Research Reveals How Much TikTok Is Influencing The Way We Travel

With over 1 billion active users globally, TikTok is quickly becoming the go to social media platform. From packing hacks to money saving tips, travel inspo, to do’s and don’ts abroad, there is no shortage of travel content on TikTok. Over 54,000 posts with the hashtag ‘travel’ are shared every single month and #travel now has over 136 billion total views.

Research by travel specialists Cruise118.com revealed that TikTok is influencing our travel destinations.

A statement from the video streaming app said: “TikTok has become increasingly popular for showcasing authentic travel moments. These videos range from creators interacting with nature in various ways, to immersing themselves in different cultures such as tasting street food, to trying their hand at uniquely local experiences.”

Travel TikTok creator, Alexa Moore (@lilmsawkward) said; “I’ve found so many destinations, excursions, and tours through TikTok. I love how TikTok has a huge storytelling aspect, so I see unique and exotic experiences I don’t think I could’ve read about or glanced at on Instagram. And I love that it’s more than the Maldives and Bora Bora, it’s the exotic places you really would never think to go.”

Alexa added, “TikTok is becoming the younger generation’s Google. The TikTok search feature makes it so easy to find the information you want. Videos that I’ve posted 1-2 years ago are still amassing views because it’s content that people can use to help plan trips with.”

The research from Cruise118.com revealed how tourism to the least travelled destinations in the world has increased since 2019 – with significant correlations between high numbers of views on TikTok and increased travel.

The least travelled to countries in the world including Comoros, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu saw significant spikes in people searching for holidays to these destinations following viral TikTok videos, with searches for holidays to Kiribati increasing by over 72% after getting over 4 million views on the platform.

Tuvalu
Tuvalu is the least travelled to country in the world, despite its breathtaking beaches and dream-like coral reefs. This often forgotten country is nestled in the Central Pacific Ocean and made up of nine low-lying coral atolls. This tiny paradise is perhaps one of the last untouched destinations in the world. Interest in searches for trips to Tuvalu have increased almost 24% since receiving over 115 million views on TikTok. Out of the least travelled to destinations in the world, this country has blown up the most on TikTok thanks to its beautiful beaches and fascinating culture.
Kiribati
Kiribati consists of a string of 33 idyllic coral atolls scattered nearly 4,000 km across the Pacific. With only around 12,000 visitors a year, Kiribati is another one of the least visited countries in the world. After gaining over 42 million views on TikTok, searches for travel itineraries in this beautiful part of the world have increased over 72%.

Solomon Islands
Situated in the South Pacific between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands are an archipelago of 992 stunning tropical islands and atolls, scattered in a gentle curve. The islands and waters are still a little known pristine paradise, attracting an average of only 4,000 visitors each year. These one of a kind islands are particularly special thanks to their remarkable biodiversity, containing thousands of different plant and animal species, especially marine life, with many species known only to the Solomon Islands. If you’re a nature lover wanting to sample a taste of paradise, you won’t be disappointed. With over 30 million views on TikTok, searches for holidays to this country increased over 14%.

Comoros
Nestled between Africa and Madagascar, Comoros is an Indian Ocean idyll. Attracting around 7,000 visitors a year, Comoros remains almost forgotten. Comoros can compete with other Indian Ocean islands on looks – white sand beaches, clear seas and volcanic landscapes – but also offers cultural riches, sightings of rare and endangered species and scenic hiking trails. This island country has gained over 4 million views on TikTok and searches for holidays to this destination increased by over 57% in the last two years.

Travel TikTok creator, Alexa Moore added, “I recently went on a rather spontaneous solo trip to Panama and based a lot of my itinerary, accommodations, and restaurants on recommendations I found on TikTok. I visited the breathtaking San Blas Islands because of a video I saw on TikTok. And I went to the first ever black-owned Panamanian restaurant in Panama City because of a TikTok too. TikTok introduced me to the Siwa Oasis in Egypt. Siwa Oasis are these gorgeous bright blue salt pools where the salt concentration is so high that you just float. I know many people tend to travel to Cairo and the south, but it really inspired me to go north on my trip to Egypt this year.

The post-pandemic travel surge is definitely real. It seems like now, more than ever people are looking to explore the world and take those trips they missed out on.”