South Africa's online travel market was valued at $2.54 billion in 2024, projected to reach nearly $6 billion by 2033. 57% of Africa's tourism tech VC investment flowed into South Africa, over $3.1 billion between 2019-2024. Nearly half of South Africans use AI for travel planning, and two-thirds of hoteliers have an AI strategy.
Startup Drifter has launched Currents, an AI visibility analytics platform that helps destination marketing organizations (DMOs), hotels, and attractions monitor how they appear across AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. The platform runs real traveler queries to analyze whether a place gets mentioned, what sources AI cites, and how it stacks up against competitors. Drifter also offers Dock, an embeddable on-domain AI layer that captures traveler intent data. Paid tiers start at $4,999 per year.
A survey commissioned by SAP Concur reveals that business travel is crucial for career growth, but access is uneven. 51% of U.S. adults traveled for work in the past year, with 20% being frequent travelers. 76% believe business travel opens up opportunities, but younger and lower-income groups feel it is out of reach. Frequent travelers enjoy more premium experiences but also face operational strains like expense reporting hassles.
Phocuswright has published a research report, 'A Market Rewired: Ten Structural Shifts Redefining Asia Pacific Travel,' outlining trends that will matter in 2026 and beyond, including the widening demographic divide, geopolitics as a demand shaper, the reordering of travel maps, rail's next act in Asia Pacific, the rejuvenated India-China air corridor, the structural rise of short-term rentals, fintech as travel infrastructure, the outbound turn in hotel globalization, and tightening venture capital. In 2025, venture capital flows into Asia-based startups totaled $67.5 billion, down roughly 6% from 2024, marking the lowest annual tally in five years.
ACI World opened submissions for the 2026 ACI World Airport Innovation Awards on 31 March 2026, inviting airports worldwide to showcase innovation in passenger experience, operations and sustainability. Now in its sixth year, the awards cover four categories: passenger-related processes, operations and installations management, individual innovation leadership, and airports handling 5 million passengers or fewer annually. Submissions close on 16 June 2026 and will be judged by an international expert panel; winners and top-five finalists per category will be announced at the ACI Airports Innovate event in Barcelona from 23 to 25 November 2026.
The Finance Leaders' Fraud Report 2026, published by IFOL and sponsored by SAP Concur, reveals only 22% of finance leaders feel well protected, down from 32% last year. Fraud is harder to detect, AI adoption is insufficient, and training is lacking. 62% of organizations experienced fraud losses in the past three years.
A session at ITB Berlin addressed AI bias in travel. Professor Fevzi Okumus of the University of South Carolina noted that AI can disadvantage certain groups in recruitment, service recommendations, and business visibility, making it harder for smaller operators and independent providers to compete. He urged treating AI as an enabler rather than a replacement and proposed a framework to audit AI systems for transparency, fairness, and trustworthiness.
This week's travel tech briefs include: Savanta launches AI research platform Virtual Personas; Bilt adds Wyndham Rewards as sixth hotel transfer partner; Immfly, Wizz Air, and Gateretail launch digital cabin platform; Navan to launch AI assistant TravelClaw; RMS integrates with GuestRevu; Apaleo launches Copilot; SalamAir partners with Arcube for eSIM and e-visa services; Sojern names president of global destinations; Operto launches GEO Consultant; AirBaltic partners with InterLnkd; Vio partners with FINN; DCS Plus launches TINA AI.
Experience Columbus is partnering with Satisfi Labs on an 'Agentic City' program to connect attractions, venues, and local businesses through a shared AI platform. The initiative leverages first-party data from partner networks to provide real-time, location-specific information. Each participating DMO member is equipped with an individual AI agent that sources content dynamically from its own website. The system supports agent-to-agent handoffs and context sharing, with future plans for cross-agent automation.
Tripadvisor partnered with Nvidia, Nebius, and Nexla to demo an AI trip planning tool at Nvidia GTC 2026. The tool extracts locations and experiences from an influencer's video, cross-references with Tripadvisor data, and creates a personalized itinerary. VP Rahul Todkar cited video processing and personalization as challenges; testing is next.
As search shifts to AI-driven results, brands are focusing on generative engine optimization (GEO). HubSpot reports 49% of marketers see decreased search traffic due to AI answers. However, SparkToro experiments show AI recommendations are highly inconsistent, though hotels show slightly more consistency. Cloudbeds CEO dismisses AI visibility as 'total bullshit', emphasizing quality service and reviews. Experts advise brands to manage digital presence and third-party citations.
According to Phocuswright Research, 56% of U.S. travelers use AI for travel, with generative AI serving as a crucial discovery entry point. Travel companies are navigating SEO, GEO, and AEO strategies to gain visibility in AI-driven search. Experts emphasize that first-party data, structured content, and trust are core. Brands need to become trusted sources in AI tools and adapt to the shift from blue links to answer sets.
