2024 Travel Apps and Brands Market Insights Report

In recent years, the global travel app market has seen annual growth in downloads and revenue. From January to September 2024, downloads and revenue increased by 4.4% and 19.5%, respectively. It is estimated that the total downloads and revenue for 2024 will reach 2.8 billion and $180 million.

The report delivers a comprehensive analysis of the travel apps market on both the App Store and Google Play for 2024, including global downloads and revenue trends of travel apps for the past few years, downloads and MAU rankings of dominant travel apps in different markets, digital advertising trends of travel brands, and the performance of leading brands in Asia-Pacific Region. Additionally, the report includes a case study of Trip.com, a popular travel app and brand. For more insights, please click the button below to view the full report for free.

Sensor Tower’s revenue figures are derived from App Store and Google Play IAP estimates, excluding ad revenue, third-party Android app-store sales, and direct sales from developer websites. Unless otherwise stated as net revenue, all figures reflect gross revenue (before platform deductions). Download estimates from Sensor Tower include only App Store and Google Play downloads, excluding pre-installs, duplicate downloads, and third-party Android app-store data. Google Play is not available in mainland China.

Global travel apps downloads and revenue increased year-over-year

From 2020 to 2024, the global travel app downloads continuously rose. In 2024, it increased by 4.4% year-over-year and reached 2.15 billion from January to September. As projected, the annual download in 2024 will exceed 2.8 billion.

Meanwhile, the global revenue generated by in-app purchases of travel apps showed sustainable growth. From January to September 2024, the travel app revenue increased by 19.5% year-over-year and reached $140 million. It is projected that the annual revenue will exceed $180 million in 2024.

Global travel apps market reaches its peak in downloads and revenue every July

The global travel apps downloads and revenue show a cyclical upward trend over time. Each February, global travel apps downloads and revenue reach the lowest point of the year, gradually recovering from February to July, with a peak around July.

India, the United States, and China are the three largest markets for global travel apps downloads

India is the largest market for global travel apps downloads, contributing 15% of the total downloads from January to September 2024. The United States and China iOS market follow closely, contributing 14% and 10% of the total downloads, respectively.

In terms of revenue, from January to September 2024, travel app revenue from the European and United States markets accounted for 40% and 38% of the total global revenue, respectively.

Tielu 12306 (铁路12306) and Mei Tuan (美团) topped the travel apps downloads and MAUs rankings in China's iOS market respectively

With the easing of pandemic policies, the downloads of travel apps in the Chinese iOS market began to gradually recover from Q1 2023, reaching the highest level since 2020 in Q3 2023, approaching 80 million.

In 2023, Tielu 12306 saw a 260% month-over-month increase in downloads in the Chinese iOS market, reaching nearly 43 million. From January to September 2024, this app climbed to the top of the Chinese iOS market's travel apps downloads ranking.

Due to its product matrix covering various aspects of users' lives, Mei Tuan has maintained its position as the top travel app by monthly active users in the Chinese iOS market, with nearly 65 million active users. The app also ranked third in downloads, consistent with its position from the same period last year.

Digital advertising expenditures and impressions for travel brands in the United States and European markets have been increasing year-over-year

The United States remains the largest market for digital advertising spending by global travel brands, with a 14% year-over-year increase from January to September 2024, reaching $2.55 billion. The total digital advertising spending for 2024 is expected to approach $3.5 billion.

With increased investment, the exposure of digital advertisements for travel brands in the U.S. market has steadily risen. From January to September 2024, ad impressions surpassed 280 billion, a 9% year-over-year increase. The total exposure for 2024 is expected to exceed 380 billion.