Booking Holdings Inc.

• Nearly 9 in 10 Indian travelers (88%) trust or feel neutral about AI-generated travel recommendations
• Interest spans entire trip planning journey, from destination discovery to dining recommendations

SINGAPORE, May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Indian travelers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to take the guesswork out of travel planning, not just for inspiration but across the journey from destination discovery to dining. According to Agoda's 2026 Travel Outlook Report, while one in three (33%) state they already use AI for travel planning, almost twice as many (68%) say they are likely to use it for their next trip. For a market that has always been quick to embrace technology, this indicates a growing appetite for AI across all stages of travel planning.

Data from the report suggests that what Indian travelers want from AI goes beyond a simple search. When asked how they would use it, respondents pointed to recommendations for local attractions and activities (38%), personalized itinerary creation (37%), and destination suggestions (29%). Interest also extends to dining recommendations (23%) and budget management (22%). These findings point to a traveler who expects AI to be present in every stage of the trip-planning process, not as a shortcut but as a smarter way to plan.

Sentiment towards AI-generated recommendations is broadly receptive, with nearly 9 in 10 respondents (88%) saying they either trust or feel neutral about such recommendations, including over half (53%) who express clear trust. This aligns with findings from Agoda's 2025 Travel Trends survey, in which nine in ten Indian travelers reported using travel apps when booking trips, pointing to an established comfort with technology in travel planning. For Indian travelers, embracing AI in travel planning is less a behavioral shift and more a natural progression, especially for a generation that has been planning and booking travel through a screen for over a decade.

Agoda has previously explored this through its 2025 AI-powered Vacation Planner campaign, which invited Indian travelers to answer a set of questions about their preferences, generating customized itineraries and destination visuals, with personalized recommendations delivered by Bollywood celebrity Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign was a real-world expression of the tailored, intuitive planning experience that travelers are increasingly looking for, and one that the 2026 survey findings reflect.

Gaurav Malik, Country Director, Indian Subcontinent & Indian Ocean Islands at Agoda, said, "Indian travelers are showing a clear appetite for AI across every stage of trip planning, from discovering destinations to deciding what to eat and even budgeting. This is no longer an emerging trend but is fast becoming the baseline for how a well-planned trip comes together. At Agoda, we continue to offer a range of technology and innovations that make the entire trip planning experience more accessible, convenient, and personalized for every traveler."

As AI becomes a more natural part of how people research and plan their travel, India stands out as a market where AI adoption in travel is not just growing but gaining clear intent and direction.

Through its platform, Agoda offers access to more than 6 million holiday properties worldwide, over 130,000 flight routes, and more than 300,000 travel activities, all bookable through a single platform. Running from 7 May to 21 May, Agoda's 21st Birthday Sale will offer up to 60% off on hotel bookings, with a special flash sale of up to 70% on 19 May and exclusive deals on flights and activities. Agoda VIP members will receive early access to deals from 3 May to 6 May. Travelers can explore options and make bookings through www.agoda.com and the Agoda mobile app.

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SOURCE Agoda

With secondary city searches growing faster than traditional tourism hubs, Agoda's New Horizons Ranking puts Sapa, Okayama, Bandung, Matsuyama, and Takamatsu in focus.

SINGAPORE, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda is inviting partners to participate in its 21st Birthday Sale, giving them an opportunity to align their offers with growing travel interest for Asia's emerging destinations during key travel planning periods. Recent Agoda data shows that accommodation searches in secondary cities across Asia have grown 15% faster than in traditional tourism hubs over the last two years.

That momentum is also reflected in Agoda's New Horizons ranking report, which identifies Sapa (Vietnam), Okayama (Japan), Bandung (Indonesia), Matsuyama (Japan) and Takamatsu (Japan) as Asia's top five emerging destinations based on international travel interest over the last two years.

Partners can tap into this opportunity by joining Agoda's 21st Birthday Sale running from 3 May to 21 May, giving them an opportunity to package and promote relevant offers to travelers exploring emerging destinations and to stay visible as guests plan their journeys.

Agoda's 21st Birthday Sale features a three-phase campaign structure designed to help partners maximize visibility during the height of booking interests. Travelers can enjoy up to 60% off on hotel bookings during the main sale, with a special Flash Sale offering up to 70% off on 19 May. The campaign also includes VIP Priority Access for Agoda VIP members from 3 to 6 May, giving early access to deals before the main sale runs from 7 to 21 May.

As travelers increasingly seek out new destinations and diverse sets of travel experiences, campaigns like Agoda's 21st Birthday Sale can help partners raise discoverability, align with booking interests and reach guests at the point of decision. Enhanced visibility through homepage banners, campaign landing pages, pop-up banners and exclusive badges are among the features available to participating partners.

"Travel is getting more interesting when you look beyond the obvious hubs and that's good news for our partners," said Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President, Supply at Agoda. "When demand spreads to a wider set of destinations, it creates more opportunities for properties outside the main gateways to be discovered and booked. Secondary cities are continuing to draw stronger interest, and the partners who show up early with sharp pricing, clear listings and the right offers are the ones most likely to benefit. Agoda's 21st Birthday Sale is designed to help partners do exactly that through stronger visibility during key booking and planning windows."

To celebrate its 21st birthday, Agoda is offering high-value deals to inspire travelers to explore the region's emerging destinations. For partners, it presents an opportunity to pair strong offers with one of Agoda's promotional moments of the year. With flexible participation options and broad consumer reach, Agoda's 21st Birthday Sale is designed to help partners of all sizes make the most of changing travel patterns and rising interest in Asia's next wave of destinations.

This is an open invitation for travel partners across the ecosystem to collaborate early, plan smarter and co-create compelling seasonal offers for travelers worldwide. For more information on how to participate, visit https://partnerhub.agoda.com/agodas-mega-sale/.

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SOURCE Agoda