Spring is officially on the horizon, revitalising not just the natural world but also igniting fresh excitement and possibilities within the tourism industry. While the season is synonymous with blooming fields and vibrant landscapes, the allure of nature-based destinations extends across seasons, from the pastel beauty of spring flowers to the warm hues of autumn’s pumpkin patches. These stunning attractions not only captivate travellers but also play a crucial role in driving tourism and supporting local economies, with major floral destinations amassing around 223,000 Google searches monthly.
Understanding and recognising the seasonality of these experiences is key for businesses seeking to maximise their impact. With renewed enthusiasm for travel as spring arrives—and many people planning holidays for the year ahead—there is no better time to focus marketing efforts on the rhythms of nature’s calendar.
With these seasonal blooms creating peak travel opportunities, understanding when and where nature shines brightest is key. That’s why at Bókun we’ve launched Boom in Bloom, an international study revealing how nature’s most iconic blooms drive search demand, attracting travellers and generating economic impact. By tapping into the rhythms of nature, businesses can turn seasonal beauty into sustained success, while travellers can strategically time their visits.
The top 6 nature destinations boosting tourism worldwide
To discover which nature-based destinations capture the most global attention, we analysed consumer search demand for “[nature destination] near me” related to seasonal attractions. This data highlights how key bloom times align with increased travel interest, offering a clear link between nature’s seasonal cycles and tourism demand.
Pumpkin patches: Pumpkin patches have been crowned tourism’s most influential nature destination worldwide, seeing a staggering 171,000 average global monthly searches for “pumpkin patches near me”. Their rustic, photo-ready settings make them a social media favourite, driving both online engagement and interest in visits.
The USA was found to be the country most in demand for “pumpkin patches near me” averaging 152,000 searches per month. More impressively, searches soared to 1.08 million in October 2024 – a staggering 611% increase above average during peak pumpkin patch season, emphasising their huge role in influencing seasonal tourism.
Apple Orchards: Ranking in second place, with an average of 21,000 global monthly searches, are Apple Orchards. Our data revealed that while most apples are ready to pick in September, public demand for apple orchard experiences booms in October as they combine outdoor adventure with culinary experiences, offering classic autumn activities like apple picking, cider tasting, and seasonal markets.
The USA was found to be most in demand of apple orchard experiences worldwide. Analysis of October search data (2024) saw search demand soar by 402% above the monthly average.
Sunflower fields: In third place, seeing an average of 10,000 monthly searches globally is sunflower fields. These flowers witness peak bloom in August, offering the perfect late-summer photo backdrops. Their striking landscapes make them social media magnets, boosting tourism through online sharing in the summer.
The study found Sunflower fields to be most in demand in the USA, seeing a 203% increase against average monthly searches in August 2024.
Tulip fields: Blooming in April, with an average of 6,300 global monthly searches, tulip fields are synonymous with spring flower festivals. Iconic events, such as the Netherlands Tulp Festival see the country’s museums, hotel gardens and public areas transform into breathtaking Tulip destinations – turning their bloom seasons into major global travel events, perfect for the Easter holidays.
The UK was found to be the country most in demand for tulip experiences, witnessing a 460% increase in demand during tulip fields peak season in April 2024.
Cherry blossoms: Renowned for their short-lived beauty, cherry blossoms attract an average of 5,700 monthly searches worldwide and bloom between March and April. Their fleeting bloom creates a sense of urgency among travellers, fueling demand for iconic destinations like Japan—one of the top choices for spring break holidays.
The study found that Canada sought to experience the beauty of cherry blossoms more than any other country worldwide, seeing search demand for “cherry blossoms near me” soar 412% above average in April 2024.
Lavender fields: Known for their tranquil beauty, lavender fields attract an average of 4,200 monthly searches globally. These flowers bloom during June and July, driving the highest demand in searches in July. With their enchanting fragrance and vibrant purple hues, these fields captivate visitors from around the globe, offering picture-perfect moments and tranquil gateways during summertime.
Data revealed the UK is the most eager country to find “lavender fields near me”, seeing search demand rise by 290% above average during their peak season in July of 2024.
The Countries benefiting most from blooming seasons
The study analysed the largest location-based queries such as “Norfolk tulip farms” worldwide to reveal which locations are the most popular for different flowers and trees and thus in turn are most likely seeing the biggest benefits from nature tourism.
Oahu, Hawaii is set to benefit most from sunflower tourism
Overall the country set to benefit most from sunflower tourism is the USA, dominating 48% of location-based searches. The most popular location in the USA set to benefit from their sunflowers is Oahu, Hawaii, seeing global searches for “sunflower field oahu” average 810 per month; followed by Michigan, (400) then Ohio (310).
The United Kingdom ranked as the second-best destination for sunflower tourism, accounting for 23% of location-based search queries. The study revealed searches for “Andover sunflower fields” were the most popular UK-based search query averaging 520 global searches per month, followed by Portglenone, Northern Ireland (400), then London (350).
Australia ranked as the third-best country poised to benefit, with Australian-based searches for sunflower fields accounting for 8% of global demand. Searches specifically for “Melbourne sunflower farms” boasted 410 monthly average global searches, followed by Sydney (160) and Brisbane (150).
Based on average monthly search demand worldwide, the most popular sunflower field globally was found in Gundlupet, India (averaging 1,000 monthly searches). Gundlupet is known as “the flower pot of India” making it unsurprising that this location is set to benefit from sunflower tourism. However, Indian-based sunflower locations failed to dominate in quantity, only making up 7% of global demand.
