The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Sarah Marshal
A fascinating reworked world map reveals the European holiday destinations that are the most popular globally – and it’s the Greek island of Santorini that’s No.1, followed by the Mediterranean island of Ibiza in second place and the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife in third place.
On the map – generated using Google search data – country names have been supplemented with their residents’ most-searched-for European holiday spots. Researchers studied the past 12 months of Google data in 185 countries to find out which EU holiday destinations are being Googled the most using phrases like ‘destination + holiday’ or ‘destination + vacation’.
Santorini tops the list, generated by CV Villas, thanks to being the most popular European spot in 47 countries around the world, including the U.S, Finland, Colombia, Bolivia, India, Australia and New Zealand.
CV Villas says: ‘Famous for its golden sunsets, warm temperatures and jaw-dropping scenery, it comes as no surprise that Santorini ranks so highly as a must-visit hotspot.’
Ibiza earns second place because a total of 29 countries – including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Kenya, Mexico, Jamaica and Portugal – appear to be searching for holidays there above any other European destination.
A fascinating reworked world map reveals the European holiday destinations that are the most popular globally – and it’s the Greek island of Santorini that’s No.1, followed by the Mediterranean island of Ibiza in second place and the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife in third place
Santorini (above) tops the list, generated by CV Villas, thanks to being the most popular European spot in 47 countries around the world, including the U.S, Finland , Colombia, Bolivia, India , Australia and New Zealand
CV Villas says: ‘Ibiza has long been a popular tourist destination thanks to its scorching summer weather, exotic scenery, and stunning beaches.’
Third-place Tenerife is described by CV Villas as offering ‘plenty for tourists to explore, including the infamous Mount Teide volcano’. From there ‘incredible’ views of the island, the largest of the Canaries, are available.
CV Villas adds that Tenerife is a top winter holiday destination, with an average high in the colder months of 20C.
The Spanish spot is the No.1 European getaway destination for 12 European countries, including Spain, the UK, Germany and Belgium.
Tenerife is the No.1 European getaway destination for 12 European countries, including Spain, the UK, Germany and Belgium
Tenerife (above) is described by CV Villas as offering ‘plenty for tourists to explore, including the infamous Mount Teide volcano’
Sicily, above, comes fourth in the ranking, generated by researchers studying the past 12 months of Google search data for holidays in 185 countries
Rounding out the top five is the Italian island of Sicily in fourth and Corfu in Greece in fifth.
Further down the top 10, Greece continues its winning streak with destinations such as Kos, Mykonos and Crete all making the cut for the most-searched European vacation spots.
CV Villas also produced a series of regional maps to show the breakdown of the results more clearly across the globe.
A separate map for the U.S shows how Sicily is the most popular European destination in 29 states, Santorini is top in 16, and Tuscany is top in four states.
Ibiza and Santorini dominate in the Caribbean and Central America
Second-place Ibiza (above) is described as ‘a popular tourist destination thanks to its scorching summer weather, exotic scenery, and stunning beaches’
A separate map for the U.S shows how Sicily is the most popular European destination in 29 states, Santorini is top in 16, and Tuscany is top in four states
Ibiza is the No.1 European destination, it would seem, for the citizens of South America
Down Under – it’s Santorini that is the No.1 European destination
In Africa, Santorini is No.1 in 15 countries and Ibiza in eight.
Pete Brudenell, General Manager from CV Villas, commented: ‘We wanted to inspire travellers to embark on unforgettable journeys by showing how much Europe has to offer: from breathtaking landscapes to vibrant nightlife and beach retreats.
‘Looking at the results, it’s great to see how European travel is admired around the globe, as well as witness the ongoing curiosity for hidden gems within Europe.
‘Whilst many of social media’s favourite destinations dominate the results – such as Santorini and Ibiza – it is satisfying to see destinations from all over the European continent getting the attention they deserve.’
More information can be found at: www.cvvillas.com/blog/archive/worlds-most-popular-eu-destinations.
In Asia, it’s Santorini that dominates Google searches for European vacations
Where in Europe does Africa want to go on holiday? The No.1 choice is Santorini
