World's best country to visit in 2019, according to the World Economic Forum

It has more than 3,000 miles of coastline, and no fewer than 48 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Now, Spain has been declared the best country in the world to visit.

For the third year running, it slid in just above France in the 2019 Travel & Tourism Competitive Report by the World Economic Forum, the Swiss-based organization that annually gathers the global elite to discuss major issues.

And with major travel draws such as Barcelona and its La Sagrada Família basilica, Madrid and its famous Prado art museum and the Costa del Sol with warm, inviting beaches, it's easy to see why Spain is the global favorite.

Germany's third place -- above the likes of Italy, Japan and the United States -- may surprise some.

But the destinations are ranked by "travel readiness" at what the WEF calls a "tipping point" for the travel industry.

The 90-strong criteria included infrastructure, safety and sustainable travel initiatives. Culture, accommodation and value for money were also taken into account.

Japan and the United States rounded out the top five. Yemen came bottom, at number 140.

The top 10 countries to visit in 2019, according to the World Economic Forum

1: Spain

2: France

3: Germany

4: Japan

5: United States

6: United Kingdom

7: Australia

8: Italy

9: Canada

10: Switzerland

The bottom 10 countries to visit

1: Yemen

2: Chad 3: Liberia

4: Burundi

5: Democratic Republic of Congo

6: Mauritania

7: Angola

8: Haiti

9: Burkina Faso

10: Sierra Leone

Ref: Property Report