Online searches for New Haven rose by 39 percent between January and June this year relative to the same period last year, according to a British search aggregator.

Ximena Solorzano, Head Photography Editor

Trending travel destinations worldwide for next year include far-flung locations like Limón, Costa Rica, Madeira, Portugal — and New Haven.

A report by Skyscanner, a British search aggregator, found that online searches for New Haven spiked by 39 percent this year — from January through June compared to the same period last year — earning the Elm City a spot on its list of 10 top travel destinations. City and state officials and a local pizza expert attributed this increased interest in New Haven to its thriving pizza industry.

“People from all over the world — England, Russia, Canada, Australia, South Africa and all of the states — come for New Haven pizza,” Colin Caplan, creator of culinary entertainment company Taste of New Haven and an organizer of September’s Guinness World Record-breaking Apizza Feast, said.

Caplan noted that although New Haven has been informally known as the “Pizza Capital of the United States” for years, the city officially received this title from its own U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro in a congressional statement on May 22, 2024.

In September, Caplan spearheaded New Haven’s 10th annual Apizza Feast, a downtown celebration of the city’s iconic style of pizza. The event broke the Guinness World Record for the largest pizza party, with 4,525 participants. The event generated attention from news outlets across the country, drawing more attention to the city.

Anthony Anthony, Connecticut’s chief marketing officer, works with a team of 16 employees to promote the state’s brand and, among other goals, promote travel to Connecticut. Anthony said Connecticut’s budget for pushing tourism is 4.5 million dollars.

Last fall, the state updated highway signs to read “Welcome to Connecticut, Home of the Pizza Capital of the United States.” Connecticut launched pizza license plates in the spring to promote travel to New Haven.

Anthony described his team’s work to promote travel to Connecticut as a “labor of love.”

“We care deeply about the small businesses,” he said. “Connecticut has the biggest number of independent restaurants. 97 percent of them are owned individually. So that is one thing that makes Connecticut so great, the village of Connecticut — we still have that small intimacy and sense of belonging.”

Michael Piscitelli, New Haven’s economic development administrator, cited the city’s pizza industry and other attractions as increasing interest in the city.

“Globally significant museums and the meaningful nature of innovation here in the city is driving New Haven tourism,” he added, pointing to the Yale Peabody Museum and Yale New Haven Hospital.

Piscitelli said that New Haven’s annual Restaurant Week, expanded to two weeks this year, boosts travel to the city.

Restaurant week kicked off on Nov. 2 and ends on Nov. 15.

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