(ThyBlackMan.com) Every person has their ideal travel destination. Some people will prefer tropical destinations such as Bahamas and Maldives, while other will prefer for African Safaris such as those in Kenya and South Africa. Others yet will prefer to visit the Pyramids or the Colosseum in Rome. But would you happen to know the most visited places on the planet? Depending on your country, you may be surprised to know that some of these locations are just right under your nose, and since you grew up around them and you have probably visited a couple of times, it doesn’t occur to you that millions go for online passport renewal so that they can travel from far and wide to come and visit those locations.
When it comes to the most visited places on earth, you would be forgiven to think that Rome and Egypt make it to the top of the list. However, as far as world tourism is concerned, Asia and North America have some of the places frequented by tourists from all over the world, and some of the spots include the followings:
Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
Disney World is the world’s most visited theme park, and this is rightly so because it is also the biggest theme park in the world. The Florida based theme park receives close to 19 million visitors every single year and this gives it a spot in the list of the most visited places in the world. If you live in the United States, then you probably don’t need online passport renewal since all you have to do is find your way to Florida, then to the amusement park for some great hours of fun.
Grand Central Termini
There are several spots in New York frequented by millions of visitors each year and the Grand Central Termini is one of them. The termini are located between Park Avenue and 42nd street in midtown Manhattans and it is estimated that it receives close to 21 million visitors every day. This is just the number of people who come to marvel at the architectural masterpiece displayed in the 
facility. If you are to add to the number of people who use it on a daily basis, and the fact that it is one of the busiest train stations in the world, it is not a surprise that it sits pretty on the list of the most visited places in the world.
Niagara Falls
The majestic Niagara Falls is another widely visited tourist attraction in North America, with an estimated number of tourists being at 22 million every year. The fall was created as a result of receding ice in the last ice age, and what we see now is a breathtaking site responsible for attracting people from all corners of the world. The falls are sometimes referred to as the honeymoon capital of the world as newly married couples from around the world usually come to celebrate their union right in front of Lake Erie where the fall drains into Lake Ontario.
Meiji Jingu Shrine
This shrine is in Tokyo and it has been around for more than a century, having been built in 1912 to honor the late Emperor Meiji of Japan. Almost thirty million visitors travel from far and wide to come and see and experience the unique tranquility exuded by the shrine. The shrine is built right in the middle of a forest and it is surrounded by more than 12000 trees belonging to a whopping 3000 species. Some come to this shrine in honor of the empire, while a good number of the visitors, especially the tourists come to relax within the confines of the magnificent sceneries.
Union Station
The Union Station in Washington DC is another most visited place in the world, receiving about 40 million visitors every year. Nothing may be characteristically striking about the Union station, but the fact that it processes more than 13,000 daily makes it a fairly busy facility in the United States and also in the whole world. You will be intrigued to know that with the sheer size of the complex, many people have always gotten lost between the shops and boutiques present at the station. For tourist coming from outside the United States, the place is not just a railway station, but one of the must-see attractions in the country’s capital.
Times Square
If you watch movies, then you may be familiar with Times Square, only that you may not have an idea that it is one of the most visited places in the world. To begin with, Times Square is a central tourist destination in entire North America. It is estimated that the area receives more than 50 million visitors from all corners of the world each and every year. The Broadway musicals and bright neon lights are some of the attractions that the majority of people find amazing about this attraction right at the heart of New York.
The Zocalo in Mexico City
The Zocalo in Mexico City’s equivalence of Times Square and it receives up to 80 million visitors every year. Before it was named Zocalo, the place used to be called Plaza de la Constitucion and it is a site with a glorious history of the region, being the gathering place where the people have been gathering for most of the important events, dating back to the Aztec times. Currently, it is the venue for most of the important parades and ceremonies in Mexico.
Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is without any doubts the most visited place in the entire world, with an estimated number of annual visitors being over 90 million every single year. The Bazaar has a reputation for being one of the oldest markets in the world, having been constructed way back in 1455. The market has withstood earthquakes, fires, and other threats to its existence for over 500 years, making it a resilient structure that has simply refused to go away. Currently, the market is now a major tourist attraction and a place for the locals to sell their wares such as unique carpets, jewelry, and ceramics to the tourists, who seem to not get enough of the place.
Staff Writer; George Short