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Trip.com Group Reveals What Travellers Want This Summer: Shorter Trips and Cooler Escapes

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Over 40% YoY increase in bookings for short trips, as holidaygoers seek quicker escapes, cooler weather and family travel this summer

SINGAPORE, June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 2026 is fast shaping to be another record year of travel, as jetsetters seek to tick off their holiday checklists and fulfil their wanderlust. Looking back at the first half of 2026, Trip.com Group found that users from Mainland China, the United Kingdom and Malaysia were the most avid about clocking their miles, travelling up to 2,800km on average, which is equivalent to the distance between Beijing and Manila, or London and Tenerife.

Across regions, cosmopolitan hubs and mega cities continue to be tourism hotspots, with the top-ranked cities by flight bookings being Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Taipei[1].

The second half of 2026 will continue to be a busy travel period, as many welcome the summer vacations, sunny weather and the school holidays. Outbound flight bookings from regions like Europe, East Asia and Southeast Asia are seeing double-digit growth year-on-year (YoY) this summer and school holidays, based on Trip.com Group’s data, and driving this increase are some key trends observed this summer, including demand for quick getaways, family holidays and coolcations[2].

Quick Getaways Dominate Vacations This Summer

Quick escapes are the way to go this summer. The average trip duration of bookings made during this period ranges from 2.92 days to 3.8 days, with short-haul flights forming the majority of bookings. This is especially prominent in Europe, where short-haul flight bookings are seeing a YoY increase of 73%.

Long weekend travel, a form of quick getaway where people combine one to two days of annual leave with a long weekend, continues to be popular. This summer, bookings for short trips of 4 days or less are showing YoY increases above 40% in the East Asia and Europe regions, and above 15% in Southeast Asia. This incline is expected to grow further into the second half of 2026, especially for East Asia and Southeast Asia regions, suggesting that quick getaways will continue to dominate travellers’ itineraries for the rest of the year.

Family Travel Takes the Lead

More travellers are choosing to go on family trips this summer, taking advantage of the school holiday break. Hotel bookings by families with children aged 12 and below this summer have increased across regions, and more than doubled in markets like Mainland China, South Korea and Japan, based on Trip.com Group data.

A recent Trip.com Group survey also found that travelling with family is ranked as the most appealing experience, placed higher than a trip with a partner, friends or solo travel. This trend is even more pronounced in markets like the UK, Germany, Singapore and South Korea, especially among older Millennials or those aged 35 to 44 years old.

What this means is that family-first experiences are becoming a top priority for travellers, whether it is selecting convenient flight timings or having family-friendly food and activities nearby in the accommodation they choose. Having the right accommodation for the trip is particularly important to Gen Zs and Millennials, and factors they look out for include having family-friendly options and whether the hotel is near to child-friendly attractions[3].

In Southeast Asia, some of the top-booked attractions this summer include family-friendly experiences such as Bali Zoo in Indonesia, as well as Desaru Water Adventure Park and Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm in Malaysia, while theme parks like Universal Studios Japan, Tokyo DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland are highly popular choices in East Asia.

Coolcations See Hotter Demand

As global temperatures rise, travellers are increasingly swapping the sun and sand for cooler weather and activities. Data from Trip.com Group shows a 74% YoY increase in searches for cooler destinations and coolcations since the start of this year[4].

Topics like “escape the heat”, “summer escapes” and “cool summer retreat” are trending, as travellers prioritise experiences away from the crowds and sweltering heat. Trip Moments, Trip.com’s community platform for travellers to share experiences and seek inspiration, has seen a 15.4% YoY increase in content last summer that spotlights cool summer getaway destinations, as well as tips and tricks to beat the heat[5].

Beyond popular coastal cities like Palma Mallorca, Izmir, Malaga and Porto, global flight booking searches for European destinations such as Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland and Wales are seeing significant increases this summer, compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, cooler destinations in Asia like Inner Mongolia, Sapporo and Yunnan, are experiencing a growing interest from international travellers. Notably, Ulaanbaatar and Sapporo, with comfortable temperatures averaging around 15°C to 25°C this summer, are among the top 10 most-booked cities for South Koreans, showing strong triple-digit YoY growth.

For cooler getaways this summer, Trip.com users can easily get recommendations on top-ranked destinations for summer water activities or cool water escapes via Trip.Best, a data-backed travel guide and inspiration for accommodation, attractions, destinations and more.

