Year in Search: Google reveals top trending flight searches of 2022 | CNN

<strong>Google Flights top trending destinations 2022:</strong> Google Flights has shared the 10 destinations that spiked in interest for American travelers this year. Number 10 was New York City (pictured), but the rest of the destinations were outside of the country. Click through to see more.

Google Flights top trending destinations 2022: Google Flights has shared the 10 destinations that spiked in interest for American travelers this year. Number 10 was New York City (pictured), but the rest of the destinations were outside of the country. Click through to see more.

TTstudio/Adobe Stock

<strong>9. Lisbon, Portugal: </strong>The country's range of visas, including one for "digital nomads," has made it easier than ever for Americans to relocate to Portugal.

9. Lisbon, Portugal: The country's range of visas, including one for "digital nomads," has made it easier than ever for Americans to relocate to Portugal.

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe Stock

<strong>8. Vancouver, Canada:</strong> Canada dropped its final Covid restrictions in October 2022, making it easy for Americans to visit their northern neighbor.

8. Vancouver, Canada: Canada dropped its final Covid restrictions in October 2022, making it easy for Americans to visit their northern neighbor.

Arky/Fangzhou/Adobe Stock

<strong>7. Mumbai, India:</strong> People with US passports can get India travel visas online, which makes it an appealing place to go.

7. Mumbai, India: People with US passports can get India travel visas online, which makes it an appealing place to go.

Roman/Adobe Stock

<strong>6. Rome, Italy:</strong> Travelers dreaming of la dolce vita searched for flights to Rome in 2022.

6. Rome, Italy: Travelers dreaming of la dolce vita searched for flights to Rome in 2022.

Viacheslav Lopatin/scaliger/Adome Stock

<strong>5. Toronto, Canada: </strong>Toronto's Pearson Airport had the dubious distinction of having <a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/world-airports-most-summer-2022-delays-cancellations/index.html" target="_blank">the most delayed or cancelled flights</a> this year, but that didn't stop potential travelers from looking at flights there.

5. Toronto, Canada: Toronto's Pearson Airport had the dubious distinction of having the most delayed or cancelled flights this year, but that didn't stop potential travelers from looking at flights there.

Mocsonoky Peter/anderm/Adobe Stock

<strong>4. New Delhi, India:</strong> The city of 27 million inhabitants was the fourth most trending destination on Google Flights' list.

4. New Delhi, India: The city of 27 million inhabitants was the fourth most trending destination on Google Flights' list.

diegograndi/Adobe Stock

<strong>3. Paris, France: </strong>France is typically one of the most popular international destinations for American travelers, and that hasn't changed since the pandemic.

3. Paris, France: France is typically one of the most popular international destinations for American travelers, and that hasn't changed since the pandemic.

Sergey Dzyuba/bbsferrari/Adobe Stock

<strong>2. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam:</strong> Vietnam was quicker to reopen than nearby China and Japan, which may have helped it become more popular with travelers.

2. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Vietnam was quicker to reopen than nearby China and Japan, which may have helped it become more popular with travelers.

Dmitry Berkut/De Visu/Adobe Stock

<strong>1. London, UK</strong>: Topping the list was London. The UK will host two big events -- King Charles III's coronation and the Eurovision Song Contest -- in 2023.

1. London, UK: Topping the list was London. The UK will host two big events -- King Charles III's coronation and the Eurovision Song Contest -- in 2023.

Pawel Pajor/Adobe Stock

Google Flights top trending destinations for 2022

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations opening, inspiration for future adventures, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments.

CNN —

Google has released its annual roundup of Year in Search trends, which covers a wide variety of topics, including tourism.

It’s no surprise that travel-related searches picked up big time in 2022, as more destinations re-opened and dropped Covid-related regulations like mandatory testing.

Among the various data released by the tech company is a list of top 10 trending destinations on its online flight booking search service Google Flights, which gives clues about where Americans want to go this year and beyond.

One key thing to know about this data: there’s a difference between “most searched” and “top trending.”

A representative from Google explains that “‘trending’ queries are the searches that had a high spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2022 as compared to 2021.”

Europe’s big comeback

Four of the top 10 destinations searched for by US-based Google Flights users – London, Paris, Rome and Lisbon – are in Europe, which had a resurgent summer travel season this year.

American tourists returned in droves to Europe, especially to France, where they were credited with “saving” the country’s summer holiday season.

While Lisbon’s popularity could just be due to the fact that it’s a nice place to go on vacation, it’s likely some of the searches were for one-way tickets.

Portugal offers a range of visas that make it relatively easy for Americans and other non-European Union citizens to move there – in fact, even Madonna has lived in Lisbon.

Asia rallies after Covid

Overall, countries in Asia were much slower to reopen than their European relatives. As a result, the Asia-Pacific region is set to lose its title as the world’s largest travel region this year.

That could explain why Ho Chi Minh City placed high on Google Flights’ trending list. Vietnam reopened to tourism in early 2022, while other traditionally popular countries like Japan and China remained shut.

A spate of new hotels opening in popular destinations like Phú Quốc and Ke Ga Bay – both of which are in the southern part of the country and accessible via Ho Chi Minh City – doesn’t hurt, either.

Meanwhile, India’s two big hubs, Mumbai and New Delhi, also made the US Google Flights list. India reopened its borders in late 2021, and US passport holders can apply for travel visas online.

Canada calling

Since Canada dropped the last of its Covid-related travel restrictions on October 1, US searches have spiked.

Vancouver landed in eighth place on the Google Flights trending list, while Toronto was fifth.

However, the huge influx of travelers landed Toronto ended on a different, less distinguished list earlier this year – Pearson Airport was named the worst in the world for flight delays and cancellations during the peak summer season.

The top 10

Here’s the list of the top 10 trending Google Flights destinations searched for in the US for 2022.

1. London, UK

2. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

3. Paris, France

4. New Delhi, India

5. Toronto, Canada

6. Rome, Italy

7. Mumbai, India

8. Vancouver, Canada

9. Lisbon, Portugal

10. New York, NY

For more Google insights, the company’s 12th annual Year in Search hub is now online.