A Record-Breaking Year That Signals a Travel Transformation
ITB Asia 2025 wasn’t just another trade show—it was a turning point for the global travel industry. Now in its 17th year, the event marked its largest edition ever, expanding across five halls at Singapore’s Sands Expo Convention Centre and welcoming over 18,000 delegates and 1,500 buyers.
Under the theme “Future Forward: Transforming Travel and Tourism in a Changing World,” the conference captured an industry at an inflection point—where AI, sustainability, and human ingenuity converge to redefine the future of travel.
Singapore’s Vision for Tourism 2040
In his opening keynote, Minister Alvin Tan unveiled Singapore’s bold Tourism 2040 Strategy, setting an ambitious target of S$47–50 billion in annual tourism receipts through quality-driven growth. The plan includes massive infrastructure projects like Changi Airport’s upcoming Terminal 5 and the Marina South coastal development.
But what truly stood out was the focus on seamless, end-to-end travel experiences. Between all these touch points lies ground transportation — the invisible connective tissue that can make or break a traveler’s journey.
At GoodJourney.io, our mission is clear: to bring the same level of digital sophistication to airport transfers and chauffeur services that hotels and airlines already enjoy.
APAC’s Tourism Boom: The Numbers That Matter
Michael Shoory shared projections showing that by 2026, inbound tourism volumes will be 20% higher than 2024, and by 2027, 35% higher than current levels. By 2030, APAC will capture an even greater share of global inbound travel.
Regional highlights:
- Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, and Vietnam: 40–50% growth by 2030
- China: 120–130 million outbound travelers in 2025, nearly 20% of APAC arrivals
- India: 60% growth by 2030 relative to 2019
By the end of the decade, 40 million new APAC households will afford international travel—seeking quality and reliability. Every one of them will need modern, connected ground transportation.
The AI Revolution in Travel
Human + AI: The Future of Business Travel
Led by Vicki Parris and Lisa Wang of FCM Travel Asia, this session made one point clear: AI will replace tasks, not people.
AI handles automation; humans deliver empathy and creativity. Their mantra: “Automate the ordinary and elevate the extraordinary.”
Building Responsible AI-Human Systems
Travel companies must:
- Start with repetitive automation
- Ensure seamless AI-human handoffs
- Prioritize data privacy and transparency
- Build trust and address algorithmic bias
Tech Leaders’ Roundtable: APIs and Conversational Search
A panel featuring Expedia Group, Trip.com, and Atlas highlighted:
- Innovation is evolutionary, not revolutionary
- AI as co-pilot enhances humans
- APIs are the new currency
- Conversational search replaces static listings
- Agility wins — startups excel through speed and focus
Redefining the Traveler’s Journey with AI
Amy Wei, Senior Product Director at Trip.com Group, delivered one of ITB Asia’s most captivating sessions. Her presentation on TripGenie/TrainPal illustrated how AI is transforming every phase of travel—from dreaming to booking to the journey itself.
The Shift from Keywords to Intent
Trip.com’s data shows a clear shift in how travelers search:
- Less than half used more than three keywords before.
- Over 70% now type full sentences, expressing natural intent.
Example: Instead of “Sydney 4-star hotel $200,” users now say:
“Recommend hotels in Singapore similar to Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort — safe, clean, and good value for money.”
This shift represents a move from filter-based to contextual, conversational interactions.
AI Companion Across the Journey
TripGenie supports travelers through four stages:
- Dreaming – Personalized inspiration and event-aware suggestions
- Planning – Collaborative, dynamic itineraries with visuals
- Booking – Transparent comparisons and reasoning
- During Trip – Contextual tools like restaurant translation, allergy alerts, and local recommendations
The Power of Contextual Awareness
TripGenie’s intelligent widgets adapt based on where users are:
- Pre-trip: countdowns and airport transfer prompts
- In-destination: translation, itinerary updates, and memos
- Post-trip: feedback and loyalty follow-ups
Users engaging with these widgets show a 30% higher 7-day retention rate, proving that proactive, contextual AI drives engagement.
From Co-Pilot to Autopilot: The Trust Factor
Amy emphasized that the barrier to full automation isn’t technology—it’s trust. Travelers are ready for AI suggestions but still want confirmation before booking. Building trust requires reliability, transparency, and strong data privacy foundations.
Ground Transportation: The Missing Link
Amy’s insights mirror a major gap: ground transportation remains the most fragmented part of the travel ecosystem. Travelers want to say:
“I need a car to the airport tomorrow at 6 AM for four people with luggage.”
The system should understand and act. That’s the future GoodJourney.io is building—an intelligent dispatching and booking ecosystem powered by data, automation, and contextual AI.
Insights from Leading Sessions
- Amadeus: Data harmonization between marketing and revenue drives profitable demand generation.
- YOYI Tech: AI segmentation reveals luxury, millennial, and Gen Z traveler behavior.
- Web3 & Travel: Blockchain and crypto payments could reduce costs by up to 90% while driving financial inclusion.
Key Takeaways from ITB Asia 2025
- AI is the ecosystem driving trip inspiration to post-stay loyalty.
- Personalization and sustainability are top priorities.
- Collaboration and API connectivity define the new travel economy.
The Road Ahead for Ground Transportation
While most innovations in travel focus on hotels, flights, and experiences, ground transportation remains one of the most fragmented and manual sectors.
However, the signs of transformation are emerging:
- Lyft’s acquisition of TBR Global Chauffeurs underscores the growing convergence between on-demand and premium chauffeur services.
- Bolt is launching its own chauffeur offering, recognizing rising demand for high-quality, pre-scheduled rides.
- Grab is promoting scheduled airport pickups, further validating the shift toward reservation-based mobility.
These moves highlight a global recognition that the future of ground transportation lies in intelligent, connected, and automated systems.
GoodJourney.io stands at the forefront of this transformation — empowering fleets, OTAs, and travel brands with a unified booking, dispatching, and automation platform designed for the new era of mobility.
Final Thoughts
ITB Asia 2025 reaffirmed its place as Asia’s leading travel innovation hub. From AI-driven personalization to blockchain-enabled loyalty, it painted a bold picture of an industry ready to transform.
As the travel world moves Future Forward, GoodJourney.io stands ready to connect the dots—bridging the last mile of global travel with intelligent, seamless ground transportation.
