Google Trends help predict tourism to Bahamas, IMF study shows

A woman walking along a beach in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas. Combining Google Trends data with traditional forecast models improved accuracy of predicted tourist arrivals to the Bahamas from the US by about 30%, according to a working paper by IMF. — AP

Online searches can help countries predict tourist visits more accurately and give governments a better read on economies that depend on the industry, an International Monetary Fund analysis showed.

Combining Google Trends data with traditional forecast models improved accuracy of predicted tourist arrivals to the Bahamas from the US by about 30%, according to a working paper by IMF senior economist Serhan Cevik released on Jan 31.