Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario; Annual Visitors: 22,500,000 The Niagra Falls is the name given to three waterfalls - American Falls  (between Prospect Point and Luna Island), Bridal Veil Falls (between Luna Island and Goat Island) and Canadian/Horseshoe Falls (between Goat Island and Table Rock). The word "Niagara" is derived from the Iroquois Indian word "Onguiaahra", meaning "the strait". In the evenings, intense spotlights bathe the falls with different shades of colour. Many people have tried to ride in a barrel over the Niagra Falls. The first person to go over the Falls in a barrel and survive was a 63 year old female schoolteacher.

Grand Central Termina

No. 6 Grand Central Terminal, New York City; Annual Visitors: 21,600,000

Grand Central Terminal (often inaccurately referred to as Grand Central Station) is a beautiful Beaux-arts building in midtown Manhattan. First opened in 1913, Grand Central Terminal underwent a massive restoration to restore it to its former glory, and is now both a transportation hub, as well as a destination in itself for visitors to New York City.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

No. 7 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston; Annual Visitors: 18,000,000.

For over 250 years, the marketplace has played an integral role in the life of Boston's residents. Located in the heart of downtown Boston, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is the nation’s premier urban marketplace. Faneuil Hall Marketplace is actually four great places in one location — Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market, all set around a cobblestone promenade where jugglers, magicians and musicians entertain the passers-by.  It combines the glories of the past and vitality of the present, with 49 shops, 44 pushcarts, 18 full service restaurants, 35 food stalls and a popular comedy nightclub. In 1742 Peter Faneuil, Boston’s wealthiest merchant, built Faneuil Hall as a gift to the city. The edifice was home to merchants, fishermen, and meat and produce sellers, and provided a platform for the country's most famous orators. It is where colonists first protested the Sugar Act in 1764 and established the doctrine of "no taxation without representation." Firebrand Samuel Adams rallied the citizens of Boston to the cause of independence from Great Britain in the hallowed Hall, and George Washington toasted the nation there on its first birthday.

Disney World

No. 8 Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando; Annual Visitors: 16,972,000.

This theme park opened in 1971. Disney World wrapped up the festivities marking the 40th anniversary of the Florida park's opening with an extended fireworks. Scores of visitors have been packing Disney World all weekend as part of the anniversary celebration of its opening day on Oct. 1, 1971. There was plenty of commemorative merchandise to be snapped up by souvenir hunters, and the park's guidebook was patterned after the original park map issued in the 1970s. Saturday's big event was a mass sing-along of the classic "When You Wish Upon a Star" at Cinderella's Castle. Park President Meg Crofton and Vice President Phil Holmes also made brief remarks that saluted the past and also the future, symbolized by the ongoing expansion of Fantasyland. "That will be another part of our legacy that goes on and on," said Holmes, who was a ticket-taker on the first day.

Disneyland Park

No. 9 Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA; Annual Visitors: 15,980,000.

This theme has been operating for as many years I have been living. Both it and myself were born in 1955. Attraction Highlights at Disneyland Park. Scalawags young and old will find treasure aboard Pirates of the Caribbean, and the happy haunts of the Haunted Mansion are always up for a scary time. Journey deep into the jungle aboard Indiana Jones Adventure. Explorers of the stars and seas will love Space Mountain and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. After a fast-paced trip around Splash Mountain, the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a calmer ride is flying with Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Set sail on a cheerful cruise around the globe on "it's a small world".

Grand Bazaar

No. 10 Grand Bazaar, Istanbul; Annual Visitors: 15,000,000

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and 5,000 shops. It is well known for its jewellery, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices and antique shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for leather, gold jewellery and the like. The bazaar has been an important trading centre since 1461 and its labyrinthine vaults feature two bedestens (domed buildings), the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. The bazaar was vastly enlarged in the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and in 1894 underwent a major restoration following an earthquake. The complex houses two mosques, four fountains, two hamams, and several cafés and restaurants. In the centre is the high domed hall of the Cevahir Bedesten, where the most valuable items and antiques were to be found in the past, and still are today, including furniture, copperware, amber prayer beads, inlaid weapons, icons, mother-of-pearl mirrors, water pipes, watches and clocks, candlesticks, old coins, and silver and gold jewellery set with coral and turquoise. A leisurely afternoon spent exploring the bazaar, sitting in one of the cafés and watching the crowds pass by, and bargaining for purchases is one of the best ways to recapture the romantic atmosphere of old Istanbul.