Long-haul holiday specialists Travelbag analysed 69 long-haul destinations to reveal the most in-demand countries Brits want to visit in 2023. The research examines the average Google search volume for holidays in some of the most popular destinations in December 2022 and how year-on-year searches have changed.
The Maldives and Turkey crowned most sought-after exotic holiday destinations to escape the winter cold. With 121,000 people dreaming of winter sun, the Maldives and Turkey are tied as the most-searched long-distance holiday destinations.
Known for its crystal clear seas, beautiful beaches and vibrant culture, the Maldives remains a popular holiday spot for 2023. And now is the time to escape to one of the Maldivian islands, as the best period to visit is between November and April, as these are the Islands’ warmest and driest months.
Unlike the consistently popular Maldives, Turkey has grown in popularity for 2023 holiday-seekers, as the country has seen a 173% increase in searches in the last year. With everything from bustling markets such as the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, to exploring beautiful hot air balloon rides in the Cappadocia region, Turkey has much to offer. If you’re looking for a quick getaway, the flight to Istanbul is much shorter compared to the Maldives at just under four hours compared to around 10.
Thailand and Mexico are joint-runners-up, with almost 100,000 Brits searching for holidays there. Thailand and Mexico come in joint second, with 99,000 Google searches each. Both destinations offer tourists ancient cities to explore and dazzling beaches to relax on.
With the monsoon season over, 221 sunshine hours in February, and slightly lower humidity levels, wintertime in the UK is the best time to visit Thailand. The country has seen an increase in demand of 234% compared to last year, which could be due to tourists only being able to enter the country since April last year, due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Mexico is also a tried and true winter escape. With 202 sunshine hours in February, it’s the perfect time to visit one of the seven wonders of the world, the ruins of Chichen Itza, and try out some of their famous foods.
These are the most in-demand holiday destinations for 2023:
| Rank | Country | Average Searches in December 2022 |
| 1 | Maldives | 121,000 |
| 1 | Turkey | 121,000 |
| 2 | Thailand | 99,000 |
| 2 | Mexico | 99,000 |
| 3 | Egypt | 81,000 |
| 3 | Barbados | 81,000 |
| 4 | Cape Verde | 75,900 |
| 5 | Dominican Republic | 54,200 |
| 5 | Mauritius | 54,200 |
| 6 | Morocco | 44,900 |
Morocco tops the list of up-and-coming holiday destinations for 2023
Comparing the search volume for holidays from this year with last year, Travelbag reveals which destinations have seen the biggest increase in demand.
| Rank | Country | Average YOY Change |
| 1 | Morocco | 581% |
| 2 | Argentina | 485% |
| 3 | Tunisia | 312% |
| 4 | Saudi Arabia | 276% |
| 5 | Qatar | 250% |
Morocco saw the biggest increase, with 581% more people searching to holiday there last month compared to 2021. Listed in the top 10 travellers’ choice holiday destinations for 2023 by TripAdvisor, and recently becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the football World Cup, Morocco has soared in popularity as a winter sun location. With colourful souks to explore, Mediterranean beaches and rich history, Morocco has much to offer travellers in 2023.
Argentina, winners of the World Cup, and Qatar, the hosts, also saw large increases from Brits wanting to holiday there. Going up by 485%, Argentina offers visitors everything from snowy mountains to golden sand beaches, and beautiful vineyards to exciting cities. Qatar offers a different landscape, with glittering cities and sandy dunes, visitors can go on thrilling desert adventures or wander around the modern capital city, Doha.
The increase in demand for holidays in Qatar could be down to the World Cup, so it will be interesting to see if this demand remains the same over the coming year.
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