China's State Administration for Market Regulation has penalized Trip.com Group for abusing its dominant market position through anticompetitive practices.
Key facts
- •The SAMR investigation into Trip.com lasted six months.
- •Trip.com's platforms include its namesake international site, Ctrip, Qunar, and Skyscanner.
- •The company's Hong Kong-listed shares fell 0.8 per cent to HK$342.60 on Friday.
- •Trip.com shares have declined from a peak of over HK$600 earlier this year.
China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has imposed a 5.2 billion yuan (US$765 million) penalty on Trip.com Group for monopolistic conduct. The regulator stated on Saturday that the company, which operates platforms including Ctrip, Qunar, and Skyscanner, abused its dominant market position.
By the numbers
Anticompetitive Practices Detailed
According to the SAMR, Trip.com engaged in anticompetitive practices beginning in 2020. The company allegedly leveraged its traffic-allocation algorithms, platform rules, and technology to force hotel partners into exclusive agreements and demand they provide their lowest online rates on its platform.
Financial Penalties and Company Response
The total penalty consists of 1.658 billion yuan in confiscated illegal gains and a 3.521 billion yuan fine. The fine represents 7.5 per cent of the company's 46.958 billion yuan in domestic sales for 2025. In a statement posted on WeChat, Trip.com said it accepts the ruling and will implement rectification measures to reform its business model.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by SCMP Business.
