Walt Disney World tops list of ‘New Wonders of the World’
The Seven Wonders of the World – the Great Wall of China, Chichen Itza, the ancient city of Petra, Machu Picchu, the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, and the Christ the Redeemer statue – have always been bucket list travel destinations. However, younger travelers look to social media for travel inspiration, and, as a result, Walt Disney World Resort has topped a list of “New Wonders of the World of 2022” based on TikTok popularity.
Knowing that TikTok travel guides are the new way to plan a vacation, Next Vacay – an online travel search system that finds the best flight deals in real-time – conducted a study to determine the top bucket list experiences for 2022 based on TikTok popularity. The study also created rankings for which sights were the most popular to visit each season.
“As searches for ‘travel TikTok videos’ have soared by 350% in the past year, there’s no denying that Gen Z and millennial travelers are turning to TikTok in 2022 to find inspiration for their next jet-setting adventure,” said Next Vacay Founder and CEO Naveen Dittakavi. “Gen Z travelers are the keenest to travel abroad in 2022 and are using TikTok to discover hidden gems and destinations that can offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The 150% increase in searches for ’travel TikTok trends’ in the past year shows that this trend is here to stay. TikTok has been leading a travel revolution, with travel videos going viral and the hashtag #TravelTikTok reaching a staggering 4.6 billion views.”
“New Wonders of the World of 2022” according to TikTok
#1 – Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. (8.6 billion TikTok views)
Walt Disney World Resort earned its number one spot as the most popular attraction in 2022 – its 50th-anniversary year – with 8.6 billion views on TikTok. Next Vacay found that interest in “Disney World TikTok” soared by 240% in the past twelve months, and searches for “Disney World crowd calendar 2022” increased by 3,695% in the past year. The study also determined the best time to visit “The Most Magical Place on Earth” is during the winter months as the weather is cooler, crowds are thinner, and wait times are shorter.
#2 – Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE (1.9 billion TikTok views)
The second-place spot for the most popular bucket list experiences for 2022 is the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with 1.9 billion views on TikTok. So it’s no surprise that the record-breaking building – the world’s tallest building with the highest observation deck – attracts 6.2 million visitors every year, and according to Next Vacay, the best time to visit is in the winter.
#3 – Eiffel Tower in Paris, France (719.6 million TikTok views)
The third most popular attraction to visit in 2022 is the iconic Paris landmark Eiffel Tower with 719.6 million TikTok views. Each year, 7 million visitors visit the 1887 structure in all kinds of weather, but Next Vacay says the best time to visit is during the fall when lines are much shorter.
#4 – Taj Mahal in India (377.4 million TikTok views)
Number four on the list is the Taj Mahal in India, with 377.4 million TikTok views. Known around the world as a symbol of love, the spectacular monument sees 8 million visitors every year, but Next Vacay recommends visiting between March to June when temperatures are warm, crowds are manageable, and you can avoid the heat or the summer rainy season. They also note the best time of day to visit is right at sunrise when the building changes color as the sun rises above it.
#5 – Grand Canyon in Arizona (273.2 million TikTok views)
The Grand Canyon in Arizona rounds off the top five, with 273.2 million views on TikTok. An average of 5 million travelers take in the awesome views from the canyon’s rim each year, but Next Vacay says the best months to visit are March through May when daytime temperatures aren’t as hot, rainfall averages are low, and summer tourists have yet to arrive.
Methodology
Using TikTok search, Next Vacay analyzed the number of views each “wonder of the world” has on the platform and ranked them from most to least popular. Then, using Keyword Tool and Google Trends, they analyzed various terms, including: “travel tiktok videos,” “travel tiktok trends,” “places to travel in 2022,” “Disney World crowd calendar 2022,” and “Disney World TikTok.” Data reflects the twelve months preceding March 8, 2022.
Click here for the full study.
