Lesser-known towns through search engines, 28% through word of mouth, 15% through social media and 6% through AI tools
35%
35% discovered lesser-known towns through search engines, 28% through word of mouth, 15% through social media and 6% through AI tools.
n = 3,005 travel industry professionals · Fielded 2026 · Cherry Data Signals
Methodology
- Sample
- 3,005
- Population
- travel industry professionals
- Country
- United States
- Fielded
- 2026
- Research by
- Cherry Data Signals
- Study
- Towns With Untapped Tourism Potential
Cite this statistic
Cherry Data Signals (2026). "Lesser-known towns through search engines, 28% through word of mouth, 15% through social media and 6% through AI tools" Survey of 3,005 travel industry professionals, United States. https://cherrysignals.com/statistics/lesser-known-towns-through-search-engines
Free to reproduce with attribution to Cherry Data Signals and a link to this page.
Related statistics
- Untapped tourism potential#1
- Local business website convinced them to stop somewhere they would otherwise have driven past in the previous year32%
- Missing photos as a business website turn-off; 11% outdated information; 11% no website; 10% uncertainty about whether it remained open14%
- Strong reviews and photos could turn a drive-through visit into an overnight stay; 25% cited a standout hotel, restaurant or shop26%
- They would trust an AI-built website33%
- How small businesses would build a website27%
- Barriers stopping small businesses building a website20%
- Most stressful places for a vehicle breakdown#1
Need an original statistic for your own story?
Explore Survey ResearchResearch by Cherry Data Signals