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China follows Australia and more as AI unlocks new holiday ideas and transforms how travellers explore the world. Today, AI is changing how travellers discover China, Australia and more destinations before they travel. From holiday ideas to detailed travel plans, AI helps travellers explore the world with greater ease. Moreover, smart travel tools are reshaping how people search for attractions, food, hotels and experiences. China and Australia are becoming important parts of this evolving travel story. Travel And Tour World explores how AI unlocks new holiday ideas and changes how travellers explore the world, while revealing what this transformation means for future global travel.

AI-Powered Travel Planning Countries: China, UAE, Brazil, India, Australia and Japan With Detailed Traveller Data

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly visible part of holiday research, but its use differs sharply between major travel markets.

The latest Booking Holdings survey cited by Tourism Review found that 44% of respondents in China use AI-powered tools for travel inspiration, followed by 42% in India, 35% in the UAE, 21% in Brazil, and 19% in both Australia and Japan. The survey covered between 800 and 2,000 adults in different markets, so the percentages should be read as survey measurements rather than national population-wide usage rates.

For travellers, the significance goes beyond the technology itself.

AI can now help organise destinations, build routes, suggest attractions, compare travel styles and create food-focused itineraries.

However, travellers should use AI as a planning assistant rather than a final authority.

Entry rules, visa requirements, weather alerts, transport schedules, attraction closures and health advice should always be checked through official government sources.

AI Travel Planning Countries at a Glance

The AI percentages are from the Booking Holdings survey reported by Tourism Review. The visitor statistics use each destination’s official statistical definition and should not be directly treated as a single comparable global dataset.

China: 44% AI Travel Inspiration and a Huge Digital Tourism Ecosystem

China records the highest AI travel-planning figure in the cited survey, at 44%.

The country is also developing official digital services that make AI directly relevant to visitors.

Shanghai launched the Hu Xiaoyou Service Center in August 2026. The government-backed system combines AI trip planning, multilingual assistance, tourism information and international payment services.

The platform brings together more than 84,000 cultural, commercial, tourism, sports and exhibition resources across 36 major categories. It also provides information linked to more than 20,000 food outlets and over 7,500 hotels and homestays. The system is designed to generate personalised itineraries and location-based recommendations.

Shanghai recorded 9.36 million inbound visits in 2025, according to the Shanghai municipal government, while the city handled 1.46 million inbound visits by foreign travellers during the first quarter of 2026, up 25.1% year on year.

China’s national tourism data show 131.90 million inbound visits in 2024, including 26.94 million foreign visitors and 104.96 million Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan visitors. In 2025, inbound visits reached 154.50 million, including 35.17 million foreign visitors. Foreign visitors entering under visa-free policies reached 30.08 million in 2025.

For a first journey, travellers can build a route around Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. Beijing offers the Forbidden City area and Great Wall experiences. Xi’an is ideal for the Terracotta Warriors and historic Silk Road heritage. Shanghai adds modern architecture, waterfront views, shopping and contemporary culture.

Food should be part of the itinerary. Regional dishes vary dramatically, so travellers can explore Peking duck in Beijing, hand-pulled noodles in northwestern regions, dumplings, Sichuan cuisine and Shanghainese specialities.

For accommodation, travellers can choose international hotels in major business districts or locally oriented properties near historic neighbourhoods.

A practical seven-day plan can begin with three nights in Beijing, followed by two nights in Xi’an and two nights in Shanghai. AI can organise the route, but travellers should verify train times, entry requirements and attraction rules through official sources.

China Five-Year Visitor Data

China’s National Bureau of Statistics notes that pandemic conditions affected the availability of foreign-tourist data for 2020–2022. Therefore, inserting estimated figures into those years would create a misleading comparison.

India: 42% AI Travel Inspiration With a Vast Heritage and Food Trail

India ranks second in the cited AI travel-planning survey, with 42% of respondents saying they use AI-powered tools for travel inspiration.

The country’s tourism statistics show a strong recovery in international arrivals.