Amadeus Travel Intelligence data shows inbound air bookings to the UK for Easter 2026 (April 2-7) are up 13% from 2025, with hotel bookings up 15%. Families and groups lead growth, each up 22%. India leads origin markets with a 78% increase, followed by Australia and the US, both up 36%.
According to Phocuswright research, 56% of active US travelers used AI for planning, booking, or in-destination assistance in the past 12 months, up from 43% in H2 2025 and 33% in H1 2025. Among AI users, 94% have used it for travel. AI platforms are nearing parity with general search for travel product research. Half of travelers using AI in search engines still click through to source websites. AI usage is expected to increase further.
A session at ITB Berlin discussed the overlapping global challenges, or 'polycrisis,' facing tourism. Experts noted consumers seek escape but also safety and seamless experiences. Aziz Abu Sarah of Mejdi Tours said the industry cannot ignore these issues and must engage in solutions. Euromonitor's Stephen Dutton said travel spending grows, but 'soft drivers' can make consumers hesitate.
According to a Phocuswright report, the funding environment for travel startups in Asia Pacific is tightening, with investors prioritizing financial rigor and selectivity. Venture capital for Asia-based startups across sectors was $67.5 billion in 2025, a 6% drop from 2024 and the lowest in five years. Investors favor lower-risk, mature later-stage companies. AI, infrastructure, and fintech are key innovation areas.
AI-native has become a buzzword in travel, with companies like Sabre, Airbnb, and Riyadh Air using it to describe their initiatives. However, experts argue that true AI-native requires ground-up architecture and robust data governance. Phocuswright research shows 28% of travel executives rank generative AI as their top tech investment priority, but only 13% allocate over 20% of tech budget to AI implementation.
Phocuswright research highlights two operational priorities for translating AI strategy into reality: establishing custom evals and strengthening data governance. Custom evals are structured processes to test AI system quality, performance, and reliability; generic benchmarks are insufficient. Data governance has shifted from back-office to strategic imperative, as AI reliability depends on data quality.
ACI World's Airport Economics Report shows global passenger traffic reached 9.4 billion in 2024, exceeding 2019 by 4%, but airport revenues remain below pre-pandemic levels. The report urges policymakers to support airport investment to sustain connectivity and economic growth.
Research by Phocuswright and Arival shows the tours and activities sector is projected to reach $340 billion by 2029, but only a third of bookings occur online. At ITB Berlin panel, experts from Civitatis, Expedia Group, and Nezasa discussed AI's role in normalizing data, driving digitalization, and empowering small operators.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, industrial value-added grew 6.3% year-on-year, retail sales rose 2.8%, fixed-asset investment increased 1.8%, and goods trade grew 18.3% in Jan-Feb, indicating a good start for the economy.
The short-term rental sector is on the cusp of a shift driven by AI search, but key players are uncertain how it will disrupt traditional booking patterns. LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude are jostling for position, and Google is experimenting with AI-mode ads. Experts advise acting now and hedging bets. Data shows AI search traffic is still small but growing fast. For example, Forge Holiday Group sees 7% of traffic from AI, and Pass the Keys estimates zero-click results contribute 8-10%. Many operators have low direct booking shares, but AI may present opportunities.
The article explores how the strategic alliance between SAP Concur and Amex GBT is redefining business travel through the Complete solution. Both companies emphasize co-development, a unified data layer, and AI at the core to deliver seamless travel and expense experiences. It also discusses NDC complexity, data advantages, and questions for CXOs.
Phocuswright's research 'Beyond Points: Rethinking Loyalty and Brand Consistency in Travel' reveals that Gen Z is not disloyal but values novelty. When novelty and loyalty compete, novelty often wins. However, Gen Z and millennials show high engagement in loyalty programs, with higher redemption rates than other generations. They prefer credit card points and OTA programs for their diverse redemption options. The report suggests loyalty programs need to offer variety in both earning and burning to attract younger travelers.
A report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) shows that early adopters of AI in hotels have seen significant improvements in revenue, efficiency, and resource management. Hotels using AI-powered pricing systems have seen RevPAR gains up to 15%. The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco reported a 20% increase in room-cleaning speed via AI. Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo reduced food waste by 50% in eight months using AI waste tracking.
Singapore and Berlin-based Gharage Ventures launched its €40 million Fund I to invest in early-stage tech companies in travel and retail, focusing on automation, AI-driven workflows, data infrastructure, and more. The fund, originally founded by Gebr. Heinemann in 2020, is now independent. It plans to invest globally from seed to Series A, backing roughly 30 startups.
