Surveys Reveal Rising Number of Travellers Turning to AI for Holiday Planning and Booking Experiences

Recent surveys by Kaspersky and Booking.com have revealed a growing trend of travellers turning to AI to plan and book their holidays.

A survey by Kaspersky confirmed that 23% of respondents from South Africa used AI in travel planning, with almost all (98%) saying they were satisfied with the experience.

Of those who have used AI in travel planning, 65% trusted AI to identify events and other activities for them such as suitable excursions, popular tourist routes and souvenir shops. Additionally, 68% used AI to select accommodation, 61% used it to make a list of restaurants and 60% used it to search for tickets.

According to the survey, 55% of respondents from South Africa booked hotels via AI, 49% booked tickets and 47% booked restaurants, with 51% saying they had resorted to AI to help solve visa questions.

Booking.com’s The Global AI Sentiment Report gathered responses from more than 37 000 people across the world. The majority of travellers have used AI:

• To plan a trip – 62%
• On a trip – 61%
• To find and book flights – 31%
• To book accommodation – 30%

How travellers want AI to improve their experiences:

• 71% want recommendations to avoid overcrowded destinations or peak times
• 60% want experiences that positively impact local communities
• 38% want help researching new destinations
• 37% want to find cultural activities
• 36% want tips on where to dine

Despite global hesitancy about sharing data with AI services, 86% of respondents are comfortable sharing personal data with AI to improve travel experiences. Trust in using AI assistance for travel has outpaced trust in recommendations from colleagues and influencers.