Travel demand across Asia-Pacific has remained resilient despite rising travel costs, with new research from Klook finding that 95% of travellers did not cancel or postpone a trip during the first half of 2026.
The survey of 1,020 travellers across 10 Asia-Pacific markets found that while higher travel costs and cost-of-living pressures influenced travel decisions, most respondents adjusted their spending rather than cutting back on trips or experiences.
According to the latest Klook Travel Pulse study, 64% cited travel costs, personal finances or broader cost-of-living pressures as the biggest factors shaping their travel outlook for the remainder of the year. Travellers were more likely to reduce spending on flights and accommodation (25%) or choose destinations closer to home (19%) than reduce spending on experiences (18%).
Klook found that travellers are also becoming more price conscious, with 47% actively seeking deals, discounts and bundled offers, while 42% are booking earlier to secure lower prices.
Experiences continue to play a growing role in travel planning. Nearly one-quarter of respondents said they now choose an activity before selecting a destination, reflecting a shift towards experience-led travel.
AI is also becoming part of the planning process, with 94% of respondents either using or open to using AI for travel planning. More than half (57%) have used AI to discover destinations or experiences, and 36% subsequently made a booking.
Despite increasing use of AI, travellers continue to rely most on verified reviews when making booking decisions – 58% cited reviews as their most trusted source of information, ahead of recommendations from friends and family (49%), content creators (35%) and AI suggestions (33%).
The research also highlighted growing interest in secondary destinations. 73% of respondents said they would visit a lesser-known city to attend a local event or festival, while 77% included a side trip to a lesser-known destination during their most recent holiday. For 34% , that detour became the highlight of their trip.
Based on Klook’s booking data, destinations showing strong demand for the remainder of 2026 include Beijing and Guangzhou in China; Penghu, Pingtung and Yilan County in Taiwan; Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang in Vietnam; Busan, Sokcho and Jeonju in South Korea; and destinations in Italy, Switzerland and Germany.
Marcus Yong, vice president of global marketing at Klook, said: “Cost pressures across Asia-Pacific this year were real, but they have not stopped people from travelling. Instead, travellers are making more considered choices around where they go and how they spend, while continuing to prioritise the experiences that give a trip its meaning.”
