TORONTO — Havana, Reykjavik, Rio de Janeiro, in. Osaka, Istanbul and Kahului, out. Travel search engine KAYAK has revealed the Top Ten Trending Destinations of the Year, according to Canadian traveller search data, it was announced Jan. 17.
Calgary skyline.
“Canadians are seeking experiences both rich in culture and history in some of the world’s most interesting cities,” said David Solomito, vice-president, North America marketing. “Havana has seen an amazing amount of renewed interest, as has Reykjavik, but there are some exciting additions to the list — like Casablanca, Auckland and Manila — proving long distance isn’t necessarily a variable when booking a trip.”
This year’s worth of data uncovers where Canadians are heading to next:
Havana is this year’s hot spot. While Canadians have always had a love for the historic tourist destination known for its cigars and famous vintage cars, interest in the city skyrocketed, with a 230 per cent increase in searches compared to last year.
European hotspot Reykjavik took the number two spot on the Top Trending Destinations list for Canadians, with a 116 per cent increase in searches compared to 2015.
Canadian travel to some of last year’s top destinations is expected to drop. Osaka was the top trending destination last year, but saw a 41 per cent decrease in searches this year. Florida may also see fewer Canadians; Fort Lauderdale and Panama City’s temperatures couldn’t keep the cities from cooling down for Canadians.
With attractions and events continuing to expand in Nashville, this American city has seen a 43 per cent increase in searches among Canadian travellers.
KAYAK data also shows that long flights aren’t always a factor when planning a trip, as long-haul destinations Casablanca, Manila, Auckland and New Delhi all saw search increases of more than 30 per cent.
As part of its annual Travel Hacker Guide, KAYAK also reveals that Calgary, gateway to ski getaways and home of the Calgary Stampede, is a hotspot, gaining 27 per cent more searches.
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