SHANGHAI, May 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Trip.com Group, a leading global travel service provider, explored the future of the Attractions & Tours (A&T) sector at the Attractions & Tours Global Partners Forum, part of the Group's annual Envision.2026 conference.

Held at the prestigious Shanghai Concert Hall, the event brought together partners, including attraction providers and travel-sector KOLs, to examine how technological innovation, experience enhancement, and global collaboration are reshaping the fast-moving travel and attractions industry.

Driving Smarter Travel Experiences with AI

Mr Jim Ji, Vice President of Trip.com Group and CEO of Attractions & Tours, emphasised that advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the competitive landscape of the attractions and tours industry. As travellers increasingly change the way they discover information, make decisions, and complete bookings, competition is shifting beyond traditional inventory and distribution advantages toward a broader focus on customer experience, operational efficiency, and global coordination.

In his keynote, "Boundless • Reshape • Synergy", Mr Jim Ji noted that "AI is not just a tool — it is a fundamental engine for creating a smarter, more personalised travel experience."

He further explained that AI is being used to help attraction providers better understand customer preferences and enable more accurate matching between products and users. By applying AI across product presentation, content discovery, service fulfilment, and experience delivery, the industry is evolving into a more intelligent model, better aligned with growing demand for diverse and personalised journeys. These shifts are already influencing traveller behaviour, with survey data showing that 29% of travellers have started using AI for itinerary planning and transportation.

Advancing Digitalisation Across the Sector

Mr Chase Liu, Vice President of Trip.com Group and General Manager of International Business for the Attractions & Tours, outlined four key strategies to unlock growth: expanding offerings, amplifying visibility, enhancing experiences, and connecting systems. He also observed that travellers' decisions are happening online more often, pointing out that "Being online is not optional. It's where everything happens."

Reflecting this shift in traveller behaviour, the attractions sector has been undergoing a broader digital transformation, with operators increasingly adopting smarter ticketing and booking solutions to improve accessibility and operational efficiency.

Creating Deeper Travel Inspiration through Content

Alongside technological innovation, the forum also focused on the role of dynamic and engaging content in shaping travel decisions. This is especially important as the demand for experience-driven travel continues to grow, pointing to a broader shift in traveller preferences toward immersive and memorable activities.

To capitalise on this trend, Mr Dylan Dai, Vice President of the Global Trip Community, took to the stage to highlight the strategic synergy between Trip.com Group's content ecosystem and the Attractions & Tours business. He explained how community-driven content is being leveraged to guide users from initial inspiration straight through to transaction.

Through personalised content, Trip.com Group's platforms help travellers discover experiences that align with their interests, from cultural tours to culinary explorations. By integrating inspiration with seamless booking capabilities, these platforms not only drive higher conversion rates but also foster stronger customer loyalty.

Strengthening Global Partnerships

At the same time, Attractions & Tours reinforced its long-term global partnerships by signing MOUs with 11 overseas partners in Oceania, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Trip.com Group will continue to deepen collaboration with global partners to unlock new growth opportunities, building partnerships that go beyond transactions. Closer cooperation in areas including customer insights, product optimisation, technical support, service enhancement, and international marketing will help attractions gain broader visibility and reach wider audiences worldwide. Collectively, these initiatives highlight Trip.com Group's extensive global attractions network and its commitment to fostering collaborative growth across regions and destinations.

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SPD-Chef und Bundesfinanzminister Lars Klingbeil erhöht den Druck bei der geplanten Reform der Einkommenssteuer. In den kommenden Wochen will er sein Konzept vorlegen, an dem nach seinen Worten "mit Hochdruck" gearbeitet wird. Ziel ist eine signifikante finanzielle Besserstellung für Haushalte mit geringen und mittleren Einkommen. "Diejenigen, die jeden Tag den Laden am Laufen halten, müssen am Ende mehr in der Tasche haben", sagte Klingbeil der Süddeutschen Zeitung.

Die Koalitionspartner SPD und Union haben sich darauf verständigt, eine umfassende Änderung der Einkommensteuer zum 1. Januar 2027 in Kraft zu setzen. Nach bisherigen Aussagen Klingbeils sollen bis zu 95 Prozent der Arbeitnehmer entlastet werden – "merklich, mit einigen hundert Euro im Jahr". Für viele Beschäftigte, etwa in Ballungsräumen wie Köln, könnte das eine spürbare Verbesserung der finanziellen Spielräume bedeuten. Über die konkrete Ausgestaltung der Tarife ist bislang jedoch nichts entschieden.

Strittig ist vor allem die Gegenfinanzierung der Reform, deren Volumen auf einen Milliardenbetrag geschätzt wird. Klingbeil stellt klar, dass aus seiner Sicht Spitzenverdiener mit sechsstelligen Gehältern stärker herangezogen werden sollen: "Spitzenverdiener mit sechsstelligen Gehältern müssen hierzu ihren Beitrag leisten." Die Sozialdemokraten favorisieren grundsätzlich eine stärkere Besteuerung hoher Einkommen sowie von Erbschaften, um die Entlastung der unteren und mittleren Einkommensgruppen zu ermöglichen.

Aus der Union kommt Widerstand gegen diesen Umverteilungskurs. Kritiker dort verlangen, ein wesentlicher Teil der Finanzierung müsse über Einsparungen im Bundeshaushalt erfolgen. Der CDU-Abgeordnete Mathias Middelberg sieht insbesondere bei Finanzhilfen des Bundes für Länder und Gemeinden Spielraum. Diese Zuweisungen seien in den vergangenen sieben Jahren von rund acht auf fast 60 Milliarden Euro angestiegen. Die unterschiedlichen Vorstellungen über Steuererhöhungen für Topverdiener einerseits und Ausgabenkürzungen andererseits markieren die zentrale Konfliktlinie, bevor Klingbeil sein Reformkonzept offiziell vorlegt.