American Love Tourisum

Amrican Love Tourism 

At first glance, the zobee Traveler 50 Most Visited Attractions List confirms several tourist industry truisms: A) Americans love to travel, but they prefer to stick within their own borders. B) Wherever Mickey Mouse goes, he conquers. C) Paris is the unofficial cultural theme park of the world. And D) Niagara Falls isn’t just for lovers anymore.

But the list also contains several surprises. Since the Taj Mahal—our fiftieth and final attraction—receives 2.4 million visitors a year, several popular favorites like the the Prado (2 million), the Uffizi (1.6 million), Angkor (1.5 million) and Stonehenge (850,000) didn’t make the cut. And while Western audiences may not be familiar with names like Everland and Lotte World, these South Korean mega-parks managed to rank 16th and 22nd on our list, respectively.
Not surprisingly, the French are out in force. How to account for the preponderance of attractions in Paris? According to the latest statistics report from the World Tourism Organization, France receives more foreign tourists per year than any other country -- some 76 million in 2005. Spain followed with 55 million, the United States with 50 million and China with 47 million. Italy rounded out the top five with 37 million (with the U.K. not far behind).
And given that we chose to include domestic tourism statistics, why wouldn’t India, China and the developing world have more attractions on the list?
The three primary factors appear to be relative GDP (recall that significant majorities of the populations of China and India remain at subsistence level), the vast travel distances involved within those countries, and the lack of reliable visitor statistics. We were nevertheless surprised to learn that the Taj Mahal receives only 2.4 million visitors a year, given India’s population of over a billion. And while the Great Wall made the top 10, we couldn’t find any other Chinese domestic attraction that drew similar crowds. Expect that to change in the years ahead.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Forget the notion that Pittsburgh is a gritty, steel industry town. The city has reinvented itself with a vibrant arts scene, cool outdoor spaces and unique festivals. In fact, National Geographic Traveler magazine rated it among the top must-see places in the world for 2012. Our favorite spots include the Andy Warhol Museum (the artist was born here), Phipps Conservatory and a ride on a historical funicular called the Monongahela Incline. And while the city's most noteworthy contribution to the culinary world has been to slap French fries atop supersized salads, Pittsburgh is becoming a foodie town, with upscale restaurants in the downtown Strip District and a wealth of ethnic eateries sprinkled around town.

Chan Chan, Peru

Chan Chan, Peru

If Machu Picchu -- one of the most famous archeological sites in the world -- had remained undiscovered, people would still flock to Peru to see another site, Chan Chan. Unfortunately, it continues to be overshadowed by the famed Lost City of the Incas. Estimated to have once housed 30,000 people of the Chimor civilization from A.D. 850 until 1470, the massive adobe city sits on 12 square miles along the Peruvian coast near the city of Trujillo, and is the largest pre-Columbian city in South America. Intricate carvings of birds, turtles and fish adorn the walls of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is threatened by erosion. So it's not only underrated, but it's also slowly disappearing.

Zambia

Zambia

The southern African republic of Zambia tends to attracts tourists because of Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world. Travelers then move on to other African countries -- Tanzania to the north, for example -- to go on safari. But Zambia is a worthy safari destination in and of itself, and without the crowds that gravitate to other, better-known wildlife-viewing spots. Reserves comprise more than half of the country, with the primal forests of the Luangwa Valley and floodplains of Kafue National Park popular for wildlife viewing. Kafue, in fact, has some of the greatest diversity of animals of all national parks in Africa, with cheetahs, wildebeests, wild dogs and other species. And a bonus: Unlike in many other African countries, walking safaris are permitted here.

Armenia

Armenia

Wedged between Turkey and Azerbaijan, Armenia is so far off the beaten path of Western travelers that it's seldom visited. In fact, the only tourists who tend to go are those making pilgrimages to commemorate the republic's tragic 20th-century history (civil war, famine, brutal state-sponsored genocide). Yet as an emerging democracy, Armenia has blossomed. The city of Yerevan possesses Mediterranean finesse -- with pretty plazas, hopping cafes and fashionistas strolling down the main boulevards. Elsewhere in the country, burgeoning businesses and a thriving arts scene contrast nicely with ancient monasteries and churches, villages speckled with gingerbread houses and cave dwellings near gorges.

Singapore

Singapore

More than 11 million visitors go to Singapore annually, but very few of them are Americans (unless they're on a cruise ship and making a day-long port call). That's a pity, because Singapore stands out as a cultural, commercial and culinary gem in the heart of Asia. The shopping is the best in Southeast Asia. Food takes on the influences of a half-dozen or more ethnicities (Chinese, Indian, Malay and more). The botanical garden is among the top in the world. And we have to admit, we like how immaculate it is too -- there's no graffiti or litter, public transportation is impeccably on time and crime is non-existent.

Oman

Oman

The Middle Eastern sultanate of Oman for a long time has had a reputation as an isolated desert locale that held little appeal for even the most rugged independent traveler. But a recently built network of paved roads and well-maintained mountain tracks has made the Arabian peninsula nation more accessible. Ruins and castles dot the landscape, and cities are colorful with markets and souqs. At heart Oman is a nature lover's destination that includes the Grand Canyon-like Jebel Akhdar Mountains, Wahiba Sands Desert and beaches that are nesting sites for green turtles.