By looking at the number of views of popular travel hashtags on TikTok, luggage storage company Bounce has named Dubai the top destination of 2023 (based on 140.4 billion views of #Dubai).
Other global destinations that are trending among TikTok users include New York City, with 101.8 billion hashtag views; London, reaching 72.8 billion views; Paris, raking in 68 billion; and Istanbul, with 55.4 billion. Rounding out the top 10 are Miami, Los Angeles, Madrid, Bali and Chicago.
Why It Matters: Social Media Drives Travel Bookings
Social media has been a huge driver of travel interest and bookings over the last few years, and its influence shows no sign of slowing. TikTok, in particular, is popular with younger generations, who are not just making their own travel plans, but potentially influencing the trip decisions of their families, as well. Travel advisors with Gen Z clientele and/or families with younger members can expect trends from TikTok to factor into client requests and decisions — and would be wise to make use of the platform themselves to get in front of customers.
Fast Facts: Travel Trends on TikTok
- Dubai is the hottest destination on TikTok for the second year in a row, with videos using #Dubai increasing by 72%.
- New York City is rising in popularity on TikTok, with videos tagged with #NYC increasing 71% year over year.
- Of the top three destinations, London has seen the most year-over-year growth on the platform, with videos using #London up 98% over last year.
- The top five most-watched countries, according to the study, are the United States, Mexico, Argentina, the United Kingdom and Chile.