The most searched summer destination in the world is Italy, Sicily for beach vacations
This year, Italy was the most searched destination for summer vacations. So says the new Destination Insights service, which attributes precisely to our country the most sustained growth in demand, compared to other destinations, at around 75 percent.
When you want to plan a vacation, Web search remains the main tool used, thus Google. In recent periods, especially, in the face of Covid-19 restrictions, protocols to observe, desire to leave and explore, the Internet has played a key role as a support for tourists. And, thanks to Destination Insights, a tourism tracking service launched by Google itself, it was possible to navigate among the most clicked destinations and top searches. Prominent among the beautiful destinations was Italy, which was the leader of the most sought-after destinations, globally, from early June to August 18.
What were the characteristics and preferences of the travelers?
The data, in addition to putting the Belpaese in first place, also highlight other relevant aspects. For example, most of the tourists interested in visiting and experiencing our territories in the period taken as a reference came from: Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland and the United States, in that order. And in the top ten cities, Rome overtook the nearly undefeated Rimini and Riccione. This is when it comes to foreign travelers, but what destinations did Italians choose instead?
Italians’ preferences
The innovative portal of the California-based multinational showed that the country on which Italians did the most research was Italy itself, followed by Spain and Greece. Probably also because of the confusion, constraints and fears arising from the epidemiological situation we are still in, but non-European countries have been little considered. The United States ranked only seventh on the preference scale.
Moreover, when it comes to beach vacations, considering searches that include multiple parameters (and not just lodging), Sicily, with its authentic beauty and thousand-year history, outperformed every other region this year. Almost desert-like areas of countryside reminiscent of the Canary Islands, crystal clear sea like in the Maldives, or Sardinia, a volcano surrounded by a unique natural park. But also, a dense, warm-hearted culture and a culinary tradition appreciated all over the world. The island was the most successful, between June and August, and was appreciated for all its aspects.
It was followed by Emilia Romagna, Campania, Puglia and Tuscany. From the portal, it was also possible to compile the list of Favorite specific destinations in summer 2021, consisting of, in order from first place: Cefalù and San Vito Lo Capo (in Sicily), then San Teodoro and Arzachena, Vieste and Gallipoli, Monterosso al Mare and Santa Margherita Ligure, Castiglione della Pescaia and Forte dei Marmi, and, finally, the evergreens Rimini and Riccione.
This is heartening information, fueling positive thinking in regards to tourism and a restart after a very difficult period following the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, we are very proud to see Italy in first place as the most sought-after destination and Sicily among beach destinations, as our country is a relic of art and history that deserves to be known, explored, experienced and respected.
Clarissa Marchese