Ctrip's headquarters in Shanghai. [Photo/Hongqiao Linkong Economic Park]
Online travel agency Ctrip, known overseas for its Trip.com platform, is advancing its global expansion efforts by introducing consumer vouchers and live-streaming e-commerce to international markets.
In 2023, Ctrip partnered with Thailand's tourism authority to host a live-streaming event for Chinese tourists in Bangkok. The event attracted over 10 million viewers worldwide, resulting in 11,000 orders for Thai tourism products and over 20,000 hotel room bookings. This success marked a significant step forward for Ctrip in building its international network. Following this, Ctrip established an Asia Live Streaming Centre in Thailand in 2024.
Ctrip hosts a live-streaming travel promotion session in Bangkok, Thailand. [Photo/Hongqiao Linkong Economic Park]
The company's strategy focuses on enhancing service offerings, initially targeting Chinese outbound travelers, by strengthening its global cooperation network with hotels, airlines, and attractions.
Ctrip's expansion emphasizes service improvement through continuous mobile technology iterations to optimize the booking process for global users. Its localized customer service and marketing teams offer tailored services to meet regional demands.
Ctrip is also inviting international tourists to China. With relaxed visa policies in 2023, Ctrip launched a "Free Half-Day Tour in Shanghai" in April 2024, positioning Shanghai as the first stop for inbound tourists. This initiative offers themed routes for international travelers with long layovers in Shanghai, allowing them to explore the city and Chinese culture. By February 2025, the program had welcomed over 7,000 international tourists.
Overseas tourists enjoy a tour of iconic attractions in Shanghai. [Photo/Hongqiao Linkong Economic Park]
The company integrates overseas resources with advanced digital technology to construct a global service platform. Trip.com offers a one-stop travel solution covering hotel bookings, flights, car rentals, and local experiences, with customized guides for popular destinations and a multilingual support mechanism.
By the end of 2024, Trip.com had become a significant growth engine for Ctrip, accounting for about 10 percent of total revenue.
Ctrip is currently collaborating with over a million hotels, airlines, attractions, and suppliers globally, covering more than 200 countries and regions, and plans to enhance its brand influence through digital marketing and industry exhibitions.
