A new Kiwi.com study shows that Romanians are ready to let AI help them with searching, comparing prices, and even surprise trips, but most still want to keep control over the final decision. Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly relevant tool for travel planning among Romanians, according to new research conducted for Kiwi.com by STEMMARK in January 2026. The study, carried out in six markets – namely the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Spain – shows that Romanian tourists are among the most receptive to the support offered by AI when planning their holidays abroad.
According to the data, almost 8 out of 10 Romanian respondents say they would like an AI application to support them in at least part of the travel planning process. The greatest interest is associated with practical, time-consuming tasks: comparing prices across multiple sites, going through a large volume of hotel reviews, identifying convenient flight connections, and building complex itineraries.
For Romanian travelers, price comparison stands out as the most relevant use case: 56.9% say they would like AI support for comparing prices across dozens of sites or tabs. AI is also perceived as useful for reading hotel reviews, mentioned by 43.6% of Romanian respondents, as well as for finding flight connections that fit their schedule, an option chosen by 36.5%. Approximately one third would also use AI for building a complex itinerary with multiple cities, while 22.5% would rely on it to more easily understand visa requirements and baggage rules of different airlines.
At the same time, the research shows that Romanian tourists are not ready to give AI full control. While 10.2% say they would likely outsource 100% of travel planning and booking to AI in 2026, the majority prefer a hybrid approach: 53.8% say they would use AI for the most difficult part, especially searching, but would make the final booking on their own. Another 27.5% say they will continue to use traditional search engines, without AI chat, while 8.5% expect to turn more to human travel agents to avoid digital overload.
Kiwi.com: designed for travelers, from start to finish
Travel involves numerous variables and, naturally, can bring a high level of stress. Travel technology company Kiwi.com aims to reduce this stress for every traveler, from the initial search to the moment the customer arrives safely back home. Kiwi.com focuses on the real anxieties experienced by travelers and proposes solutions based on artificial intelligence.
“Our goal was to make the most powerful travel tools accessible to everyone,” says Michal Šindelář, VP of Consumer Product at Kiwi.com. “Whether you are planning an important business trip or a spontaneous weekend getaway, AI does the most difficult part for you.”
The end of complex filtering
Kiwi.com is known for its search engine, which includes advanced tools such as Nomad, radius search, and multi-city route planning. Now, the company is introducing the new AI Mode, which works as a sophisticated translator. It allows users to access these powerful functionalities through a natural conversation, instead of manually setting complex filters.
AI-based search allows people to search exactly the way they think, using their own words. They can describe a long weekend in a warm destination with a fixed budget, a multi-stop trip planned around a friend’s wedding, or a city break with direct flights only, and the results adapt to the request. Thus, AI Mode transforms an empty search form into a live conversation. Behind the scenes, the search engine checks over two billion prices from more than 500 airlines daily, to find the trip that best suits each traveler.
Logistics under control and benefits for loyal users
The innovations also include the improved “Build your trip” functionality, which uses AI to analyze billions of combinations and to offer travelers connections between airlines that do not normally work together. The technological novelties are complemented by the integration of the AI assistant Nathan into the Kiwi.com Guarantee package, which manages possible flight delays or changes 24/7, in multiple languages. In addition, the free Kiwi.com Club program offers instant discounts and bonus vouchers for active travelers, without the unnecessary accumulation of difficult-to-understand points.