In an ITB Berlin panel, executives from Booking.com, Google, Sabre, and Skyscanner discussed agentic AI in travel. Google's James Byers stressed differences from retail, suggesting autonomous agents may be a year away. Booking.com's James Waters highlighted trust as key: ~90% look forward to gen AI, but only single-digit percentages trust it to make decisions.
Alibaba Group announced it will report its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, before the US market opens on March 19, 2026, and will hold a conference call the same day. Participants must pre-register, and the earnings release and slides will be available on the IR website.
Phocuswright report notes APAC travel is 'digital-first', with AI personalization, predictive search, and automated planning accelerating online shift. Experiences spending is growing, with APAC travelers more willing to increase spend than Western counterparts. Loyalty is trending toward cross-brand ecosystem collaborations.
Phocuswright report shows APAC travel market expected to reach $522.7 billion by 2028. Traveler behavior is returning to seasonality, booking windows shorten, flexibility and independent travel increase. Destinations like Japan and China grow strongly, India emerges as key outbound market.
According to a joint report by Phocuswright and Arival, the in-destination experiences market reached $271 billion in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and is projected to exceed $340 billion by 2029. Online channels grew from 17% of bookings in 2019 to 33% in 2025, with a projected 42% by 2029. OTAs are the fastest-growing channel, but the sector remains under-digitized.
Indonesia's online travel market is expected to nearly double from $9B in 2025 to $17B by 2030. Gross travel bookings reached $16.5B in 2025, with online bookings at $10.6B. Local OTAs like Traveloka and Tiket.com dominate and eye regional expansion. AI adoption is high, with 51% using AI to save time.
In 2025, Airbnb, Booking Holdings, Expedia Group, and Trip.com Group invested a combined $20 billion in sales and marketing, up year-over-year. Booking and Expedia accounted for over three-quarters. Marketing spend as a percentage of revenue ranged from 21% to 50%, showing continued reliance on paid channels.
ACI World announced the 2025 ASQ Customer Experience Awards, showing airports outperforming other industries in customer experience as passenger satisfaction continues to rise. Nearly 707,000 passengers were surveyed in real time, with more than half of the world's air travelers passing through ASQ-rated airports. Border and passport control saw the largest satisfaction gains, while airport ambience and cleanliness were the strongest drivers of overall satisfaction.
Beijing Jinghe Cultural and Tourism Development Research Institute released the China Cultural Industry and Tourism Annual Research Report (2025). The report indicates that in 2025, the industry progressed steadily, continuing recovery, with strong momentum in new business forms and digital transformation. Cultural tourism consumption became a key engine for domestic demand recovery. The report also proposes ten development trends for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, including digitalization of industry logic and market segmentation.
Airports Council International (ACI) World released its World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2025-2054, projecting global passenger traffic to reach 10.2 billion in 2026 (+3.9% YoY) and double to 18.8 billion by 2045. The report highlights strong long-term demand but challenges like capacity constraints and uneven regional growth, calling for collective investment in infrastructure.
Amadeus data reveals that airline bookings to the US, Canada, and Mexico for the tournament period (June 5-July 19) are up 15% year-over-year as of January 8, 2026. Following the match schedule release on December 6, 37% of flight bookings have been made. British travelers lead with 18% of international bookings. Hotel occupancy in host cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Mexico City has risen significantly.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, domestic tourism trips reached 6.522 billion in 2025, up 16.2% year-on-year; spending totaled 6.30 trillion yuan, up 9.5%. Urban residents made 4.996 billion trips, up 14.3%, while rural residents made 1.526 billion trips, up 22.6%.
OAG released its ranking of 2025's busiest airline routes. Jeju (CJU) to Seoul Gimpo (GMP) is the world's busiest route in 2025 with 14.4 million seats scheduled, up 1% versus 2024 but still 17% below 2019 capacity, with seven carriers operating the route. The second and third routes are both in Japan: Sapporo New Chitose-Tokyo Haneda (12.1 million seats) and Fukuoka-Tokyo Haneda (11.5 million seats). The top 10 comprises entirely domestic flights, with nine of ten in Asia Pacific; the only non-Asia Pacific route is fifth-placed Jeddah-Riyadh with 9.8 million seats, up 13% year-on-year, the fastest growth in the top ten. Among cross-border routes, Hong Kong-Taipei leads with 6.8 million sea…
OAG released its 2024 busiest routes rankings based on its Global Airline Schedules Data. Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE) became the world's busiest international route with 6.8 million seats and 48% year-on-year capacity growth, rising from third place last year. Cairo-Jeddah ranked second with 5.5 million seats and 68% growth over five years, while Dubai-Riyadh ranked sixth with 4.3 million seats. Asia Pacific accounted for seven of the top ten international routes and nine of the top ten domestic routes.