- Cheapflights has categorised the top destinations by four categories: Top Overall Trending, Solo Trips, Under-the-Radar and Wallet-Friendly
- Zanzibar and the Maldives remain trendy holiday spots
- South African travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to budget-friendly destinations
After two years of navigating unpredictable travel restrictions, it’s no doubt travellers are hoping 2022 will be the year they can return to their favourite destinations and cross new places off their travel bucket list. While planning new adventures at the start of the year is always a thrill, finding the right destination can be a challenge.
What are the trending destinations? And are they affordable?
To answer these and other questions, travel search engine Cheapflights.co.za has analysed travel searches to identify the biggest destination trends in South African tourism for 2022. Broken down into the categories of Top Overall Trending Destinations, Solo Trips, Under-the-Radar and Wallet-Friendly, the data unveils some surprising insights about where South Africans are heading for exploration and leisure this year.
Top Trending Destinations of 2022
The Top Trending Destinations are those that saw the largest rise in searches when compared to pre-pandemic 2019. Zanzibar in Tanzania and Malé in the Maldives dominate the list followed by Maputo in Mozambique, Cairo in Egypt, and Los Angeles in the United States.
| Top Overall Trending Destinations 2022 | ||
| Destination | Median Airfare (ZAR) | |
| 1. | Zanzibar, Tanzania | 15,000 |
| 2. | Malé, Maldives | 20,000 |
| 3. | Maputo, Mozambique | 9,400 |
| 4. | Cairo, Egypt | 14,300 |
| 5. | Los Angeles, United States | 13,300 |
Top Destinations for People Traveling Alone
Solo travel has seen a surge – and not just for business travellers. In 2022, those looking to travel alone are heading for beach-friendly destinations or noisy and vibrant cities, such as Zanzibar and London, United Kingdom.
| Top Solo Destinations 2022 | ||
| Destination | Median Airfare (ZAR) | |
| 1. | London, United Kingdom | 18,700 |
| 2. | Zanzibar, Tanzania | 15,000 |
| 3. | Port Louis, Mauritius | 19,000 |
| 4. | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 15,200 |
| 5. | Denpasar, Indonesia | 21,100 |
Top Under-the-Radar Destinations
From the top 200 most-searched destinations, the density of hotels versus searches was analysed to identify the places that may not be the first that comes to mind when planning a trip but should certainly not be missed. These include Shanghai, China and New Delhi, India while Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam also makes a surprise appearance.
| Top Under-the-Radar Destinations 2022 | ||
| Destination | Median Airfare (ZAR) | |
| 1. | Shanghai, China | 28,600 |
| 2. | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | 27,100 |
| 3. | New Delhi, India | 9,300 |
| 4. | Rome, Italy | 7,700 |
| 5. | Milan, Italy | 7,850 |
Top Wallet-Friendly Destinations
For those hoping to see the world without emptying their wallet, Cheapflights also reveal the destinations where the cost of flights and hotels are considerably less than most other places. This includes popular cities such as Bangkok, Thailand, and more off-the-beaten yet still trendy places such as Istanbul, Turkey.
| Top Wallet-Friendly Destinations 2022 | |||
| Destination | Median Airfare (ZAR) | Median Hotel Price (ZAR) | |
| 1. | Windhoek, Namibia | 4,000 | 1,000 |
| 2. | Harare, Zimbabwe | 3,400 | 1,300 |
| 3. | Bangkok, Thailand | 8,300 | 757 |
| 4. | Lahore, Pakistan | 7,800 | 1,100 |
| 5. | Istanbul, Turkey | 7,200 | 1,500 |
As more countries ease travel restrictions for South African travellers, Cheapflights expects searches across a wider array of destinations. For more tools to plan a getaway, Cheapflights.co.za offers Flight, Stay and Car Rental searches as well as Price Alerts and a Things To Do vertical.
About Cheapflights
Cheapflights is a global travel search site that compares flights, hotels and rental cars. Founded in 1996, Cheapflights is an online travel pioneer and continues to make it simple for travellers to find great deals. Cheapflights is managed by KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings. For more information, visit cheapflights.co.za.
