# Mapping the Future of APAC Travel

**Publisher:** Expedia Group  
**Published:** n/a  
**Category:** Travel tech  
**Type:** Report  
**Access:** Registration  
**Official source:** https://partner.expediagroup.com/en-us/resources/research-insights/mapping-future-of-apac-travel  
**Canonical:** https://tourismintel.ai/reports/trends-report-mapping-the-future-of-apac-travel

## At a glance
- 65% of travel professionals across APAC expect demand to grow over the next two to three years across leisure, business, and regional travel.
- More than 70% of respondents identified buy now, pay later, global credit and debit cards, and loyalty points as top payment methods.
- 79% of APAC travel businesses currently use AI, with 97% planning to adopt it for customer service, content, and pricing.
- Localised content is a priority for travellers and businesses alike, though achieving region-specific relevance remains challenging.

## What the report covers
Expedia Group surveyed 1,250 travel professionals across five Asia-Pacific markets to understand how the industry is responding to rising demand, technological change, and shifting traveller expectations. The research examines demand outlook, payment preferences, content localisation needs, and artificial intelligence adoption across the region's travel sector. The findings inform travel businesses, distribution partners, and destinations on emerging priorities shaping the APAC market.

## Key findings
Two-thirds of surveyed travel professionals expect demand to increase over the next two to three years, spanning leisure, business, and regional travel categories. This optimistic outlook suggests travel businesses across the region are preparing for sustained growth, though the report does not break demand projections by market segment or geography within APAC.

Payment method diversity is critical to traveller satisfaction. More than 70% of respondents ranked buy now, pay later, global credit and debit cards, and loyalty points or miles as their top payment options. This indicates that travellers value flexibility and rewards integration, requiring businesses to support multiple payment pathways to remain competitive.

Content localisation emerged as both a strategic priority and operational challenge. Travellers expect region-specific, culturally relevant content, and businesses recognise the need to deliver it. However, the report identifies achieving this degree of personalisation as difficult, suggesting technology and operational gaps persist in how businesses customise experiences for local markets.

Artificial intelligence adoption is now mainstream across APAC travel. The survey finds 79% of travel businesses currently deploy AI, with 97% planning to implement or expand AI use. Applications span customer service automation, content enrichment, dynamic pricing, and operational efficiency, reflecting AI's integration as a competitive necessity rather than a differentiator.

## Key numbers
| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Travel professionals surveyed | 1,250 | Across 5 Asia-Pacific markets; basis for findings |
| Expected demand growth (next 2–3 years) | 65% | Forecast: professional respondents' expectation across leisure, business, regional travel |
| Top payment methods identified | More than 70% | Respondent share naming buy now, pay later, global cards, loyalty points as preferred |
| Current AI adoption | 79% | Observed: APAC travel businesses using AI today |
| Planned AI adoption | 97% | Forecast: travel businesses planning to use or expand AI |

## Why it matters
**DMOs & destinations** — Rising demand confidence signals opportunity for destination marketing investment. However, 65% growth expectations require destinations to enhance localised content and messaging to meet traveller preferences. DMOs must align with travel businesses' AI and payment initiatives to remain visible and competitive within the regional distribution ecosystem.

**Hotels & hospitality** — Hospitality providers must support diverse payment methods—particularly buy now, pay later and loyalty integration—to capture demand growth. AI adoption (79% current, 97% planned) is becoming table stakes for pricing, customer service, and personalisation. Content localisation remains a competitive gap, creating an opportunity for properties and chains to differentiate through region-specific experiences.

**Travel tech & distribution** — Distribution platforms must rapidly expand payment rails and loyalty programme connectors to serve high-growth APAC markets. AI-driven pricing, content curation, and customer service are now expected capabilities. Technology providers addressing localisation challenges—translating, adapting, and contextualising content—can unlock competitive advantage in an increasingly technology-dependent market.

## Methodology and limits
Expedia Group conducted a survey of 1,250 travel professionals across five Asia-Pacific markets to assess industry perceptions of future demand, payment preferences, localisation priorities, and technology adoption. The report does not disclose the survey period, sampling method, margin of error, or specific markets included. Findings represent respondent expectations and current practices; detailed methodology and full statistical backing are available in the complete report, accessible via registration.

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© Expedia Group for the original report. This brief is an original editorial summary by TourismIntel (https://tourismintel.ai). Read the original: https://partner.expediagroup.com/en-us/resources/research-insights/mapping-future-of-apac-travel