India, June 29 -- Trip.com Group's latest report reveals how travellers are shaping their summer plans this year, with three standout themes:
Quick Getaways:
- Average trip duration: 2.9-3.8 days
- Short-haul flights dominate, especially in Europe (+73% YoY).
- Long weekend travel is booming, with short trips of 4 days or less up 40%+ in East Asia & Europe.
Family Travel:
- Hotel bookings by families with children under 12 have more than doubled in Mainland China, South Korea, and Japan.
- Family-first experiences are now ranked above partner, friends, or solo travel.
- Top attractions: Universal Studios Japan, Tokyo DisneySea, Bali Zoo, Desaru Water Adventure Park.
Coolcations (Cooler Escapes):
- Searches for cooler destinations up 74% YoY.
- Popular choices: Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Wales in Europe; Inner Mongolia, Sapporo, Yunnan in Asia.
- Cities like Ulaanbaatar and Sapporo show triple-digit growth among South Korean travellers.
AI Travel Planning:
- Google searches for "help plan my trip" grew 190% YoY.
- TripGenie AI-assisted orders up 400% YoY.
- Travellers increasingly rely on AI for itineraries, hotel comparisons, translation, and in-destination inspiration.
Big Picture
Summer 2026 is all about shorter, smarter, and cooler trips. Families are leading the charge, travellers are escaping the heat, and AI is becoming a trusted travel companion.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Travel Media.