Less Thinking, More AI Planning

Travellers are no longer planning their trips by scouring the internet for information, but leaving the hard work to AI, Trip.com Group’s recent report found. With readily available AI travel tools such as TripGenie and Trip.Planner, users can get customised itineraries and assistance in a matter of seconds, and this is shifting behaviours. Google search interest for “help plan my trip” grew by 190% YoY, while TripGenie‘s AI-assisted order volume on Trip.com increased by around 400% year-on-year, indicating a deeper reliance on AI for inspiration and bookings.

Beyond pre-trip planning, travellers also see AI as a useful companion during their trip. The use of core TripGenie tools, such as hotel comparison, menu assistance, and live translation, increased by around 300% year-on-year. While travellers in highly connected, short-haul travel markets such as Hong Kong SAR, Singapore and Malaysia, tend to interact with TripGenie more often per trip for in-destination inspiration and attraction guides, travellers in parts of Europe and North America typically engage AI earlier in the planning cycle, consulting TripGenie weeks in advance.

This signals a growing shift towards the use of AI as an integral part of travel planning and the travel journey, making it even easier for people to explore the world in 2026 and beyond.

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About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group is a global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. Across its platforms, Trip.com Group helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of travel-related content and resources, and an advanced transaction platform consisting of apps, websites and 24/7 customer service centres. Founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, Trip.com Group is on the mission “to pursue the perfect trip for a better world”. Find out more about Trip.com Group here: group.trip.com.

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[1] Based on Trip.com Group flight booking data from 1 January to 31 May, 2026.

[2] Based on Trip.com Group flight booking data for the following time periods and regions: 1 June to 31 August, 2026 (Europe), 1 July to 31 August, 2026 (East Asia), 1 to 30 June, 2026 (Southeast Asia).

[3] Based on a OnePoll survey commissioned by Trip.com Group among women who have travelled in the last 2 years or intend to travel in the next 2 years. The survey was conducted from February to March 2026 and polled 3,500 women in total across Germany, Hong Kong (SAR), Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

[4] Based on Trip.com Group’s search data from January 2026.

[5] Based on data from Trip.com’s community platform, Trip Moments, from June to August 2025.

 

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DIGITIMES Intelligence: Chip Controls Are Reshaping China’s Auto Supply Chain — BYD Shows What Comes Next

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TAIPEI, Sept. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The global automotive industry is entering a new phase in which semiconductors are becoming as strategically important as batteries, motors and manufacturing scale. As vehicles evolve into software-defined, AI-enabled platforms, chips increasingly determine everything from power management and cockpit functions to advanced driver-assistance systems. At the same time, geopolitical tensions and technology restrictions are pushing automakers to rethink where those chips come from — turning semiconductor supply into a strategic issue for the global auto industry.

China sits at the center of that shift. U.S. and allied export controls introduced since 2022 were designed primarily to restrict China’s access to advanced semiconductor technologies and manufacturing equipment. Yet the restrictions have also added urgency to Beijing’s long-running localization strategy. A March 2026 analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that the controls have accelerated the adoption of domestic chips and equipment, while strengthening coordinated efforts across government and industry to localize semiconductor design and manufacturing.

The automotive sector is becoming one of the clearest testing grounds for that strategy. Chinese automakers are accelerating efforts to increase domestic chip sourcing as Beijing pushes for greater semiconductor self-reliance across strategic industries. The shift is especially significant because modern electric and intelligent vehicles depend on a broad range of semiconductors — from mature-node power devices and microcontrollers to increasingly sophisticated computing chips for smart-driving systems.

Against this backdrop, a new DIGITIMES Intelligence report identifies BYD as a particularly revealing case of what happens when policy-driven localization meets years of prior corporate investment. Unlike automakers that are only now accelerating their semiconductor strategies, BYD began building in-house chip capabilities more than two decades ago, initially focusing on power-control semiconductors needed for electric vehicles.

That strategy has steadily moved up the semiconductor value chain. BYD’s early work in IGBT and silicon carbide (SiC) power devices helped secure critical electronic-control components for its EV business. Its semiconductor roadmap has since expanded toward higher-compute smart-driving SoCs, culminating in the Xuanji A3, which the DIGITIMES Intelligence report identifies as entering scaled production on a 4nm automotive-grade process.

