TikTok travel index 2023

TikTok isn’t just an app for viral dance trends or funny cat videos. It is also the go-to destination for travel inspiration. 

There are hundreds of TikTok travel bloggers to help you in all the stages of planning your dream getaway - from choosing the perfect city destination to finding the best deals on luggage storage! 

To get an up-to-date view of the travel world on TikTok in 2023, we’ve taken a new look at the top destinations and travel influencers on the platform to reveal which are this year’s most popular. If you are planning your next getaway here is everything you need to know.

The most-watched countries on TikTok

1. United States | #USA: 357.4 billion views
The USA is one of the most diverse countries in the world, with landscapes ranging from desert caves to palm tree beaches and ice-capped mountains. The United States tops the list of TikTok’s favorite countries to travel to, with over 357.4 billion views on the app. TikTok videos tagged with #USA show the country’s culture, tasty cuisines, and live music scene.

2. Mexico | #Mexico: 348.9 billion views
Mexico’s famous hot beaches, Mayan ruins, and mouth-watering street food attract travelers from all over the world, all seeking a tropical paradise getaway. It’s no surprise that Mexico has over 348.9 billion views on TikTok, with videos highlighting Chichen Itza, luxury beachside hotels, and modern shopping centers. On TikTok, Mexico is the second-most-popular country to visit overall. 

3. Argentina | #Argentina: 217.0 billion views
There’s more to Argentina than just Buenos Aires and tango. The home of Mate and steak also offers travelers mountainscape views and mindblowing national parks. The South American nation received 217 billion views on TikTok, completing our top three. TikTok videos tagged with #Argentina showcase the nation’s football culture, natural landscapes, and vibrant festivals.

The most-watched destinations on TikTok

1. Dubai - United Arab Emirates | #Dubai: 140.4 B views
If you like a vacation with golden beaches, futuristic architecture, and traditional Arabic culture, then Dubai is the place for you. Dubai continues to top the list of TikTok’s hottest travel destinations for the second year. Dubai’s must-visit attractions like the awe-inspiring Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa make a trip to this getaway destination a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Most of the big attractions in Dubai are free, meaning a trip to this luxury destination doesn’t have to come with luxury prices. We found that views for TikTok videos using #Dubai have increased 72% since our study last year, up from 81.8 billion.

2. New York City - United States | #NYC: 101.8 B views
New York City is the heart of diverse cultures, a bustling center, and world-class shows. It’s no surprise to see New York City maintaining its spot from last year’s study as the second-most popular TikTok travel hotspot. The megacity offers visitors peaceful parks, an unbeatable culinary scene, and unmatched entertainment including Broadway shows. Rising in popularity, views for TikTok videos using the hashtag #NYC have increased by 71% since last year’s study when we recorded the total views as 59.5 billion.

3. London - United Kingdom | #London: 72.8 B views
Rounding off our top three hottest travel spots according to TikTok, London proves its popularity isn’t going anywhere fast. The city is home to unmatched nightlife, natural spaces, and a myriad of traditional British pubs. TikTok videos in London showcase the city’s fascinating museums and traditions like the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Views for TikTok videos tagged with #London have increased by 98% from 36.8 billion since our study last year.

The top 5 TikTok travel influencers

1. Alex Ojeda (@alexojeda) | 8.3 million followers | Estimated earnings per post: $8,335 (€6,703 | £7,708)
Alex Ojeda is TikTok’s favorite travel blogger, retaining the top spot he claimed in our previous studies. Alex is often seen exploring thrilling waterparks, ziplines, and waterslides, making for an adventure-filled TikTok page. In a single post, Alex could make up to $8,335 (€6,703 | £7,708). Since last year’s study, Alex has gained 300,000 TikTok followers and his content continues to push the boundaries of creativity.

2. Julia Thompson (@juliiathompson) | 3.5 million followers | Estimated earnings per post: $3,493 (€2,809 | £3,230)
Julia Thomspon’s TikToks showcase the Earth’s most beautiful landscapes - from Namibian sunsets to Costa Rican hot springs, Julia’s TikToks are designed to inspire wanderlust and give her followers travel inspiration for their next adventure. Julia could make up to $3,493 (€2,809 | £3,230) for one TikTok post. Julia came in second place in our study last year too, and since we last looked at her TikTok account, she has gained 800,000 followers.

3. Jorden Tually (@jordentually) | 3.4 million followers | Estimated earnings per post: $3,360 (€2,702 | £3,107)
Australian TikTok travel blogger Jorden Tually takes his viewers around the world, often basing videos on suggestions from his followers, visiting spots like the Owl Village Cafe in Harajuku and a Vietnam hotel made of pure gold. Jorden could make up to $3,360 (€2,702 | £3,107) for a single TikTok upload. The popularity of Jorden’s TikTok account is undeniable with a growth of 26% in followers, from 2.7 million in last year's study to 3.4 million today.

Methodology

We wanted to find out which travel destinations are the most popular in 2023, updating the data of our previous studies.

We compiled a list of 222 destinations, including cities, regions, states, islands, and territories. We then recorded the total number of views each city’s hashtag had received on TikTok on May 16th, 2023. For New York, we used #NYC.

We also compiled a list of 193 countries and recorded the total number of views each country’s hashtag had received on TikTok on May 16th, 2023. For the United States of America, we used #USA, for the United Kingdom we used #UK, and for the United Arab Emirates, we used #UAE.

We then compiled a list of the most popular TikTok travel influencers. We sourced the total number of followers for each account from TikTok on 17th May 2023.

We also used Influencer Marketing Hub’s TikTok Money Calculator to determine how much each influencer could earn per post. We recorded the maximum estimated potential earnings per post for each influencer. We recorded the values in US Dollars and used Google Finance to convert earnings into Euros and Great British Pounds.