Booking figures from Abacus International support this growth trend, showing a 12% growth in domestic passenger for May 2012 (year-to-date) over the previous year.

Mobile use in the country is also rising rapidly as fewer people are utilising landlines as the main form of communication. The number of mobile subscribers is expected to reach 117 million by end 2016, and could surpass the 100% mobile penetration rate by end 2012.

About 35% of Filipino Internet users access the web with their mobile device, placing the Philippines as the third highest in South East Asia for mobile Internet usage

“The availability and use of mobile devices has not only improved productivity but also increased customers’ expectations on turnaround times for their enquiry,“ said Brett Henry, Abacus International’s vice president, commercial and marketing (pictured left)..

He added that agents need to be equipped with the appropriate technology to ensure that they can provide the best customer service even when they are on the go. One solution that could help agents to keep up with the fast-changing travel landscape and technological evolution, particularly in the mobile space, is the Abacus Mobility suite.

This is a series of mobile solutions developed to cater to the rising demand from travel businesses to enhance the customer experience. it also includes Abacus VirtuallyThere and Abacus WebStart, two solutions that use HTML5 technology for easy access across numerous platforms for travel companies and travellers.

Productivity is another key factor for Filipino travel agents, especially with the increased number of agencies rising up to fuel greater competition.

Henry said that agents could face this competition and gain a headstart in the marketplace with solutions like Abacus WorkSpace. This is a high-performing point-of-sale platform, which allows agents to increase productivity by reducing keystrokes up to 40% and reduces training time by 50% through its fully graphical agency sales tool.