The difference is not simply chip design. DIGITIMES Intelligence finds that BYD has spent more than two decades building an integrated device manufacturer (IDM) model spanning chip design, wafer fabrication and mass-production deployment, supported by multiple in-house fabs and a dedicated semiconductor engineering organization. That vertical integration gives BYD a different starting point from automakers now entering custom silicon primarily in response to supply-chain pressure.

The strategic value of that investment may ultimately extend beyond cars. DIGITIMES senior analyst Jessie Lin notes that intelligent vehicles and humanoid robots share many of the same foundational technologies, including AI processors, sensors, motors, batteries and control systems. BYD’s accumulated expertise in smart-driving silicon and algorithms could therefore provide a foundation for expansion into robotics and other physical AI applications.

That possibility is becoming more relevant as China accelerates its push into embodied and physical AI. At the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, more than 300 companies showcased over 2,000 robotics exhibits, with humanoid robots increasingly demonstrated in manufacturing, logistics and household applications rather than simply as prototypes. The growing overlap between China’s EV and robotics ecosystems could make capabilities in batteries, motors, sensors, manufacturing and AI increasingly transferable across the two industries.

BYD’s trajectory also illustrates why the long-term impact of semiconductor export controls is difficult to assess in simple terms. Restrictions can constrain access to frontier technology in the short term, while simultaneously strengthening incentives for domestic substitution and investment. CSIS has argued that although export controls have limited China’s access to some leading-edge technologies, they have also added momentum to domestic semiconductor innovation and localization.

The implications extend beyond BYD or even China’s auto industry. As cars become more dependent on advanced computing, semiconductor capability is increasingly becoming part of automakers’ competitive strategy — alongside software, batteries, manufacturing and supply-chain resilience. The rise of vertically integrated players such as BYD could therefore reshape not only automotive semiconductor sourcing, but also the boundaries between automakers, chipmakers and emerging physical AI companies.

The new DIGITIMES Intelligence report examines BYD’s semiconductor evolution from power devices and SiC to smart-driving SoCs, the structural advantages created by its IDM model, and how those capabilities could position the company as China’s automotive semiconductor localization accelerates and physical AI emerges as a new growth frontier.

For more information: DIGITIMES Intelligence – BYD Semiconductor Report
https://dgt.ms/reportBYDchips_prnewswire

About DIGITIMES

DIGITIMES is a Decision Intelligence platform rooted at the core of the industry, dedicated to helping global decision–makers navigate change and formulate strategies through first–hand insights and AI–driven analysis. We integrate intelligence services, forward–looking research, and influence marketing to provide comprehensive support from insights to execution—continuously defining the future with clarity and serving as a long–term strategic partner for businesses moving forward.

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AI, Connectivity and What Comes Next: Inside Asia Innovation Summit 2026

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Globe Teleservices (GTS), a global telecom solutions provider, hosted the Asia Innovation Summit 2026 on 20 August in Singapore, bringing together 50+ industry leaders from 30+ companies across MNOs, technology providers and enterprise ecosystems to discuss the forces reshaping digital communications.

The expert-led panels focused on the key shifts reshaping digital communications, including the convergence of telecom, cloud and OTT, and the rise of Agentic AI in business messaging. Speakers explored the move from campaign-led communication to continuous, intelligent and context-driven interactions, with identity and consent becoming critical to trusted engagement.

The Summit also addressed the changing economics of A2P SMS, as the industry moves from volume-led models towards subscriber engagement, sustainable value and measurable outcomes. Together, the sessions pointed to a clear shift in communication – from delivering messages at scale to creating greater value from every interaction

“Telecom and digital communications are entering a new phase, driven by AI, Network APIs and evolving communication models. The Asia Innovation Summit has become a platform for industry leaders to share perspectives, exchange ideas and collaborate on the opportunities shaping this next phase.” said Ashutosh Agrawal, Group CEO, Globe Teleservices.

With diverse perspectives spanning telecom, technology and enterprise ecosystems, Asia Innovation Summit 2026 reinforced the importance of collaboration in shaping the future of digital communications. The summit served as a forum to share industry insights and identify new opportunities for innovation across Asia and beyond.

