SkyScanner.com, a British travel website, just released its top 50 destinations based on how many times these destinations were searched during 2009. Spain was the top country for British tourists, however the United States was the only country with double-digit growth for New York City, Orlando and Las Vegas.
Another way that I like to use British travel surveys is to take a peak into the mind of the British traveler. They tend to indicate trends for very inexpensive holidays and destinations that will soon be overrun with tourists. Using this list, one might look at Turkey and Cyprus as two emerging tourism markets.
Note: With the US Dollar sinking against the British Pound, Orlando jumped 12 percent in searches, New York lept 5 percent and Las Vegas moved up 13 percent.
Skyscanner Top 50:
1. Malaga, (Spain) [+1]
2. Tenerife (Spain) [+2]
3. Alicante (Spain)[0]
4. Orlando (USA) [+12]
5. Dalaman (Turkey) [0]
6. Faro (Portugal) [0]
7. New York (USA) [+5]
8. Palma (Spain) [-1]
9. Lanzarote (Spain) [+4]
10. Geneva (Switzerland) [-2]
11. Bangkok (Thailand) [+11]
12. Paphos (Cyprus) [-3]
13. Barcelona (Spain) [+1]
14. London (UK) [-13]
15. Bodrum (Turkey) [-4]
16. Paris (France) [+1]
17. Rome (Italy) [-2]
18. Gran Canaria (Spain) [+1]
19. Larnaca (Cyprus) [+1]
20. Sydney (Australia) [+7]
21. Johannesburg (South Africa) [New Entry]
22. Amsterdam (Netherlands) [-4]
23. Murcia (Spain) [-13]
24. Dublin (Ireland) [-1]
25. Ibiza (Spain) [+5]
26. Prague (Czech Republic) [-2]
27. Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) [+11]
28. Auckland (New Zealand) [+11]
29. Venice (Italy) [+4]
30. Luqa (Malta) [+5]
31. Krakow (Poland) [-5]
32. Las Vegas (USA) [+13]
33. Cape Town (South Africa) [New Entry]
34. Melbourne (Australia) [New Entry]
35. Fuerteventura (Spain) [-10]
36. Berlin (Germany) [+1]
37. Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) [New Entry]
38. Marrakech (Morocco) [-9]
39. Milan (Italy) [-7]
40. Dubai (UAE) [New Entry]
41. Madrid (Spain) [-5]
42. Hong Kong (Hong Kong) [New Entry]
43. Perth (Australia) [New Entry]
44. Edinburgh (UK) [-16]
45. Munich (Germany) [New Entry]
46. Salzburg (Austria) [-15]
47. Crete (Greece) [-6]
48. Brisbane (Australia) [New Entry]
49. Sofia (Bulgaria) [-2]
50. Nice (France) [-2]
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
