SINGAPORE—Trip.com Group announced the top global travel trends for 2026, spotlighting leading destinations, standout attractions and events, and the evolving motivations influencing traveler motivations around the world. Among the top 10 trends:
Attraction Trends: Nature, Culture and Alternative Journeys
A trend that will emerge among travelers from SEA and Germany is nature and adventure tourism, where interest to destinations like New Zealand and China will see an upward trend. Scenic spots like Milford Sound and the Glowworm Caves in New Zealand, as well as Wulong Karst in China, are on track to be some of the top attractions for these travelers next year.
Other nature-based attractions in China such as the Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou, as well as Mount Siguniang, Bipenggou and Huanglong National Scenic Area in Sichuan, are also set to be highly in demand with SEA travelers.
In Europe, travelers will be keen to immerse themselves in the region’s rich history, with cultural hubs such as the Louvre Museum in Paris, Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and Grossmünster in Zurich among the top-booked attractions for next year.
A predictive trend for next year is the rise of train and cruise journeys, where Trip.com Group’s latest booking data suggests an increased interest in the scenic Arashiyama Sagano Romantic Train among Vietnamese travelers, while luxury cruises, such as Royal Princess Cruise and Opulence Cruise, are likely to be popular among German travelers.
Rising Popularity of Self-driving Trips & EVs
Increasingly, travelers are becoming aware of their carbon footprint and are seeking more sustainable options when it comes to getting from place to place.
Trip.com’s latest data shows that since the display of carbon labels in April 2025, there has been a steady growth of booking orders for electric car rentals month-on-month, significant especially in Norway, Australia and Japan. Fueling this growth are travelers from Japan, Thailand, the U.S., South Korea and Australia.
This is likely due to an overall increased interest in self-driving trips. In Europe and Australia, Asian travelers, especially those from South Korea, are choosing electric cars as their preferred mode of transport to explore at their own pace and comfort.
