Happiest Tourist Destinations Revealed By Facial Recognition Software

With so many travellers sharing their favourite holiday snaps on Instagram, the Travel Insurance experts at InsureandGo have analysed thousands of photos posted on the social media platform in order to reveal which holiday hotspots are home to the happiest tourists. 

 
The researchers analysed 100 popular global holiday destinations, collecting a sample of pictures from famous tourist attractions within each location, before using facial recognition technology to analyse the expressions of visitors and in turn, give each an average ‘smile score’.  

The Top 20 Happiest Holiday Hotspots 

The Lake District ranks as the number one happiest holiday hotspot in the world, followed by Lofoten and Queenstown. Cumbria’s National Park tops the charts thanks to an impressive smile score of 88.4 out of 100, with most of its photos showing visitors smiling and enjoying their trip to the region. Home to the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike, and offering no end of picturesque villages and spectacular vistas, there’s a lot to smile about, and it seems not even the great British weather can stop visitors grinning for the camera. 

Second place in the rankings highlights a lesser-known travel gem, with the dramatic mountains and pristine villages of Lofoten in Norway leaving visitors smiling more in their travel snaps than the heavily visited likes of Barcelona and New York City. With a smile score of 85.2, maybe thisNorwegian archipelago should be on more bucket lists. Queenstown in New Zealand completes the top three with a smile score of 84.2. Its blend of striking scenery, Lord of the Rings fandom, award winning wines and options for adrenaline junkies, making it a happy trip for any taste.  

Other notable destinations that feature in the top 20 include the Isle of Skye in Scotland (7th), home to stunning scenery and breathtaking hikes;Palawan in the Philippines, where travellers snorkel in crystal clear waters and kayak through lagoons, and Lisbon, a European hotspot which leaves travellers smiling from ear to ear as they traverse its historic cobbled streets. 

Russell Wallace at InsureandGo comments: “Social media platforms like Instagram are a fantastic way to not only share your adventures with friends and family, but also find inspiration for your next travel destination. And with the people who surround you while travelling able to make or break your experience, we were incredibly keen to find out if certain tourist hotspots are filled with more grinning tourists than others. 

 
“We’re so pleased to see such a huge breadth of exciting destinations make our rankings of the happiest holiday hotspots, from the exotic shores of the Philippines and Panama to the exciting cityscapes of locations like Vancouver and New York City. Wherever your next adventure turns out to be, we hope this list has given you some inspiration. However, it’s crucial to remember that even in the happiest destinations, unexpected events can occur. That’s why we strongly recommend securing a comprehensive travel insurance policy before your trip. This coverage can protect you financially from unforeseen circumstances, from medical emergencies to lost luggage, or trip delays. By having the right insurance in place, you can travel with peace of mind, knowing you’re protected against potential setbacks, allowing you to fully enjoy your destination and keep those smiles in place throughout your entire journey.” 

For more information on the world’s happiest tourist destinations and the full top 25 ranking, visit: https://www.insureandgo.com/blog/happiest-holiday-hotspots