Self drive travel bookings surge 81% as travellers seek flexible journeys
Asia Pacific is playing an increasingly important role in the expansion of international self drive travel. Travellers from South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan were among the leading source markets for car rental demand, recording year on year growth of 85%, 78%, 62%, 113% and 139%, respectively.
SINGAPORE - Global car rental bookings have surged 81% over the past year as travellers increasingly turn to self drive holidays, creating new opportunities across the car rental, tourism and travel services sectors.
Data from Trip.com Group shows the growth is being driven by a broader shift in travel behaviour, with travellers using rental cars to access destinations beyond major cities and build more personalised itineraries. Japan has emerged as the leading self drive destination, with bookings rising 119% year on year. Thailand recorded 59% growth, while the United States, South Korea and Australia posted increases of 54%, 148% and 74%, respectively.
The figures point to strong demand for independent travel across Asia Pacific and other major tourism markets. Among individual destinations, Tokyo recorded 156% growth in self drive bookings, followed by Jeju at 148%, Sapporo at 129%, Fukuoka at 88% and Okinawa at 87%.
Japan's appeal reflects the breadth of its road travel offering, ranging from Hokkaido's open roads to island routes in Okinawa and Kyushu, as well as scenic journeys around Mount Fuji. Thailand is also benefiting from demand for road based tourism, particularly routes through the north that combine mountain scenery with local cultural experiences.
Europe is emerging as another important growth market. Italy, Spain and Germany recorded year on year increases in car rental bookings of 88%, 80% and 75%, respectively.
Travel content is also reflecting the shift. Trip.com's Trip.Moments community platform recorded a 662% increase in drive related content from Spain, while the UK and Italy recorded increases of 371% and 211%.
The growth creates potential for a wider ecosystem of businesses, including car rental companies, accommodation providers, tourism operators, attractions, roadside services and travel technology platforms.
Asia Pacific travellers drive overseas demand
Asia Pacific is playing an increasingly important role in the expansion of international self drive travel. Travellers from South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan were among the leading source markets for car rental demand, recording year on year growth of 85%, 78%, 62%, 113% and 139%, respectively.
Cross border road trips are also gaining traction in Southeast Asia. Singapore Malaysia routes can combine city breaks with coastal destinations, while routes incorporating Langkawi and Malacca offer a combination of island scenery, heritage and local culture.
Thailand Malaysia road trips are also attracting interest, highlighting the potential for regional tourism operators to package multi destination journeys around self drive travel.
Vehicle preferences reflect changing travel patterns
The growth in self drive travel is also influencing vehicle demand.
Sedans account for 52% of Trip.com car rental bookings, followed by SUVs at 29% and passenger vans at 17%.
Family travel is a major contributor to demand, with travellers aged 25 to 44 accounting for the majority of bookings. Among family travellers, those travelling with young children account for more than half of road trip bookings.
Family road trip content on Trip.Moments has increased 309% year on year, while pet friendly road trip content rose 209%. Campervan and recreational vehicle related content increased 220%.
The figures suggest that self drive travel is expanding beyond the traditional holiday road trip, with consumers choosing vehicles according to their group size, destination and preferred travel experience.
Travellers plan further ahead
Travellers are also becoming more deliberate in planning self drive holidays. Trip.com said the average car rental booking lead time is now about one week longer than a year earlier, indicating that road trips are increasingly being incorporated into wider holiday planning.
Demand for travel protection is also rising, with insurance purchase orders increasing 131% year on year.Convenience is another significant factor. Automatic vehicles account for 95% of bookings, while most rentals are prepaid online, pointing to strong consumer demand for simpler digital booking and payment processes.
For travel businesses, the trend suggests opportunities to build additional services around the rental journey, from insurance and accommodation to attractions, itineraries and regional tourism packages.
The increasing popularity of self drive travel also highlights the role of digital platforms in influencing purchasing decisions. Trip.Moments data shows video posts receive more than three times the interactions of photo posts, as travellers share road trips, scenic drives and destination experiences.
As more travellers choose to control their own routes, the growth of self drive travel is extending the economic value of tourism beyond traditional city centres and established attractions, connecting car rental demand with accommodation, food and beverage, attractions and regional tourism economies.
Source: Trip.com Group
