5 travel behaviors shaping 2026

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Travellers are planning further ahead, spending more deliberately and increasingly prioritizing value over volume, with international travel expected to strengthen in the second half of 2026.

 

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 July 2026 – Travel continues to be a priority for consumers across Asean, with travelers becoming increasingly intentional about how they plan and spend on their journeys. As economic and global conditions evolve, they are making smarter choices on where they go, how much they spend, and when they book.

According to AirAsia MOVE's (MOVE) insights from forward bookings for travel between July 1 and December 31, 2026, travelers are increasingly prioritizing value, convenience, and thoughtful planning over volume alone.

The findings indicate that travelers are moving away from spontaneous decision-making towards more intentional travel in 2026, prioritizing destinations that offer greater value, shorter travel times, and meaningful experiences without compromising affordability.

Travelers are spending smarter, not less

One of the clearest shifts emerging from MOVE's data is not whether people are traveling, but how they are allocating their travel budgets. Average flight spending for the second half of 2026 is currently around 35% higher than the average hotel spend. The data suggests that travelers remain willing to invest in reaching their preferred destinations, while becoming more selective about where they stay.

Rather than choosing premium luxury accommodation, travelers are increasingly opting for hotels that provide the right balance of comfort, convenience, and affordability.

This is reflected across the more than one million hotels available on MOVE worldwide, where 76% of bookings are for three and four star properties, demonstrating a clear preference for quality accommodation that delivers greater value.

Payday is when travellers turn plans into bookings

 

 

MOVE's booking data shows that nearly 40% of flight bookings are made for travel taking place between the 25th and 5th of each month, closely aligning with salary cycles across many Asean markets.

The pattern suggests that while travelers often begin researching and planning earlier, many choose to make the trip closer to the pay day period, reflecting a more disciplined approach to discretionary spending.

As affordability becomes increasingly important, financial planning is becoming an integral part of the travel decision-making process.

3. Convenience is driving destination choices

Travelers continue to favor destinations that are easier and quicker to reach.

While domestic travel remains resilient across the region, international demand continues to be concentrated on destinations within 4 hour-flying time, where travellers can maximize both their time and travel budgets.

 

 

Bookings for international flights under 4 hours increased by 14% in the second half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. The trend reflects growing demand for destinations that offer convenience, accessibility, and strong overall value, making shorter regional getaways increasingly attractive.

4. International travel is expected to strengthen in H2

Travelers  are also planning holidays earlier, with a growing proportion of bookings now being made more than 120 days before departure. The trend points to renewed confidence in longer-term travel planning after a period characterized by shorter booking windows.

Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines are expected to remain among the strongest destination markets during the remainder of the year, reflecting continued demand for regional travel supported by strong connectivity and competitive value.

5. Millennials and Gen Z continue to power travel demand

 

 

Millennials remain the largest traveling generation on MOVE, accounting for 43% of all bookings, followed by Gen Z at 23%. Together, they represent almost two-thirds of bookings across the platform, reinforcing that younger travelers continue to shape the region's travel economy.

While cost-consciousness has become increasingly important, travel remains a lifestyle priority for these generations. Rather than traveling less, they are making more considered decisions by choosing destinations and experiences that maximize value within their budgets. 

Benildean cinema takes the spotlight anew at Cinemalaya

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The independent film scene is buzzing with energy, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde is right at the center of the excitement. This year, Benilde has more reasons to celebrate as four more of its faculty members and alumni have been officially selected to compete in both the full-length and short film categories of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2026.

In the full-length category, Benilde Film educator Dustin Celestino unveils his tension-filled drama “A.ni.mál.” The plot kicks off when Lily, the daughter of a small-town mayor, returns home with a video that exposes a powerful governor abusing his dog. “A.ni.mál” stars Maxine Ignacio, Jojit Lorenzo, Reymund Domingo, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Bituin Escalante, and Anthony Falcon.

What sets “A.ni.mál” apart is that the entire film was shot using an iPhone 17 Pro Max. When financial constraints almost forced the team to back out, they decided to ditch traditional camera rentals. Instead, they redirected their budget to ensure the cast and crew were properly paid. Inspired by the raw, minimalist principles of Dogme 95, Celestino relied on natural light, sharp dialogue, and fly-on-the-wall framing to build an uncomfortable sense of reality.

Sharing the full-length spotlight is Benilde Film alumnus Vahn Leinard Pascual, who makes his feature directorial debut with the comedy-drama “Status: Rejected.” For Pascual, transitioning from an avid festival spectator looking up to industry icons to standing along with them as a peer marks a significant milestone in his artistic journey.

