Travel searches have increased by over 40 per cent year-on-year for destinations trending on TikTok, according to new data from Expedia.
The travel platform’s latest Air Hacks Report highlights five locations experiencing significant growth in search volume: Cape Town, South Africa (50 per cent increase); Tunis, Tunisia (65 per cent increase); Antalya, Turkey (45 per cent increase); Hanoi, Vietnam (40 per cent increase); and Malaga, Spain (40 per cent increase).
Expedia has created a TikTok-inspired travel guide to help travellers convert “social media inspiration into actual trips,” the company stated in its announcement from Dubai.
The guide promises “insider tips and booking hacks” alongside “exclusive recommendations” for each destination.
“Turn those wanderlust vibes into reality with Expedia’s new TikTok-inspired travel guide,” the company’s statement reads.
The report notes airfares have decreased 11 per cent year-on-year, with premium tickets down 2 per cent compared to 2023, creating what Expedia calls “an opportune time to ditch doomscrolling and start exploring.”
TikTok’s hottest travel spots
Each featured destination offers distinct experiences. Tunisia provides “affordability with convenience” at under six hours’ flight time from Dubai, while being “more budget-friendly than neighbouring destinations like Sicily and Greece.”
Visitors can explore “the ancient ruins of Carthage, the historic Medina, and the pristine Gammarth beach.”
The best time to visit is spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November), with recommended accommodation at Dar El Jeld Hotel & Spa starting at AED576 per night.
Cape Town appeals to “adrenaline enthusiasts” with activities like visiting Table Mountain, kayaking with penguins at Boulders Beach, and wine tasting in the Cape Winelands.
The optimal visiting periods are summer (December-February) for warm weather or spring and autumn for fewer crowds. Radisson RED V&A Waterfront is recommended, starting at AED446 per night.
Antalya, known as the Turkish Riviera or Turquoise Coast, features “some of the clearest, most breathtaking waters” alongside attractions like “one of the largest aquarium complexes in Turkey” and the Düden Waterfalls.
Spring (April-June) and autumn (September-October) offer ideal sightseeing conditions. Rixos Downtown Antalya is suggested, with rates from AED743 per night.
Hanoi has become “a gastronomic haven for young travellers” where visitors can “sip an egg coffee on Train Street while feeling the thrill of a full-size train zooming just inches from their table.”
Other attractions include Ngoc Son Temple, Water Puppet Theatre, and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Best visiting times are autumn (September-November) and spring (March-April), with La Siesta Premium Hang Be Hotel recommended at AED247 per night.
Malaga attracts social media users with its “Mediterranean scenery and vibrant nightlife.” Content creators often visit Caminito del Rey, about an hour from the city, to “scale the cliffs of natural valleys.”
Key attractions include Málaga Cathedral, Alcazaba, and the beaches of La Malagueta and La Caleta. Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) offer optimal conditions, with Palacio Solecio starting at AED997 per night.
The company advises travellers to plan ahead to “beat the crowds – and the algorithm” as these destinations continue to gain popularity online.
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