Official Ministry of Tourism data record 1.52 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2021, followed by 6.44 million in 2022, 9.52 million in 2023 and approximately 9.95 million in 2024. International tourist arrivals, which include foreign tourists and non-resident Indian arrivals, reached 20.57 million in 2024.

India’s tourism dashboard records 32.83 million Indian national departures in 2025, alongside 4.286 billion domestic tourist visits. It also records 25.27 million foreign tourist visits to Indian destinations during 2025, demonstrating the enormous difference between international arrivals and domestic tourism activity.

For international visitors, India works particularly well as a multi-city cultural journey.

A classic itinerary can connect Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Delhi combines historic monuments, markets and diverse food. Agra provides the Taj Mahal and Mughal heritage. Jaipur brings forts, palaces, crafts and Rajasthani cuisine.

Travellers interested in spirituality can add Varanasi. Wildlife enthusiasts can consider national parks in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh or Kerala. Beach-focused visitors can instead build journeys around Goa and Kerala.

Food deserves its own planning category. Delhi is known for chaat, kebabs, parathas and chole bhature. Agra offers Mughlai cuisine, petha and local snacks. Jaipur brings dal baati churma, kachori, ghevar, ker sangri and laal maas. Official Incredible India information highlights these regional specialities.

For accommodation, travellers can mix city hotels with heritage properties and resort stays.

A practical nine-day route can use three nights in Delhi, two nights in Agra and three nights in Jaipur, with the final day reserved for onward travel.

AI can organise sightseeing around opening hours and personal interests. Travellers should verify visas, rail schedules, weather and local conditions through official Indian sources.

India Five-Year Visitor Comparison

India’s Ministry of Tourism uses Bureau of Immigration data for foreign arrivals. The 2025 dashboard separately records foreign tourist arrivals, NRI arrivals and international tourist arrivals, so the figures should not be combined indiscriminately.

United Arab Emirates: 35% AI Travel Inspiration and Dubai’s Global Visitor Hub

The UAE records 35% in the cited AI travel-inspiration survey.

For visitor comparisons, Dubai provides the clearest official annual series within the UAE’s tourism ecosystem.

Dubai received 7.28 million international overnight visitors in 2021, rising to 14.36 million in 2022. The number reached 17.15 million in 2023, 18.72 million in 2024 and 19.59 million in 2025.

The 2025 result was accompanied by strong hotel activity. Dubai reported average hotel occupancy of 79.4% between January and October 2025, with 152,875 rooms across 820 establishments at the end of October.

For travellers, Dubai is suited to short breaks as well as longer holidays.

A three-day trip can combine Downtown Dubai, the Burj Khalifa area, Dubai Mall and Dubai Creek. A fourth day can introduce the desert, traditional districts and cultural attractions.

Travellers seeking beaches can spend time around Jumeirah and Palm Jumeirah. Adventure visitors can travel to Hatta for mountain experiences. Al Marmoom offers desert landscapes and outdoor activities.

Food is another major strength. Dubai’s official tourism platform highlights local cuisine alongside international dining, homegrown restaurants and Michelin Guide selections.

Travellers can try Emirati dishes such as machboos, harees, luqaimat and grilled meats, while also exploring the city’s extensive South Asian, Middle Eastern and international food scene.

Accommodation ranges from city hotels and boutique properties to beach resorts and luxury resorts. The official tourism board provides accommodation information across different budgets and neighbourhoods.

A practical four-day itinerary could allocate two days to Downtown, Old Dubai and cultural attractions, one day to beaches and modern districts, and one day to the desert.

Dubai Five-Year Visitor Comparison

The Dubai figures are for international overnight visitors to Dubai, not total UAE visitor arrivals. This distinction is important when comparing the UAE with national tourism statistics from other countries.

Brazil: 21% AI Travel Inspiration Across Beaches, Cities and Nature

Brazil records 21% in the cited AI travel-planning survey.

The country’s international tourism recovery has been particularly visible since 2022.

Official Brazilian tourism statistics show 745,871 international tourist arrivals in 2021, 3.63 million in 2022, 5.91 million in 2023, 6.77 million in 2024 and approximately 9.28 million in 2025.

