Trip.com Group champions further recovery and long-term growth for ASEAN tourism

DAVOS, Switzerland,Jan. 27, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- Trip.com Group, a leading global travel services provider, has reinforced its commitment to supporting the full recovery and continued growth ofSoutheast Asia'stravel and tourism industry. CEOJane Sunparticipated in discussions with key government and business leaders at the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, including ASEAN Secretary-General DrKao Kim Hourn,Malaysia'sPrime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim,Singapore'sDeputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong andThailand'sPrime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra.

During her meeting with Secretary-General of ASEAN DrKao Kim Hourn, Ms Sun pointed to robust growth potential in the regional travel market and shared Trip.com Group's strategic vision for positioningSoutheast Asiaas a top travel destination in 2025 and beyond.

ASEAN is leading the way in driving new growth against the backdrop of a near-full recovery for global tourism, reporting a total of over 123 million visitors to the region in 2024, an increase of 30.6% on 2023 volumes, according to the Joint Media Statement of the 28th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers issued on19 January 2025. The sector now sets its sights on renewal, with plans to accelerate the completion of theASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025and to develop theASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan 2026-2030, with a focus on sustainability and resilience. These transformations will be key to realising the additionalUSD 300 billionin annual economic value and over 14 million new jobs that the sector is expected to create within the next decade, accounting for 11.7% of regional GDP and 56.55 million jobs by 2034, according to World Travel& Tourism Council (WTTC) projections.

Ms Sun and Dr Kao explored possibilities for greater alignment between businesses like Trip.com Group and local and regional governments in advancing shared priorities. Dr Kao also shared with Ms Sun the ongoing travel-related developments in the region, including airport projects and infrastructure upgrades. Central to discussions were strategies to close the gap in post-pandemic recovery and enable further benefits to local communities.

DrKao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, said,"ASEAN is positioning itself as a premier quality tourism destination – one that not only fosters economic growth and job creation but also strengthens cross-cultural connections. We look forward to working with Trip.com in advancing this goal."

"It was an honour to meet with DrKao Kim Hournat the World Economic Forum and align our efforts with ASEAN's forward-looking vision for the regional travel industry,"said MsJane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group.

"With the anticipated increase in flight capacity and the expansion of visa-free policies, we expect travel demand to remain strong. We are committed to showcasing the rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty ofSoutheast Asiato the world while empowering local communities and driving growth in ASEAN's tourism industry."

Over the past year, regional partnerships, investments, and innovations have created new opportunities for connecting Trip.com Group's 400 million users withSoutheast Asia. Initiatives include the Trip.Best Global andAsia100 rankings, featuring some of the best hotel, nightlife and gourmet experiences that the region has to offer.

These new offerings engage travellers in targeted and personalised ways. This also presents opportunities for tapping into emerging trends to drive growth. For example, with the increasing interest in entertainment travel, artists touring inSoutheast Asia– such as Mandopop starJay Chouand K-pop group Stray Kids – drove a surge in bookings on Trip.com Group's newly launched"Events& Shows"channel in 2024.

These initiatives have helped to boost tourism in the region. In 2024, visitors fromThailand,Malaysiaandthe Philippinesled intra-regional travel on Trip.com Group platforms, whileChinaand Korea were some of the top source markets outside the region. For the upcoming Chinese New Year, Trip.com Group projects further increase in intra-regional and inbound travel volume inSoutheast Asiafor the upcoming Chinese New Year – with Universal Studios Singapore and the Kuala Lumpur Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour among the most sought-after experiences.

With new opportunities on the horizon for Southeast Asian tourism, Trip.com Group looks forward to continuing to innovate and collaborate with local and regional partners to inspire travellers and support the region's long-term growth and prosperity.

About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group is a leading 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 comprehensive 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 has become one of the best-known travel groups in the world, with 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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SOURCE Trip.com Group