London was the most searched-for global destination this year, according to new figures.
Data released by travel agency eDreams ODIGEO shows that the British capital pipped Paris to become the most popular destination for flight searches from all markets globally during 2023.
They were followed by New York City, Bangkok and Barcelona, according to the report.
London came third as the most popular booked destination globally, behind Paris in first place and Barcelona in second.
Nearly half (44 per cent) of all bookings globally were made within 2 weeks or less of departure, with just a fifth (19 per cent) made more than 61 days before travel.
A third (34 per cent) of all trips were for just 3-4 days, reflecting the enduring popularity of cheaper mini-breaks.
The figures were released as part of eDreams’ Year in Travel report, which analysed booking data from its customers in key European markets and the US.
Dublin was the most popular destination for Britons, while more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of bookings were continental.
Separate figures released by the Office for National Statistics last month showed that the number of tourists visiting London had soared to near record numbers in the Spring, led by Americans drawn by the weakness of the pound.
There were 5.315 million foreign visitors to London in the three months to June, up a quarter on the 4.254million who came to the capital in the same quarter last year, the first without Covid era travel restrictions.
Dana Dunne, CEO of eDreams ODIGEO, said: “Our research shows that travel continues to be a very important part of people’s lives. When we look at the global travel map for 2023, traditional hotspots like Paris, Barcelona and London remain firm favourites.
“But, we have also seen long-haul destinations like Bangkok, Las Vegas, and New York grow in popularity this year. That’s really exciting as it shows how travellers are embracing the plethora of choice, information and inspiration available to them thanks to new technologies like AI and increasingly influential social media platforms like Tik Tok.”
He added that travel trends next year would be influenced by a “packed sporting calendar”, including the Olympics in Paris.
