H.E. Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General of Tourism, Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, with Trip.com Group CEO Jane Sun. Photo Credit: Trip.com Group
Trip.com Group, China’s largest online travel agency, selected Abu Dhabi as the host city for its 2024 Global Partner Summit, drawing over 2,000 leaders from the travel industry to the Middle East. Held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the event highlighted the industry’s resilience and future opportunities under the theme "A Shared Journey to a Better World."
The summit brought together representatives from airlines, accommodations, attractions, tour operators, tourism boards, and the media to celebrate the travel sector’s strong recovery and growth. Trip.com Group’s data revealed a 60% year-on-year increase in global hotel and flight bookings in 2024, with Asia-Pacific bookings surging by over 70%.
During the summit, Trip.com Group announced a landmark partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) for 2025. The collaboration aims to position Abu Dhabi as a premier global destination by showcasing its attractions, cultural heritage, and unique experiences through Trip.com’s extensive platform.
As Middle Eastern travel booms, Trip.com data shows international flight bookings to the region up 70% year-on-year – Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the summit reinforces its status as a global hub for business and leisure. The top source markets were China, the UK, and Germany, highlighting the region's broad appeal. The partnership with DCT will build on this momentum to showcase Abu Dhabi's unique offerings to global audiences.
The summit also emphasised sustainability, with Trip.com Group sharing its progress in reducing travel-related carbon emissions by 260,000 tons in 2024. Initiatives like its Low-Carbon Hotel programme and "Certified Sustainable" labels for eco-friendly properties demonstrate the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship.