What was the most searched word in the world on Google?
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(CNN) --
Google has released its annual 'Year in Search' trends roundup, which covers a wide variety of topics, including tourism.
It comes as no surprise that travel-related searches increased big time in 2022, as more destinations reopened and covid-related regulations, such as mandatory testing, were lifted.
Among the various data released by the technology company is a list of the top ten destinations that are trending on its online flight booking search service —Google Flights—, which provides clues as to where Americans want to go this year. and beyond.
One key thing to know about this data: there is a difference between "most searched" and "top trends."
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A Google representative explained that "'trending' queries are searches that had a high increase in traffic over a sustained period in 2022 compared to 2021."
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The great return of Europe
Four of the top ten destinations searched for by US-based Google Flights users (London, Paris, Rome and Lisbon) are in Europe, which had a busy summer travel season this year.
American tourists returned in droves to Europe, especially France, where they were credited with "saving" the country's summer vacation season.
While Lisbon's popularity could simply be due to the fact that it's a good place to go on vacation, it's likely that some of your searches were for one-way tickets only.
Portugal offers a variety of visas that make it relatively easy for Americans and other non-European Union citizens to move there;
in fact, even Madonna is one of the Americans who has lived in Lisbon.
A night view of Paris (Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images)
Asia recovers after covid
In general, Asian countries took much longer to reopen than European ones.
As a result, the Asia-Pacific region will lose its place as the world's largest travel region this year.
That might explain why Ho Chi Minh City ranked high on the Google Flights trending list.
Vietnam reopened to tourism in early 2022, while other traditionally popular countries like Japan and China remained closed.
A spate of new hotels opening in popular destinations like Phú Quốc and Ke Ga Bay—both in the southern part of the country and accessible via Ho Chi Minh City—has helped this too.
Report: Asia Pacific on the verge of losing the title of the most traveled region in the world
Meanwhile, India's two big hubs, Mumbai and New Delhi, were also listed on Google's US flights. India reopened its borders at the end of 2021 and US passport holders can apply for travel visas online. .
Canada is also a destination
Since Canada lifted the last of its covid-related travel restrictions on October 1, searches in the US have skyrocketed.
Vancouver landed in eighth place on the Google Flights trending list, while Toronto was fifth.
However, the huge influx of travelers landing in Toronto ended up on a different, less distinguished list earlier this year: Pearson Airport was named the world's worst for flight delays and cancellations during the summer peak season.
A couple in Ontario, Canada (Courtesy of Cheryl Hurst and Preet Banerjee)
top 10 trends
Here is the list of the Top 10 Popular Google Flights Searched US Destinations 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, New York
For more on Google, the company's 12th Year in Search report is now online.
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