In 2023, the term 'Cyprus' garnered millions of searches, making it one of the most sought-after destinations globally. Who were the curious individuals searching for information about the island? What sparked their interest, and when did they seek it?
Did you know that Cyprus secured a spot among the top-searched travel destinations on Google in 2023? According to a recent report by Condé Nast Traveller, the allure of our 'soft beaches,' 'lush vineyards,' and the 'twinkling Mediterranean' captured the imagination of many.
Despite the absence of a specific Cyprus category on Google, a chart reveals the precise moments when 'Cyprus' dominated global search queries and who the searchers were. Notably, citizens of 70 nations showed considerable interest in our island last year.
Predictably, countries with a significant Cypriot diaspora, such as Britain, Australia, America, and South Africa, searched for 'Cyprus' more frequently. Surprisingly, even nations like Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana, along with Russia, Japan, and Indonesia, demonstrated a notable interest.
While many African countries and most of South America remained indifferent, China's recent fascination with Cyprus was not reciprocated, except for the Hubei and Hebei provinces, which exhibited a passing interest, particularly in Nicosia.
Globally, searches for 'Cyprus' peaked four times in the preceding 12 months: in May (likely due to Eurovision), early September (linked to riots), mid-October (Cyprus v Norway football match), and November (coinciding with the onset of Cat Covid and British media's feline frenzy).
Events like the Scotland v Cyprus Uefa Euro Qualifiers and the tragic deaths of 24 Turkish Cypriot children during a hotel collapse prompted search spikes. Concerns about 'Cyprus Jet2' surfaced in spring when the airline suspended all flights. The trial of British pensioner 'David Hunter Cyprus' also brought the island back into the limelight.
Notably, searches for 'Cyprus' are consistently high in March and April, coinciding with Milton Keynes residents dreaming of sunshine. However, between July 16 and 22 of the previous year, 'Cyprus weather' reached an all-time high as travelers anticipated a severe heatwave.
This leads us back to the beginning, as Condé Nast's comprehensive analysis of Google's search trends positioned Cyprus as the sixth most-searched travel destination worldwide in 2023. Surpassing vibrant destinations like Morocco, Malta, Egypt, and Thailand, only five other locations were more frequently searched than Cyprus.
Condé Nast, with early access to Google's travel destination data, acknowledged Cyprus for its stunning seas and excellent food. While it secured sixth place, the top five spots went to Croatia, Portugal, Italy, Spain, with each destination praised for its unique attractions, affordability, and year-round appeal.