Spain has been ranked top of a global tourism study measuring sUStainable development of the travel and tourism sector, with the country identified as having the most competitive national economy in the world.

Conducted by the World Economic Forum, the 2017 version of the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index focuses on ensuring the sector’s sustained growth in an uncertain security environment, while preserving the natural environment and local communities on which tourism depends.

With the report in its 11th edition, Spain was ranked highly across 14 categories, receiving a score of 5.4 out of 7 with its tourist service infrastructure ranking second overall, also finishing second for cultural resources and business travel. According to the report, Spain's travel sector has benefited from the recent ease of its fiscal policy, and by the redirected tourism from Middle East and parts of Western Europe, affected by security concerns.

Great Britain finished fifth place in the index, scoring 5.2 out of 7 and remaining one of the most-visited nations in Europe and Asia, though its decision to leave the European Union could affect this in the coming years. According to the report, Britain has the second least competitive prices in the world for tourists. Following the triggering of Article 50 and starting the brexit process, it is predicted that this will likely worsen. Britain also ranked 108th on the list for visa requirements which is expected to worsen under the terms of the EU split and free movement regulations.

The US finished just below the United Kingdom in 6th spot, garnering a score of 5.1 on the scale. Scoring strongly for air transport infrastructure, tourist service infrastructure and natural resources, the US ranked poorly for safety and security, finishing in 87th place, and for visa requirements at 122, something also expected to worsen under President Donald Trump’s emergency travel restrictions.

A number of terror attacks affected France – which came second to Spain – with the country ranking 67th in terms of safety and security. The French finished very strongly in a number of categories however, with its cultural resources and business travel coming 3rd, ground and port infrastructure coming 7th and natural resources at 13th.

With Germany finishing 3rd, Japan was the highest Asian country on the list in 4th place. Australia ranked 7th, while Italy, Canada and Switzerland rounded off the top 10, coming in 8th, 9th and 10th respectively. Yemen finished bottom of the pile, with an overall rating of 2.4 only scoring in the top 100 once, in terms of price competitiveness at 7th.

To see the full index, click here.