Trip.com Spotlights Chengdu as China’s Next Global Travel Hotspot at Envision 2025
Chinese online travel heavyweight Trip.com Group is promoting Chengdu – the capital of Sichuan province – as China’s next international tourism hotspot. At its recent Envision 2025 Global Partner Conference in Shanghai, the company spotlighted Chengdu’s surging inbound travel numbers and rich cultural experiences. Attendees of the summit, which drew over 3,000 travel industry leaders from around the world, were even treated to an immersive “Envision Chengdu Night” event – an evening showcase of the city’s vibrant nightlife and heritage, complete with a spectacular drone light show over Chengdu’s skyline and live Sichuan Opera performances. The message was clear: Chengdu’s time on the global stage has arrived, underscored by China’s broader travel rebound and new initiatives to welcome foreign visitors.
The Envision 2025 Global Partner Conference, hosted by Trip.com Group in late May, underscored China’s pivotal role in driving the recovery of international travel . Industry figures at the conference noted that China’s booming outbound and inbound tourism has become a “powerful engine” for global tourism growth . Trip.com Group co-founder and Chairman James Liang emphasized innovation as the key to shaping the future of travel. “Innovation is already propelling the travel industry forward – from advancing sustainability to immersive experiences,” said Liang, who announced a new $100 million Tourism Innovation Fund to support creative travel solutions . The conference also featured a surprise keynote by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, who urged the Asia-Pacific travel sector to double down on sustainable tourism. “Climate change isn’t just an environmental challenge – it’s a critical business emergency,” Prince Harry told attendees, calling on the industry to remain committed to eco-friendly travel goals despite current headwinds . Trip.com Group CEO Jane Sun echoed this focus on forward-looking growth, predicting that travel “will continue to grow faster than the broader economy,” and vowing to keep innovating with partners “to deliver the perfect trip, for everyone and for a better world”.
A highlight of the Envision 2025 festivities was a dedicated cultural event branded Envision Chengdu Night, which showcased the unique charm of Chengdu after dark. International guests experienced the city’s lively night-time economy and traditions – from buzzing night markets to tea-house leisure. The evening culminated in a dazzling drone light show above Chengdu’s skyline, which turned the sky into a digital canvas of pandas and Sichuan motifs, drawing gasps from the crowd. Attendees also enjoyed live performances of Sichuan Opera including its famed bian lian face-changing act, and sampled Chengdu’s renowned street food and hotpot cuisine. The cultural showcase underscored why Chengdu has been designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and why it’s so beloved by travelers seeking authentic Chinese experiences. Local performers demonstrated intangible heritage arts like opera mask-changing and fire-breathing tricks, set against the backdrop of centuries-old Jinli folk street architecture and neon-lit skyscrapers – a vivid illustration of Chengdu’s blend of tradition and modernity. Officials noted that today’s overseas visitors are no longer interested only in sightseeing, but crave immersive culture. In Chengdu, that means interacting with giant pandas, watching Sichuan Opera face-changing shows, savoring spicy hotpot, and even learning Sichuan cooking techniques as hands-on experiences . The Envision Chengdu Night event reinforced how these experiences make the city stand out.
Inbound Tourism to Chengdu Soars
Trip.com Group unveiled new data highlighting Chengdu’s rise as a top destination for international travelers. According to the company, inbound travel bookings to Chengdu surged by 185% year-on-year over the summer, reflecting a dramatic rebound after China’s reopening. This mirrors a nationwide trend – inbound trips to China’s mainland have overall jumped over 200% compared to last year – but Chengdu is outpacing many other cities. During this year’s May Day holiday, Chengdu ranked among China’s top five inbound destination cities, with incoming bookings up 130% year-on-year . Official statistics show the city received over 1.14 million foreign visitors in 2024, a roughly 190% increase from the prior year . The top source markets fueling Chengdu’s visitor boom include South Korea, Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia, Japan, and the United States, according to Trip.com’s analyses . In fact, Chengdu has become a trending weekend getaway for many young travelers from Singapore and Malaysia, who hop on short flights to enjoy Sichuan’s culture and cuisine . Tour groups from South Korea and Japan are also returning in force. “Foreigners are flocking to Chengdu for its unique mix of experiences – from cuddly pandas to spicy food and lively nightlife – and they often extend their stay once they get a taste of it,” one Trip.com representative noted. The city’s tourism authorities credit optimized travel policies and promotion for this surge. Chengdu has actively marketed itself overseas this year, and China’s government has expanded visa-free entry programs, making it easier to “say yes” to a Chengdu trip on short notice. Notably, over 30 countries now enjoy visa-free travel to China’s mainland, and a recent policy extends transit visa exemptions to 240-hour (10-day) stays in certain cities – changes that have made weekend trips and multi-city China tours far more appealing to global visitors. These measures, combined with tax refund incentives for shopping, have “ignited” inbound tourism in Chengdu.