In the film, Virginia “Biring” Divinagracia (played by Ruby Ruiz), a 69-year-old widow, feels lonely at home and longs to move to America to reunite with her favorite son. After facing her fourth visa rejection from the embassy, her best friend convinces her to dive into the digital world to look for a foreign partner instead. Ruiz co-stars with Alessandra de Rossi, Beverly Salviejo, and Yani Villarosa.

Moving over to the short film category, Celestino’s fellow Benilde Film faculty member Lot-lot Hermosura presents a deeply moving piece entitled “The River Flows in Different Places.” The narrative traces the internal, emotional realities of two Filipino-Palestinian mothers forced to escape the conflict in Gaza. The documentary previously won the grand prize in the inaugural Films for Peace short film competition of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Joining Hermosura is Benilde Multimedia Arts alumna Gabriela Serrano with her sci-fi drama “Elenita Elena Elaine.” Set during a single night in an alternate reality where humanity has entirely lost the ability to dream, the film weaves together the ordinary routines and internal worlds of three women: a pop idol bracing for her last televised performance, a fresh graduate packing up her childhood bedroom for a job overseas, and a call center agent watching her voice get swallowed by ambient noise.

Serrano directs, edits, and co-writes the screenplay with her sister Mariana. The short film features a stellar cast including Agot Isidro, Gabby Padilla, and Mariana Serrano.

Through raw storytelling, technical ingenuity, and deeply personal narratives, these Benildean filmmakers are showcasing the vibrant future of contemporary Philippine cinema. Catch their films from August 6 to 18 at Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Cinemas, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Ayala Malls Circuit, Glorietta, Market! Market!, TriNoma, and Gateway Cineplex 18.

The Sun’s Reckoning: Bangladesh’s Race to Defy a Volatile World

 

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DHAKA — As the fires of geopolitical conflict rage in the Middle East, sending tremors through global petroleum markets, the world is finding itself held hostage by the precariousness of traditional energy supplies. For Bangladesh, this is no longer a distant crisis; it is a clarion call to secure its future. The nation is now pivotally turning toward a silent, inexhaustible ally: the sun.

In a bold shift, Bangladesh is aggressively pivoting from the vulnerabilities of imported fuel toward an ambitious, sun-drenched future. Experts now argue that green energy is no longer just an environmental goal—it is a strategic requirement for national survival.

The New Security Frontier

"Unexpected situations like this prove how much clean energy is crucial for ensuring energy security and economic resilience," explains Shafiqul Alam, Lead Energy Analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

The economic data supports this pivot. Nations that have already fortified their grids with substantial renewable investments—such as China, India, and Pakistan—have weathered the recent instability in Iran with far greater resilience. For Bangladesh, the math is becoming increasingly undeniable: the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for solar is already proving more competitive than gas and significantly cheaper than coal.

The Path to Power: From Policy to Panels

The government has responded with a dual-pronged strategy: aggressive legislative reform and large-scale infrastructure projects.

Zero-Tariff Vision: A landmark 10-year, zero-tariff facility on solar panel imports has been enacted to catalyze growth.

The 2030-2040 Horizon: Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood has set a target of meeting 20% of total demand from renewables by 2030, surging to 30% by 2040.

Revival and Reform: Under the current administration, six previously stalled solar projects have been brought back to life, with tariffs slashed by an average of 2.5 US cents per kilowatt-hour, proving that efficiency is as vital as volume.

Currently, the national grid draws 1807.75 MW from renewable sources, with solar leading the charge at over 83%. But the ambition is higher: the goal is to expand this stake to 10,000 MW.

Breaking Barriers: The Call for Grassroots Empowerment

While the institutional shift is well underway, experts like Professor Dr. Ijaz Hossain, former dean of BUET, believe the real revolution will happen in the hearts and homes of the people.

"The tax benefits are currently limited to large project developers," notes Dr. Hossain. "If the government simplifies access for independent buyers and general households, we could see an explosion of solar capacity similar to the rapid growth observed in Pakistan."

This sentiment is echoed by Hasan Mehedi of the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), who argues that empowering citizens to install their own rooftop solar systems would alleviate the burden on state coffers entirely while accelerating progress toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG-7).

A Nation in Transition

The horizon is changing. From the 1.0 MW rooftop system at Sangsad Bhaban inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the massive 100 MW solar park rising in Jamalpur’s Madarganj, the transformation is tangible. Even the landscape of waste is being repurposed, with ambitious waste-to-energy projects in Aminbazar and Matuail set to generate nearly 264 MW of power.

As the nation moves away from a 40% reliance on dwindling gas reserves, it is embracing a new, self-reliant identity. The message is clear: in an era of global uncertainty, Bangladesh is looking to the sky to ensure the lights stay on, the economy remains resilient, and the future remains bright.

What aspect of this energy transition—the large-scale infrastructure projects or the shift toward individual household solar adoption—do you believe will have the most significant impact on Bangladesh's long-term energy independence?