About Globe Teleservices

Globe Teleservices Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore-based global telecom solutions provider with a presence across Malaysia, USA, Dubai, Tanzania, Ghana, India and Hong Kong. GTS provides next-gen solutions in A2P monetization, omnichannel messaging, anti-fraud and cloud services. GTS is a member of MEF, GSMA and GLF. Its recognitions include Singapore’s Fastest Growing Companies 2026, 2025 and 2024, AI Initiative of the Year – Malaysia & Telecom Technology Solutions Provider of the Year – Malaysia at the Asian Telecom Awards 2026.

 

 

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AIA Australia, Long Service Corporation, New Zealand Police and RMBL Investments Named 2026 Appian APJ Innovation Award Winners

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Four organisations recognised for transforming mission-critical operations through process and AI

SYDNEY, Sept. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Appian [Nasdaq: APPN] today announced AIA Australia, Long Service Corporation New South Wales (NSW), New Zealand Police and RMBL Investments as the winners of its 2026 Asia Pacific and Japan Innovation Awards. The Innovation Awards celebrate customers driving AI automation and process transformation with measurable results on the Appian Platform.

The entrants span financial services, government, public safety, land administration and worker entitlements. The four Australian and New Zealand organisations were recognised for leveraging the Appian Platform to accelerate insurance claims, administer portable long service leave at scale, transform non-emergency police case management, and support the growth of investment and lending operations. They demonstrate how organisations can redesign complex processes, connect fragmented data and apply AI to deliver measurable improvements for employees, customers and communities.

“Real innovation earns its place in an organisation by making critical work faster, simpler and more accountable,” said Charlie Hutchinson, SVP Asia Pacific and Japan at Appian. “This year’s winners have moved beyond incremental improvements to redesign the processes at the heart of their operations. They demonstrate the measurable impact that process and AI can deliver when applied to work that really matters.”

The 2026 Appian APJ Innovation Award winners are:

AIA Australia

AIA Australia, a leading life and health insurer that protects the lives of more than 3 million Australians, is transforming claims management through a digital-first approach that makes the claims experience simpler, more transparent and easier to navigate.

Leveraging the Appian platform, AIA has created a connected ecosystem that streamlines interactions between customers, fund partners and claims teams, enabling greater efficiency and more personalised support for its customers when they need it most.

By innovating across the end-to-end claims journey, AIA is strengthening its ability to deliver timely assistance at critical moments while establishing a foundation for ongoing innovation and future growth.

Long Service Corporation (LSC) NSW

Long Service Corporation, working with Deloitte, built a digital application on Appian to administer the NSW Community Services Industry portable long service leave scheme.

The application connects workers, employers and Long Service Corporation through dedicated digital portals supporting registration, identity verification, worker nominations, service returns, payments and notifications. By bringing these functions together in one platform, the application enables Long Service Corporation to administer the scheme more efficiently and at scale. Since its launch in April 2026, more than 2,200 employers have submitted over 8,800 service returns and more than 220,000 workers have been nominated into the scheme. The platform has also processed more than $110 million in levy payments to fund workers’ portable long service leave entitlements.

New Zealand Police

New Zealand Police built a nationwide case management system on Appian for its 105 non-emergency service, replacing separate regional processes previously managed through Microsoft Outlook and shared folders.

The Appian Platform centralises incoming emails and case information, applies 35,000 assignment rules and intelligently directs cases according to factors including offence type and location. The solution has reduced case processing time from up to two weeks to four hours, cut backlogs from approximately 4,000 cases to fewer than 50 during most shifts and saved 18,000 hours annually in email management. It has also enabled the equivalent of at least 10 full-time employees to move from administrative triage into higher-value frontline support.

RMBL Investments

RMBL Investments, working with Persistent, has used the Appian Platform to connect its investor, borrower, introducer and employee operations.

The Appian environment spans customer self-service, investment and loan applications, portfolio management, servicing, communications, IT service management, document generation and AI-enabled processes. It now supports more than 5,000 clients and approximately A$3 billion in funds under management. The multi-year transformation has helped streamline operations, with efficiency improvements of up to 72% in some areas, giving RMBL greater capacity to grow without manual effort increasing at the same pace.

About Appian

Appian provides AI automation for the most important business processes at the world’s largest organisations.

On the Appian platform, customers build AI-powered processes that accelerate work, reduce cost, and manage risk. Our platform is known for its unique power, reliability, and scale. We’ve been automating processes for more than 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]

Follow Appian: LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

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SOURCE Appian

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