The 2025 result represented a major change from the previous year. The Brazilian government reported more than 9.2 million international tourists during the year.

Air connectivity played a major role. In 2025, 6,132,901 international visitors arrived by air, representing 66.04% of total international arrivals. São Paulo recorded 2,737,901 international air arrivals and Rio de Janeiro 2,130,991.

Brazil is best planned by region rather than treated as one compact destination.

Rio de Janeiro works for beaches, architecture, viewpoints, culture and nightlife. Travellers can visit Sugarloaf Mountain, explore Copacabana and Ipanema, experience Santa Teresa and discover samba culture in Lapa. Official Visit Brasil also highlights Rio’s local food culture and panoramic dining experiences.

São Paulo offers a different experience, with museums, neighbourhoods, shopping and one of Latin America’s most diverse food scenes.

Nature travellers can add Foz do Iguaçu. The official tourism platform highlights the waterfalls, Itaipu, ecological experiences and the Three Borders Landmark. The region also has strong river-based cuisine.

Food planning should include feijoada, pão de queijo, acarajé, moqueca, churrasco and regional Amazonian ingredients.

A practical ten-day itinerary could use four nights in Rio, three nights in Foz do Iguaçu and three nights in São Paulo.

Travellers should avoid trying to cover too much of Brazil in one journey because distances between regions are substantial.

Brazil Five-Year Visitor Comparison

Brazil’s official open-data platform states that its international-arrival database is based on administrative migration records from border posts and supplied by the Federal Police to the Ministry of Tourism.

Australia: 19% AI Travel Inspiration With Reef, Beaches and Wildlife

Australia and Japan are tied at 19% in the cited survey.

Australia’s official statistics use short-term visitor arrivals, and the country’s latest financial-year data show a substantial recovery.

Australia recorded 1.19 million short-term visitor arrivals in 2021-22, 5.86 million in 2022-23, 7.97 million in 2023-24, 8.40 million in 2024-25 and 9.10 million in 2025-26.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics stresses that these numbers represent international border crossings rather than unique individuals.

Australia is therefore ideal for AI-assisted route planning because the country is geographically vast.

Sydney is a natural starting point. Tourism Australia highlights the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi and Manly beaches, First Nations experiences, ferry journeys and the Blue Mountains.

The Sydney Harbour area alone includes more than 240 kilometres of shoreline, with beaches, gardens, bushland and major attractions.

For nature-focused travellers, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef provide a completely different experience. Tourism Australia describes the reef as a 2,300-kilometre coral system supporting more than 1,600 fish species and six of the world’s seven marine turtle species. Activities include snorkelling, diving, sailing and wildlife experiences.

Food planning can include Australian seafood, meat pies, native ingredients, modern Australian cuisine and multicultural dishes.

A ten-day itinerary could use four nights in Sydney, three nights in Cairns and three nights around the reef or another Queensland destination.

For accommodation, Sydney offers central harbour hotels, beach properties and boutique stays. Reef regions provide hotels, island resorts and eco-certified accommodation options.

Australia Five-Year Visitor Comparison

Australia’s latest official figures show that 2025-26 arrivals were about 8.3% higher than the previous year. The country’s 2018-19 pre-pandemic benchmark was 9.34 million, providing useful context for the recovery.

Japan: 19% AI Travel Inspiration and Record Visitor Numbers

Japan shares the fifth position at 19% in the cited AI travel-planning survey.

The country has experienced an exceptionally strong international visitor recovery.

Japan recorded 245,862 visitor arrivals in 2021, 3,832,110 in 2022, 25,066,350 in 2023, 36,870,148 in 2024 and 42,683,600 in 2025.

The 2025 figure was a new annual record and was 15.8% higher than 2024.

Japan is particularly suitable for AI-supported planning because travellers can combine several very different experiences within one journey.

Tokyo offers high-density urban experiences, shopping, technology, museums, traditional neighbourhoods and major food districts.

Kyoto brings temples, gardens, traditional streets and cultural heritage.

Nara adds historic sites and its famous deer park. Osaka offers a major food experience alongside shopping and entertainment.

