EDINBURGH, Scotland, January 4 /PRNewswire/ — Travel search site Skyscanner (http://www.skyscanner.net) reveals the top 50 most searched for destinations from UK airports for travel in 2010.In the top spot is Malaga, moving up one place from last year. Tenerife and Alicante are second and third, meaning Spain takes the top three positions.
Orlando is a new entry into the top ten, rising 12 places since last year. Dalaman holds its position as the 5th most searched for destination for a second year in a row, whist New York also brakes into the top ten, up five positions from last year.
Palma comes in 8th, losing one spot since last year; Lanzarote is 9th, rising four places, and Geneva is 10th, dropping two places.
Overall Spain is yet again the most popular country for Brits to visit, with 11 Spanish destinations within the Top 50, five of which are in the top ten.
“These early indications show that Spain is still by far the most popular destination for British travellers. Medium and long haul locations also seem to be on the rise compared to last year, suggesting that holiday budgets may be growing after a tough financial year” said Barry Smith, Skyscanner co-founder and business director.
Brand new entries to the top ten are Johannesburg and Cape Town, which will be welcoming the World Cup in 2010. Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong also entered the top 50.
Destinations dropping most in search volume are Edinburgh, Salzburg, Murcia, London and Fuerteventura.
Top 50 Most Searched for destinations for 2010, from UK airports
1. Malaga, (Spain) [+1]
2. Tenerife (Spain) [+2]
3. Alicante (Spain)[0]
4. Orlando (USA) [+12]
5. Dalaman (Turkey) [0]
6. Faro (Portugal) [0]
7. New York (USA) [+5]
8. Palma (Spain) [-1]
9. Lanzarote (Spain) [+4]
10. Geneva (Switzerland) [-2]
11. Bangkok (Thailand) [+11]
12. Paphos (Cyprus) [-3]
13. Barcelona (Spain) [+1]
14. London (UK) [-13]
15. Bodrum (Turkey) [-4]
16. Paris (France) [+1]
17. Rome (Italy) [-2]
18. Gran Canaria (Spain) [+1]
19. Larnaca (Cyprus) [+1]
20. Sydney (Australia) [+7]
21. Johannesburg (South Africa) [New Entry]
22. Amsterdam (Netherlands) [-4]
23. Murcia (Spain) [-13]
24. Dublin (Ireland) [-1]
25. Ibiza (Spain) [+5]
26. Prague (Czech Republic) [-2]
27. Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) [+11]
28. Auckland (New Zealand) [+11]
29. Venice (Italy) [+4]
30. Luqa (Malta) [+5]
31. Krakow (Poland) [-5]
32. Las Vegas (USA) [+13]
33. Cape Town (South Africa) [New Entry]
34. Melbourne (Australia) [New Entry]
35. Fuerteventura (Spain) [-10]
36. Berlin (Germany) [+1]
37. Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) [New Entry]
38. Marrakech (Morocco) [-9]
39. Milan (Italy) [-7]
40. Dubai (UAE) [New Entry]
41. Madrid (Spain) [-5]
42. Hong Kong (Hong Kong) [New Entry]
43. Perth (Australia) [New Entry]
44. Edinburgh (UK) [-16]
45. Munich (Germany) [New Entry]
46. Salzburg (Austria) [-15]
47. Crete (Greece) [-6]
48. Brisbane (Australia) [New Entry]
49. Sofia (Bulgaria) [-2]
50. Nice (France) [-2]
New Entries
1. Johannesburg (South Africa)
2. Cape Town (South Africa)
3. Melbourne (Australia)
4. Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
5. Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
6. Perth (Australia)
7. Munich (Germany)
8. Brisbane (Australia)
Going Up: Highest Climbers
1. Las Vegas (USA) [+13]
2. Orlando (USA) [+12]
3. Bangkok (Thailand) [+11]
4. Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) [+11]
5. Auckland (New Zealand) [+11]
Going Down: Lowest Fallers
1. Edinburgh (UK) [-16]
2. Salzburg (Austria) [-15]
3. Murcia (Spain) [-13]
4. London (UK) [-13]
5. Fuerteventura (Spain) [-10]
Key Findings
1. Spain remains by far the most popular country for the UK market, with 11 Spanish destinations within the Top 50, 5 of which are in the Top 10.
2. All the new entries to the Top 50 are long haul, apart from Munich.
3. South Africa has seen the biggest new entry rises, likely due to World Cup 2010 traffic.
4. Highest climbers are all long haul or medium haul destinations.
5. Biggest fallers are all for short haul destinations, and include two UK and two Spanish destinations.
Data is based on searches from UK airports for travel in 2010, using search data collected in Q4 of 2009.
About Skyscanner
Skyscanner provides instant online comparison on flight prices for over 670,000 routes on over 600 airlines.
http://www.skyscanner.net
