The world’s favourite travel destinations of 2023

As the world continues to recover from the grip of the pandemic, the global travel industry is enjoying a resurgence.

By the end of 2022 global passenger traffic had reached almost 7 billion — an increase of 53.5% from the previous year and 73.8% from 2019 — and the growth continues. The world has well and truly reopened, bringing with it a new wave of opportunities. Insights from the Mastercard Economics Institute revealed that despite an uncertain global economy, business travel is growing, new travel corridors are emerging, and a renewed sense of freedom is seeing people prioritise leisure travel and experiences over consumer goods. In this blog post we look at the top travel hotspots of 2023, and summarise where people from key regions are travelling to — and why.

Europe’s favourite travel spots seem largely unchanged, with the UK, Spain and Italy maintaining their places at the top of the list for most of the year. That’s changed during summer months, with extreme temperatures and the risk of wildfires driving Europeans away from the heat in favour of the cooler climates of Scandinavia, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany. The United States has also jumped from tenth place in 2022 to fourth, fuelled by a weaker dollar.

Travellers leaving the Middle East have favoured the UK, France and America for years and this remains the case, however 2023 has also seen some interesting changes. More Middle Eastern travellers are seeking out destinations closer to their own doorsteps, with Egypt and Saudi Arabia making it into the top ten list. This has been influenced by the region’s burgeoning economy and significant investments in leisure and tourism, along with improved transportation infrastructures and air routes, easier visa applications and a hugely effective rebrand and marketing campaign.

Mexico is still the favourite travel destination for Americans, followed by the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Italy, Germany and France. An increase in consumer spending and rising disposable incomes have been the main drivers of increased overseas ticket sales, boosted by an apparent desire to step outside of the States and experience more of the world.

The United States has long been the favourite destination for travellers from Latin America and this remains unchanged. But the region’s economic growth, leading to an increase in more affluent travellers, is prompting a change in its travel habits, with a rise in visits to Spain and Germany in particular. Latin American cities are now more connected than ever, with vastly improved air connectivity at more affordable prices. This trend is expected to continue as travellers seek to expand their horizons and explore more of the world, notably Europe.

Northeast Asia is making a huge comeback following the challenges of COVID. By February 2023, mainland China had reopened and Hong Kong had become one of the top three destinations visited by travellers from Asia Pacific, while the U.S and Australia have remained popular in the spring and summer. The rise in outbound tourism has been prompted by a huge increase in urbanisation and advances in technology, combined with a flourishing middle class with money to spend. Simplified visa policies and the rise of low-cost travel operators have also been significant factors in the region’s changing travel habits.

Business travel recovered from the lockdown era at a slower rate than leisure travel for most of 2022, largely due to the rise in remote working and continuing economic uncertainties. While risks still continue, the demand for in-person meetings has grown, attendance at international events and conferences has seen a huge increase and commercial flights are now way beyond pre-pandemic levels. Countries with a stronger return-to-office dynamic (notably Europe and Asia Pacific) significantly outperformed those that favoured remote working practices, such as North America and the Middle East.

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