Bangkok ranks 8th in global tourism attractiveness index

Bangkok has ranked eighth globally in the 2026 Global Tourism City Attractiveness Index, according to a study by Yanolja Research. The index, developed in collaboration with Purdue University and Kyung Hee University, evaluated 261 cities based on online travel conversations and sentiment rather than raw visitor numbers.

Bangkok scored 7.48 out of 10, placing it ahead of destinations such as Okinawa and Chicago, and just behind Rome. The city demonstrated high levels of online awareness, ranking fifth globally in visibility, and ranked ninth in attractiveness. Key strengths identified for Bangkok include its festivals, accommodations, shopping, food, and nightlife.

New York secured the top position in the overall rankings, followed by Paris, Osaka, Kyoto, and Seoul. Other Thai destinations also appeared in the rankings, with Chiang Mai at 27th, Phuket in the 51–100 range, and Pattaya in the 101–150 range. The study analyzed social media, blogs, and forums across 14 languages to measure how travelers emotionally respond to various destinations.