Google Releases its Travel Search Data for 2020

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The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic has affected all sectors of the economy, however, the travel sector has been by far the worst affected. The restrictions imposed were quite varied and extensive. Thus, the most searched questions on the internet apart from the coronavirus-related queries were travel-related. Google unveiled the most ‘googled’ travel searches for 2020 on the last day of the year. The results published embody the very essence of this by-gone year.

The Most Asked Questions

A significant section of people have turned to Google to seek answers for their travel-related queries and questions. Google’s annual search data for 2020 revealed the top trending searches in the US from its database of the trillions of searches from the passing year. Among the most frequently asked travel questions were the following:

1. Where can Americans travel right now?
2. When will international travel resume?
3. Is it safe to travel?
4. When will travel restrictions be lifted?

Other Travel-Related Queries and Searches

Travel restrictions imposed on specific areas were also frequently googled by people globally. Search data also suggests that people often googled specific travel destinations like Mexico and Hawaii to find out if they were open for tourists and visitors. Globally, the most trending search was those requesting information about virtual field trips, museum tours, and other such tours. Nelly Kennedy, the Brand Editorial Director at Google asserted, “For nearly 20 years, as the year comes to a close, Google has shared the top questions, moments and individuals that inspired the world to search.” This year it was a little different as travel remained largely circumscribed.

As the Covid-19 restrictions seemed to be eased during the course of the last couple of months during the year, people also started planning vacations for the upcoming holiday season. Travel searches also witnessed a surge during the year-end as people started planning their trips for the upcoming year. The travel industry has faced severe regression due to the pandemic. These adverse effects will be partly alleviated with the hopeful resumption of travel next year. Moreover, with a year of minimal travel, people around the world have expressed a strong sense of determination to change these circumstances in the upcoming year. This is reflected in the mounting travel-related queries on the internet.