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Trip.com Faces 5.2 Billion Yuan Fine in China Over 'Monopolistic Practices'

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Trip.com Faces 5.2 Billion Yuan Fine in China Over 'Monopolistic Practices'

China's State Administration for Market Regulation fined Trip.com Group (HKG:9961) 5.18 billion yuan "for abusing its dominant market position and engaging in monopolistic practices."

The penalty comprises 1.66 billion yuan in illegal gains and a fine of 3.52 billion yuan, equivalent to 7.5% of its 2025 domestic revenue in China, the regulator said Sunday.

SAMR also ordered Trip.com to fully refund 122 million yuan in hotel order security deposits that were compulsorily deducted from hotel operators, and to carry out a comprehensive rectification.

In response to the regulator's action, Trip.com said it "sincerely accepts the decision and will adopt rectification measures."

"The company will strengthen its long-term governance mechanisms and strive to contribute to the sustainable development of the travel industry," Trip.com said in a Hong Kong bourse filing on Monday.

SAMR opened its investigation into Trip.com in January 2026 under China's Anti-Monopoly Law. The probe found that since 2020, Trip.com abused its dominant position in the online hotel booking platform market in China.

These monopolistic practices include requiring "special brand" hotel operators to engage in exclusive partnerships and forcing "gold" and "unlicensed" hotel operators to offer the "lowest price across the entire network," among others, SAMR said.

Trip.com owns booking platforms Ctrip, Skyscanner and Qunar.

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