Trip.com Forecast: Lunar New Year Travel Breaks Records

As the Year of the Horse approaches, Trip.com Group released its 2026 Lunar New Year forecast today, predicting a record-breaking surge in "ambitious" festive travel. Driven by extended public holidays—spanning up to nine days in China and Vietnam—bookings across the platform have climbed by double digits year-on-year. 

A major shift for 2026 is the rise of "Long-Haul Festive Travel," with bookings for trips of seven nights or more up nearly 40%, as families leverage their annual leave to venture beyond their home regions.

The 2026 forecast identifies Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia as the top international destinations for Asian travelers, but a "new frontier" of interest has emerged in Europe and Oceania. 

Norway has recorded the fastest growth among Singaporean travelers, with a 200% surge in bookings driven by a desire to see the Northern Lights during the lunar holiday. This "escapism travel" marks a transition from traditional home-based celebrations to high-end, cross-border experiences that prioritize "quality and depth."

For the global travel industry, this influx represents a massive "February boost." Premium travel choices, including first-class flights and five-star hotel stays, are showing the strongest growth, indicating that the 2026 festive traveler is willing to spend more for comfort and unique cultural immersion. 

As airports in Seoul, Tokyo, and Bangkok prepare for the peak rush starting later this week, the data confirms that Lunar New Year is no longer just a regional holiday but a major global travel event.