As people realize summer is halfway gone and it’s time to buy tickets somewhere, the airlines are seeing an increase in flight searches online. In fact, there are 7-percent more flight searches for summer travel than there were last year, according to a new study by Emirates. If your social media feed is filled with images of your friends traveling and you’re wishing you were the one posting, you’ll probably make that 7-percent number rise—so, where is everyone looking to go?
Well, it looks like Vietnam is the No. 1 country of Americans' wanderlust dreams—there’s been a 61-percent increase in interest over last year. Flights can be inexpensive, and people want to see the incredible UNESCO World Heritage sites, eat that delicious cuisine (whether it’s sizzling food from street vendors or preciously prepared meals in sedate Michelin-starred settings) and exult in more than 1,800 miles of coastline. Cities like Hanoi, Hoi An and Da Nang draw visitors.
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In second place is Mauritius, with a 41-percent increase in searches on the Emirates network this summer. The east African island nation is known for turquoise waters great for snorkeling, coral reefs, sparkling beaches and natural beauty with ebony and eucalyptus forests. There’s also incredible cultural diversity there.
Coming in third is Sri Lanka, with a-32 percent increase in searches. It’s also rich in culture with white sand beaches and affordable luxury. You’ll find fabulous cuisine here like chewy kottu roti chopped by street vendors, as well as rice and curry, and you can tour tea plantations and enjoy the aromatic brew in your cup.
Other strong destinations? Japan has seen a 28-percent increase in searches, and France has experienced a 25-percent boost; maybe that’s because everyone was charmed by Olympics coverage—or they're dying to get back into the Notre Dame Cathedral, recently reopened after its catastrophic 2019 fire.
The study also notes that Americans are searching for African nations like Egypt—now that the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum is now open, showcasing Tutankhamen’s treasures—Kenya and South Africa more than in the past.
Interesting sidenote (but we knew this already): People from India, Australia, the U.K. and Germany travel for more than a month in summer, while Americans typically go for only two or three weeks.
Data for this study was pulled from searches and website bookings on Emirates.com for flights between July 1 and August 30 of this year, compared to last year’s searches and bookings.
So, where are you planning your next trip?