Trip.com’s New Initiatives
At the Envision 2025 conference, Trip.com Group also rolled out initiatives to further boost inbound travel and enhance the visitor experience. One key effort is Trip.Best, the company’s curated travel ranking platform. Trip.Best Global Rankings 2024 – released by Trip.com last year – compile the world’s top 100 destinations, attractions, hotels, and restaurants, based on real user reviews, booking data, and quality metrics . The platform even includes special thematic lists (from “Best Nightlife” to “Family-Friendly Destinations”) to inspire travelers. By highlighting Chengdu’s highly rated sights (for instance, the Giant Panda Research Base and Mount Qingcheng often feature in China’s top attractions), Trip.com is leveraging Trip.Best to put the city on more international itineraries. Another high-tech boost comes from TripGenie, Trip.com’s new AI travel assistant integrated into its app. TripGenie uses large language model AI to act as a virtual travel planner – it can craft custom itineraries, answer travel questions, and help with instant bookings via text or voice commands . Launched last year as an upgrade of Trip.com’s TripGen chatbot, TripGenie is designed to make trip planning more intuitive and personalized. “From detailed itinerary crafting to immediate bookings,” TripGenie handles all aspects of travel and even shows images, maps, and suggestions in a conversational interface . The AI assistant is multilingual and has been trained to recognize niche requests – perfect for foreign visitors planning a Chengdu trip who might ask, for example, “Where can I see pandas and enjoy authentic Sichuan opera in the same day?” TripGenie can instantly suggest an itinerary that includes an early-morning visit to the Panda Base, an afternoon at a teahouse with opera performances, and a dinner reservation for genuine Sichuan hotpot. It even integrates Trip.com’s travel data resources like Trip.Best rankings and Trip.Deals to give travelers smart recommendations . Trip.com Group is also addressing practical pain points that have hindered inbound tourism. “Visa, payment, foreign language assistance, and a lack of suitable hotels have all hampered the development of China’s inbound tourism business,” CEO Jane Sun acknowledged recently . In response, Trip.com has partnered with local authorities and businesses to create a more foreigner-friendly travel environment. The company is improving its platforms with more English and multilingual content, supporting global payment options like Visa and Mastercard at Chinese merchants, and encouraging hotels in China to adapt services for international guests. Notably, Trip.com Group launched a campaign last fall to revitalize inbound tourism – including screening promotional videos of Chinese destinations abroad, and even offering free guided tours for transit passengers. After seeing success with its “Shanghai Express” layover tour, Trip.com now offers a “Beijing Express” program, giving travelers on long layovers a free half-day city tour (with transportation, attraction tickets and an English guide included) to turn transit time into a mini-trip . These efforts align with government moves to expand visa-free entry, as Trip.com works to convert more transit visitors into repeat tourists. By smoothing out travel logistics and actively marketing China’s attractions, Trip.com Group aims to sustain the inbound momentum that cities like Chengdu are experiencing.
Chengdu is Rising
Chengdu’s growing international appeal is a bright spot in China’s post-pandemic tourism revival. Often dubbed the “Land of Giant Pandas,” the city has long been famous domestically for its laid-back vibe and flavorful Sichuan cuisine – but now it is gaining global recognition as a must-visit destination. Travel analysts point out that Chengdu offers a comprehensive package that today’s travelers seek: natural wonders, cultural depth, modern comfort, and culinary delights. Within a short trip, visitors can cuddle baby pandas, hike through lush mountain landscapes (such as nearby Mount Qingcheng, a UNESCO World Heritage site), explore historical temples and ancient towns, and indulge in everything from street food to fine dining. The city’s emphasis on preserving intangible cultural heritage – from nightly Sichuan opera shows to folk art markets – gives tourists enriching experiences beyond just sightseeing . Meanwhile, Chengdu’s fast development (it’s now a tech and finance hub of Western China) means infrastructure like its international airport, high-speed rail links, and luxury hotels are all in place to welcome the influx of visitors. International brands have opened flagship stores and trendy nightlife venues in Chengdu, reflecting confidence in its tourism growth. By leveraging events like the Envision 2025 conference and Trip.com’s global platform, Chengdu is branding itself not just as a regional destination but as a world-class city for travel. Early indicators are promising – bookings to Chengdu continue to climb, and travel forums buzz with newfound enthusiasm for the city’s offerings.
For Trip.com Group and its partners, Chengdu’s rise is both a success story and a blueprint for China’s inbound tourism comeback. As China’s borders fully reopen and marketing campaigns ramp up, the hope is that millions of international travelers will rediscover China’s diverse destinations, from megacities to cultural heartlands like Sichuan. “Brand Chengdu” – with its pandas, spice and spectacle – is leading the way. Ultimately, Trip.com’s executives stress that the goal is a sustainable, inclusive tourism recovery that benefits local communities and delights travelers. “We believe in the power of partnership to drive meaningful progress,” Jane Sun said, highlighting Trip.com’s commitment to responsible travel . By combining cultural celebration with tech innovation and policy support, Trip.com Group’s Chengdu push exemplifies how China is courting the world’s tourists in 2025 and beyond – inviting them to “Visit Chengdu, Experience China” as the country’s inbound tourism roars back to life.