TikTok Unveils Montenegro to the British: Flights Soar 164% Thanks to Budget Destination Trend

Montenegro is seeing a surge in interest among British tourists thanks to the TikTok trend "destination dupes," which highlights attractive yet affordable travel alternatives. Flights from the UK to Montenegro rose by 164% in 2024, according to data from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

It may take more than a TikTok trend to replace Britons' love for Mediterranean beaches. However, recent data shows a growing number of travelers swapping Malaga for North Macedonia and Benidorm for the Balkans, following the popular "destination dupes" trend, reports The Guardian in London.

Flights from the UK to Bosnia and Herzegovina increased by 284% in 2024 compared to the previous year, while travel to Montenegro jumped by 164%. Albania, often dubbed the "new Croatia," recorded a 61% rise, according to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data analyzed by Manchester Airports Group.

TikTok influencers are increasingly promoting lesser-known destinations that offer "Instagrammable" landscapes at a lower price. The rise of this trend is fueled by a post-Covid thirst for adventure and the cost-of-living crisis, which is pushing many travelers to look for more affordable alternatives.

Popular alternatives include Bansko in Bulgaria (instead of the French Alps) and Podgorica as a city break destination instead of crowded Athens or Budapest.

Interestingly, it's not just younger generations exploring the Balkans. Data shows that millennials and their parents make up the majority of travelers to the region. People under 25 account for 13% of travelers to Montenegro and 20% of those who visited Albania.

Despite the growing interest in lesser-known destinations, traditional hotspots still dominate – Tenerife remains the top destination for Britons with 3 million visitors in 2024, while over 220,000 UK tourists visited Montenegro. 

Source/Photo: Share Montenegro