21/04/2026
Numbers are scary!
Travellers using AI for travel planning - 40%+
Adoption Rate - 75%
Age group adopting it the fastest - 35–55.
Reason: AI is both a time and money saver and a cost saver
So, what can AI actually do in seconds?
According to McKinsey (Full article here - https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/week-in-charts/travel-planning-gets-an-ai-upgrade):
54% use AI for general travel research to stay informed and prepared.
43% use it to decide where to travel next.
44% use it to generate itineraries, saving over 50 hours of planning time.
20% use it to create packing lists to avoid missing essentials.
McKinsey also reports that 84% of users feel AI improves their travel planning experience.
However, for most people, AI tools like ChatGPT are only a starting point.
Why?
Because, AI only provides generic itineraries that may ignore practical constraints, such as long travel distances between attractions.
It delivers information as text, which is difficult to use on the go without printing or constant searching.
It relies on historical data for weather, rather than real-time conditions.
generates packing lists but does not allow users to track or tick items while planning.
It does not integrate maps to show distances or optimise routes between locations.
This is why the travel apps business is booming.
For example,
Google maps combines manual planning with maps, weather, and offline access.
https://www.google.com.au/maps
Splitwise helps in splitting the expense in a group trip.
https://www.splitwise.com/
P***y AI offers fully customisable AI itineraries along with packing lists, document management, offline access, travel book journaling.
https://www.packyai.com/
The key advantage of these apps is simple: they do not just save time in planning—they handle ex*****on. They bring together everything AI cannot manage on its own.
Most of these apps cost less than a cup of coffee yet provide far more practical value than standalone AI tools or basic Google searches.
You can use a travel agent for planning, but you cannot carry one in your pocket.
Gen AI is proving to be a useful tool for travel planning.