Tulips blooms are booming tourism in Amsterdam, Norfolk and Oregon
The Netherlands is the undisputed champion for tulip fields, attracting a staggering 84% of all location-based searches worldwide. Amsterdam is the location set to benefit most from this trend, seeing an average of 4,090 related searches to Amsterdam tulip fields per month worldwide. This is followed by Lisse (1,320) and more specifically Keukenhof (470).
The UK ranked second most likely country to benefit most from Tulip field experiences making up 9% of global demand. “Norfolk tulip fields” were revealed as the highest UK-based tulip location according to search demand, averaging 920 monthly searches globally, followed by “Crawley tulip fields” (150), more specifically Tulleys, then Kings Lynn (70).
Finally, the United States. make up 6% of global tulip farm demand. The U.S.-based locations set to benefit most from tulip tourism are Oregon – with global monthly searches for “Oregon tulip fields” averaging 200 per month, followed by Washington (150), more specifically Skagit Valley and Carlsbad, California (100).
Demand for Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC outshines Japan
Surprisingly, the United States tops the list for the most location-based cherry blossom searches, claiming 53% of global interest. Collective searches around ‘Washington DC cherry blossoms’ average 44,000 per month globally, specifically the cherry blossoms located at the University of Washington (8,830). The next location to benefitrom these flowers in the U.S. is New York, averaging 5,940 monthly global searches, followed by Chicago (1,850), especially in Jackson Park.
Following in second place, dominating 35% of global location-based cherry blossom demand is Japan. Tokyo is set to benefit most from cherry blossom tourism seeing an average of 6,830 monthly searches, more specifically at the Meguro River (1,250) and Ueno Park (900). Next, Nara Prefecture saw searches for cherry blossoms at Mount Yoshino average 1,230 per month globally followed by Kyoto (1,010).
Canada ranked third most likely country to benefit from Cherry Blossom tourism, commanding 9% of the global location-based searches. Toronto in particular is set to benefit, with an average of 8,190 monthly search demand around their cherry blossoms, especially at High Park (7,160). Followed by Vancouver (1,180) – notably in Stanley Park (200) and then Victoria (380).
Illinois, USA is set to benefit most from pumpkin patch and apple orchard demand
When it comes to the most popular locations for pumpkin patches, Illinois, USA, dominates the top search queries for pumpkin patches and apple orchards. Most notably, the Edwards apple orchard in Illinois ranked top for average monthly global searches at 4900, followed by the Pine Tree apple orchard (2300) and the Afton apple orchard (2000) in Minnesota.
Other popular nature destinations include Provence, France, for lavender fields; Kinclaven in the UK for bluebell woods; and Portland in the United States for rose gardens. Each of these locations secured the number one spot in their respective categories.
The Economic Impact of Nature-Based Destinations
Agritourism has emerged as a significant driver of economic growth, with nature-based attractions like cherry blossoms in Japan, tulip festivals in the Netherlands, and pumpkin patches in the U.S. showcasing how lucrative this trend can be. The agritourism market is projected to grow from $56.92 billion in 2023 to $60.89 billion in 2024[1], with specific nature destinations acting as case studies to highlight its potential: Japan’s cherry blossom season alone generates $7.5 billion[2], and tulip tourism, boosted by festivals and films like Wicked, is propelling a market expected to reach $8.61 billion[3] by 2029.
Public demand emphasises this appeal, as searches for “Japan cherry blossoms” surge by 84% during peak bloom, while “Netherlands tulips” increase by 125%. Meanwhile, attractions like pumpkin patches contribute up to $240,000 per season[4], and flower farms like Muddy Acres showcase diverse revenue streams, with over $250,000 in annual sales[5]. These examples affirm the immense economic potential of nature-driven tourism.
Best Time To Market These Tours
Data shows that searches for nature destinations often spike the month before or during the actual blooming months. By timing marketing to coincide with this natural surge in interest, operators can effectively capture demand. Additionally, staying updated on destination opening times and seasonal changes allows for more accurate and timely promotions, enhancing the likelihood of converting interest into bookings.
Based on the collected data, at Bókun we recommend that tour operators strategically align their marketing efforts with key search periods and blooming seasons. By staying informed, relevance is ensured and visibility is maximised during peak interest periods.
Methodology
To find the nature destinations which have the most influence on tourism, the monthly average search volume data worldwide for “[insert nature destination] near me” was collected from Ahrefs – for example “sunflower fields near me”. The search term used the phrase ‘near me’ as an indication of the person’s intent to visit. This was then repeated for each nature destination analysed in the study e.g. sunflowers, pumpkin patches, lavender fields. This data was then ranked in order from highest to lowest to conclude which had the highest public interest and thus had the most influence over tourism.
To identify the local destinations benefiting most from nature-based tourism, the study analysed popular nature-focused attractions, such as “sunflower fields,” using Ahrefs’ keyword tool for detailed search data insights. Ahrefs then pulled through the highest global searches which related to each search query. This data was then extracted and cleaned to leave only the most searched-for local destinations such as “sunflower field oahu”. These were then ranked in order of highest to lowest based on global average monthly search volumes to reveal which local nature-based destinations are most popular and are attracting the most potential tourists.
To reveal when would be the best time to market each nature destination, data was collected from Ahrefs on the peak month for search demand for each nature destination analysed.
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