Trip.com Group Rides AI, Inbound Boom, and Older Travelers to Strong Quarter
Photo Credit: Trip.com mobile app icon is seen on an iPhone. Adobe Stock / Tada Images
Skift Take
Trip.com’s inbound bookings soared 100% as China’s visa-free policies lured more tourists. With AI and senior travelers fueling growth, the company’s global comeback looks sharp and well-targeted.
Inbound tourism to China has become Trip.com Group’s fastest-growing segment, thanks to favorable policy changes and increased international interest. Visa-free access for travelers from over 40 countries, along with China's new 240-hour visa-free transit policy, is making it easier for tourists to visit the country.
“In the first quarter, our inbound travel bookings surged by approximately 100% year-over-year with South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia emerging as some of the fastest-growing source markets,” said Trip.com Group Co-Founder and Executive Chairman James Liang at an earnings call on Tuesday.
Inbound hotel bookings from key visa-free countries surged more than 240%, driven in part by new initiatives such as free city tours for transit travelers and upgrades to multilingual offline service centers.
The inbound segment also outperformed others on conversion rates and cross-selling metrics, according to Jane Sun, CEO and direc
