By Jimoh Babatunde

London is projected to welcome 18.82 million international visitors in 2015 putting the capital ahead of Bangkok in the Mastercard’s annual destinations cities index. It’s the second year running that London will be topping  the Global Destinations Cities Index, which provides an in-depth ranking of the 132 most travelled cities from around the world.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “I’m delighted that London has proudly held on to this coveted title, as we celebrate another triumphant and record-breaking year for tourism in the city.

“With its unrivalled mix of history, culture, culinary gems and cutting-edge creativity, I’m confident that these accolades will keep coming as the capital continues to surprise and excite visitors from all over the world.”

Europe now boasts three of the top five cities, London, Paris and Istanbul, with Bangkok and Dubai making up the global top five. Overall, nine European cities have each claimed a spot in the top 20 destination cities by international overnight visitors as follows: Barcelona (12th), Amsterdam (13th), Rome (14th), Milan (15th), Vienna (18th) and Prague (19th).

Ann Cairns, President of International Markets, Mastercard said: “MasterCard understands the importance of cities around the world both for travelers and those who live there. “This year’s study helps us understand just how interconnected the world’s cities are the significant role they play in connecting and empowering greater numbers of people than ever before.”