LONDON: London has been named the world's best city for the 10th consecutive year in the annual World's Best Cities rankings, released on Wednesday (Nov 20).
The British capital retained its top spot, surpassing New York, Paris, and Tokyo.
Among Southeast Asian cities, Malaysia was ranked the 50th best city in the world, with Singapore in the fifth spot and Bangkok coming in at 32.
The rankings are compiled by Resonance, a global advisor in real estate, tourism, and economic development, and they evaluate cities with populations of over 1 million. London has consistently topped the rankings since their inception, despite the evaluation criteria changing each year.
The rankings highlight London's global appeal, combining a rich cultural heritage, a strong business infrastructure, and an unmatched quality of life.
This year's rankings, in partnership with leading pollster Ipsos, included public perception as a key metric for the first time.
Insights from more than 22,000 people across 30 countries were incorporated, adding perception-based data to the analysis.
The evaluation considered other factors such as the quality of natural and built environments, cultural vibrancy, dining and nightlife, shopping, and business infrastructure. It also assessed regional airport connectivity and the quality of universities, all of which have shown strong correlations with attracting residents aged 25 to 44 years old.
"People are moving and migrating, a trend amplified during the pandemic as individuals sought not just affordable places but lovable places," said Chris Fair, Resonance's president and CEO.
"The results show that people around the world continue to aspire to live, visit, and work in the world's largest cities."
Despite acknowledging inherent biases in the rankings due to reliance on data from platforms like TripAdvisor, which tend to favour a Western perspective, Laura Citron OBE, CEO of London & Partners, highlighted London's appeal to Chinese visitors. "We always love to see more Chinese tourists in London," she told Xinhua.
"Our iconic attractions, world-class financial sector, and fast-growing tech industry showcase our city's strength, but it's the diversity of our people and ideas that drives the innovation and opportunities shaping our future," she added. – Bernama-Xinhua
