SINGAPORE, 10 November 2025: Trip.com Group shared insights on global travel trends and AI at last week’s WTM in London, gleaned from the group’s recent joint report with Google, “Why Travel?”
During a panel discussion tagged “From Snowfields to Screens: How Sports, Stories and AI Are Powering the Next Wave of Chinese Outbound Travel,” Trip.com Group Managing Director of International Markets and Vice President Boon Sian Chai highlighted how the company is driving the next phase of global travel recovery through collaboration and technology.
“Travellers today are more intentional, seeking meaning, authenticity, and value in every journey,” he shared. “The report shows a shift from escape to connection, with longer stays, rising interest in nature- and culture-based itineraries, and greater engagement with eco-certified accommodations. For Trip.com Group, that means partnering globally to create accessible, personalised, and responsible travel experiences.”
For instance, the report notes a 53% year-over-year increase in searches for slower-paced cultural experiences, such as “Japanese tea ceremonies,” alongside a surge in demand for wellness. Searches for wellness-sport pairings, including “golf and spa resorts,” increased by 300%, and “ski and spa” packages rose by 250% year-over-year.
A related Trip.com session during WTM delved into “Cool Tripping, Slow Tourism and the Sophisticated Traveller’ noting that Trip.com research showed that 92% of travellers express interest in more sustainable travel. Still, fewer than 60% have acted on it.
(Source: Trip.com Group)