The official Japan National Tourism Organization recommends a two-week Golden Route linking Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Kurashiki, Hiroshima, Himeji, Kobe and Osaka.

A shorter three-day Kansai route can connect Kyoto, Nara and Osaka. JNTO highlights Kyoto’s historic sites, Nara’s major Buddhist heritage and Osaka’s food culture.

Food should be built into the route rather than treated as an afterthought.

Travellers can explore sushi, ramen, tempura, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, soba and regional sweets. Each city also offers distinctive dining neighbourhoods.

For accommodation, Tokyo works well for first-time visitors around major transport hubs. Kyoto offers traditional ryokan experiences alongside conventional hotels. Osaka provides city hotels and apartment-style accommodation.

A two-week itinerary can allocate four nights to Tokyo, one to Hakone, three to Kyoto, one to Nara, three to Osaka and two to Hiroshima.

AI can help optimise the route around railway connections, attractions and food interests. JNTO’s official itineraries should then be used to cross-check practical arrangements.

Japan Five-Year Visitor Comparison

JNTO describes these figures as visitor arrivals to Japan and publishes annual and monthly statistics by market and purpose of travel.

Detailed Five-Country Tourism Data Comparison

*UAE figures in this table are Dubai international overnight visitors and therefore are not equivalent to UAE-wide arrivals.

**Australia figures are financial-year short-term visitor arrivals.

China’s national statistics use inbound visits, including visitors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, while India’s figures distinguish foreign tourist arrivals from international tourist arrivals. Australia counts border crossings, and Japan reports visitor arrivals. These methodological differences should be considered when comparing countries.

Five Detailed Travel Plans for AI-Assisted Holidays

How Travellers Should Use AI Without Losing the Human Side of Travel

AI works particularly well when the traveller provides specific information.

Instead of asking for a generic holiday, travellers can provide their budget, trip length, interests, dietary preferences, preferred pace and transport choices.

A family might request child-friendly attractions.

A couple could request a slower food-and-culture route.

A solo traveller could request public-transport connections and social experiences.

An adventure traveller could prioritise hiking, diving and wildlife.

However, AI-generated itineraries can contain outdated or incorrect information.

Travellers should independently confirm visas, passport rules, border requirements, local transport, opening hours, weather warnings, safety information and accommodation details.

The best workflow is therefore simple.

Use AI for discovery. Use official tourism websites for destination verification. Use government websites for entry and regulatory information.

What the AI Travel Planning Data Means for Global Tourists

The six markets highlighted by the survey demonstrate different stages of digital travel adoption.

China and India report the highest AI inspiration shares at 44% and 42%. The UAE follows at 35%. Brazil records 21%, while Australia and Japan each record 19%.

The tourism statistics add another dimension.

Japan reached 42.68 million visitor arrivals in 2025. Dubai recorded 19.59 million international overnight visitors. Brazil passed 9.2 million international tourists, while Australia recorded 9.10 million short-term visitor arrivals in 2025-26. India recorded 9.95 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2024. China recorded 154.50 million inbound visits in 2025, including 35.17 million foreign visitors.

These figures should not be interpreted as proof that AI itself caused visitor changes.

They instead show two parallel developments.

International travel is recovering and expanding in several major markets, while AI is becoming another tool through which travellers discover and organise their journeys.

For tourists, that creates a new planning opportunity.

A traveller can begin with an AI-generated idea, refine it around personal interests, and then verify every important detail through official sources.

That approach combines convenience with accuracy while leaving the final travel choices with the traveller.

Conclusion

AI is transforming how travellers explore the world, turning simple holiday searches into more personalised travel journeys. China follows Australia and other leading destinations as AI unlocks fresh holiday ideas, smarter itineraries and new ways to discover attractions, food and experiences. As AI travel planning develops, travellers can use these tools to explore possibilities before making final decisions. However, official tourism and government sources remain essential for checking visas, transport, safety and other practical details. Travel And Tour World will continue tracking this changing travel landscape as China, Australia and more destinations embrace technology that is reshaping how the world travels.