This National Day, fewer people posted travel guides on their social media, while more shared AI screenshots.

Some asked AI to plan extended trips combining leave and holidays, like 'take 3 days off for a 13-day trip.' Others sought scenic spots with 'no traffic jams but great sunsets,' or directly asked AI, 'Is it too late to go to Mount Tai now?'

According to Tongcheng Travel data, visits to travel AI surged more than threefold on the first day of the holiday. Transport plans, itinerary planning, and scenic spot inquiries topped the list. In essence, AI is transforming from a 'guide-finding tool' into a 'co-pilot' on the journey.

But between the co-pilot and the driver lies a steering wheel called 'trust.'

AI Starts Managing Money

Previously, if you asked AI 'how to travel in Chengdu,' it would list: Kuanzhai Alley, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, hotpot restaurants. Now, it might directly ask you, 'Economy or business class for the flight? Hotels in Chunxi Road or Taikoo Li?'

Change arrived faster than expected.

Ctrip launched Trip.Planner, integrating one-click planning and booking—itinerary, adjustments, orders, and management—all in one interface. Fliggy's 'Fliggy Assistant' went further, handling cancellations, room upgrades, check-ins, airport transfers, and over a dozen in-trip services, with result usability improving by over 70% compared to the previous generation. Tongcheng Travel directly integrated with WeChat's AI agent, enabling bookings for flights, trains, hotels, and tickets via voice commands to AI.

Long Fei, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Association of Travel Agencies, stated bluntly: 'In the future, AI-driven bookings will gradually become widespread, evolving from guide recommendations to direct transactions.'

Translation: AI doesn't just want to help you search—it wants to help you buy.

Small Counties Take Center Stage with AI

This National Day saw a fascinating trend: multi-city tours surged in popularity.

Qunar data showed that on October 1st, nearly 20% of travelers had already checked into their 'second city.' Orders for hotels in two or more cities rose by 30%, while travelers visiting four or more cities increased by 53%.

Planning such trips used to be a hair-pulling ordeal—coordinating transport, hotels, and timing was overwhelming. Now, AI handles the logistics; you just pack your bags.

Notably, nearly 70% of these 'multi-city' travelers came from first-tier and new first-tier cities, yet their accommodations shifted: trips to third-tier and lower cities rose from 25% two years ago to nearly 40%. Over a thousand counties across China welcomed visitors during the holiday.

Dehong, Pu'er, Wuwei, Xuancheng—names you might not recognize—saw route bookings double. Search popularity (search popularity) for Tonglu Luzci Village and Xiapu Dongbi Village surged by over 100%. Bookings for local experiences like hiking, rafting, and off-roading jumped by nearly 80%, over 90%, and over 80%, respectively.

Why? Because AI, for the first time on a large scale, pushed these hidden gems into the spotlight.

Previously, OTAs only promoted a handful of popular destinations. Now, AI interprets vague requests like 'I want a quiet place with mountains and water, not too commercial' and uncovers long-tail supply. For the first time, technology enabled 'niche' destinations to be distributed at scale.

Would You Trust AI with Your Wallet?

The data is hot, but the problems are cold.

Currently, AI-driven orders focus on low-cost, standardized items like tickets and airport transfers. For high-stakes purchases like flights and hotels, most people still prefer to book manually.

The issue isn't technological—it's psychological.

If AI messes up your itinerary, you can start over. But if it books a $700 hotel that doesn't match the description, will AI say, 'Sorry, I recommended it based on historical data'?

Jiang Han from Pangu Think Tank put it bluntly: Platforms must resolve AI's response accuracy and liability issues to ease users' payment concerns.

Tourism consumption has unique traits: high stakes, irreversible decisions, and heavy emotional value. Misbuying clothes is refundable. Misbooking a trip ruins your holiday and mood. The gap between 'helping you plan' and 'buying for you' isn't about algorithms—it's about accountability.

Another Overlooked Issue

When AI decides which hotels, scenic spots, or routes to recommend, small and medium-sized merchants lacking online data or standardized information may never get noticed.

County-level markets are booming, but only for merchants already visible on platforms with data, reviews, and photos. Truly hidden gems—great homestays or farm stays in remote valleys—remain invisible to AI if their online presence is weak.

While technology boosts efficiency, it quietly widens supply-side inequalities. Being recommended by AI is a new form of traffic privilege—and not every small merchant can access it.

After All, Travel Isn't Just About 'Optimal Solutions'

This National Day, major cities saw overlapping arrival and departure flows, with popular scenic spots overwhelmed. Taxi demand at museums surged by 106% compared to usual, even higher than the overall increase at 5A-rated attractions. Booking popularity for mountain destinations like Mount Tai, Emei, Huangshan, and Huashan rose by over 200% compared to the day before the holiday.

Amid this chaos, AI proved invaluable—helping avoid crowds, timing trips, and stringing together complex multi-city itineraries.

But travel isn't just about 'where to go' or 'how much to spend.'

It's about anticipation, surprise, even a touch of adventure. AI can calculate optimal solutions but can't replicate the 'wow' moment of feeling the breeze by Erhai Lake. It can book the most convenient hotel but can't capture the emotion of seeing snow-capped mountains through your window.

So, don't treat AI as a tour guide—use it as a reliable assistant. Let it search, calculate, and organize, but hit 'confirm payment' yourself.

At least for now.

When AI can confidently say, 'If it's wrong, I'll cover it,' that's when travel AI will truly explode.