When scrolling through all the enviable travel content on social media, does it seem like everyone is venturing to the same locations? Well it turns out you’re not imagining things.
Just like fashion, makeup and life hacks, we’re all easily influenced and after spotting a pal or content creator having the best time in a particular locale, why not go there yourself?
This is more evident than ever while looking at some of the travel trends of 2023, and the figures show that some countries are drawing in a lot of visitors compared to others.
Data from World Travel Market’s latest Global Travel Report reveals all there is to know about the most in-demand countries in the world. Let’s take a look.
5. United Kingdom
Starting off on home shores, the UK is forecast to have welcomed 37.5 million visitors by the end of 2023.
Although many of us who live here complain about the weather, the UK has bunch of incredible locales, from big cities to quaint villages and coastal towns. Just take a moment to think about all the attractions we travel under while on the tube everyday.
Outside of the Capital, Liverpool hosted the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of last year’s winners, Ukraine, which surely helped us clinch the fifth spot.
4. United States
The United States is as popular as ever, with another year of millions embarking on a trip of a lifetime in the country. The number of holidaymakers selecting somewhere in the States for their vacations (see what we did there) will hit 41.8 million by the end of 2023, making it the fourth most-visited country in the world.
Those who have visited the US will know that each State has its own culture, and given that it is the third largest country in the world in terms of size, visitors are treated to everything from bustling cities, gorgeous mountain ranges and national parks, deserts and beaches.
3. Turkey
There has been monumental growth in terms of visitors making their way to Turkey this year.
Known for being a conjecture between Asia and Europe, the country is renowned for its food, culture and architecture. The Aegean Coast is also located here and is considered one of the most gorgeous coastlines in the world, while history buffs may choose to embark on a trip towards Derinkuyu, an ancient multi-level underground city which could host 20,000 people near the modern town of Derinkuyu in Nevşehir Province.
In 2022 there were 50.5 million visitors who went to Turkey and this year the country welcomed 45.5 million.
2. Spain
The European hotspot has historically been one of the most popular countries to visit in the world and this year was no exception, having welcomed 70 million people already.
There are golden beaches and delightful cities and towns to see, like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada. If you find yourself strutting through the streets of Barcelona, be sure to go to the steps at Parc Güell: these are the very same steps the Cheetah Girls strut down in the 2006 film and recreating this scene is a massive trend on TikTok. There are also diverse landscapes for your eyes to feast on, from mountains and volcanoes to wetlands and deserts.
1. France
In top spot was France, which is associated with delicate pastries, berets and world-class art.
So far in 2023, 72.4 million people have visited, with the most popular destination being the capital city, Paris. Tourists will want to get their snaps underneath the Eiffel Tower, have a tête-à-tête with the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, gawk at the sheer magnificence of the Notre Dame and sashay down the Champs-Élysées, ideally with a few shopping bags in hand.