News Roundup: Highlights on new products and services from travel suppliers – Klook and Japanese railway company promoting tourism in western Japan, Singapore Airlines expanding its NDC KrisConnect programme, partnership between Wego and Singapore Tourism Board to target Middle East travellers, free taxi service at Dubai International
Travel: Klook rides with JR-West to boost tourism in western Japan
(Image credit: Daniel Machacek/Getty Images)
Travelling by railway is becoming a preferred mode of transport among travellers from South-east Asia visiting western Japan, with growing demand for both activities and rail bookings in the region.
This is what Hong Kong-based travel activities and services booking platform Klook recorded from bookings made on its mobile app and website. Between August 2018 and last month the company more than doubled its activities bookings along the popular western Japan rail routes in destinations such as Kyoto, Nara and Kobe. Rail services bookings made by FIT travellers rose by almost 500% in the same period.
To “empower” South-east Asia’s growing segment of FIT travellers to discover more of western Japan, Klook has formed a strategic partnership with West Japan Railway Company (JR-West). The two companies will collaborate to enhance the variety of travel activities covering cities like Osaka, Hiroshima and Okayama.
Klook is one of the first companies to launch JR-West’s innovative e-ticket services across its global markets.
Through the new deal travellers can now enjoy several new initiatives: easily redeem their JR-West tickets via train station vending machines after purchasing them on Klook’s website or mobile app, enjoy value-added combo packages combining a JR-West Rail Pass with popular local activities (available in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam) and have personalised experiences.
Klook will work jointly with JR-West to increase the variety of travel activities covering cities like Osaka, Hiroshima and Okayama. They will also launch a series of co-marketing campaigns, such as the upcoming Klook Travel Festivals in the Philippines and Malaysia.
“Southeast Asia has always been an important region for Klook. With this partnership we look forward to bringing more visitors from the region to western Japan and beyond,” said Ethan Lin, Klook’s CEO and co-founder.
According to Klook, this collaboration is an important component of its strategy “to deepen key partnerships and diversify offerings in Japan, which is home to many of its popular destinations, ahead of Tokyo 2020 (the 2020 Summer Olympics).
Hiroshi Muro, JR-West’s executive officer and senior general manager of marketing department, said with a flexible JR-West Rail Pass visitors can just hop on and off as they want to easily experience the culture, food and nature of western Japan.
He added the partnership with Klook would made the rail services more accessible to travellers from South-east Asia. “Collaborating with Klook allows us to better engage with today’s travellers through the company’s global network, rapidly growing consumer base and convenient mobile platform,” he added.
Tourism in western Japan has been growing rapidly. Last year the number of visitors to the region increased by 41% compared with 2016. It expects to welcome over 13 million international tourists by 2020.
Technology: SIA expands NDC programme to propel offerings for travel agents
(Image credit: Singapore Airlines)
Singapore Airlines (SIA) is ramping up efforts to deliver a wider range of fares and personalised content to travel trade partners from 1 April 2020 through the expansion of its New Distribution Capability (NDC) programme, KrisConnect.
SIA was one of the first airlines in Asia Pacific to take advantage of the NDC technology when it launched the KrisConnect programme last October. The programme leverages Application Program Interface (API) technology, including the NDC standards, to extend booking, servicing and information functionalities to external parties.
The airline explained that through the KrisConnect programme travel agencies and other external partners can take advantage of multiple ways to access the new content and functionalities.
It will make the content available through traditional Global Distribution System (GDS) partners such as Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport, as well as new technology partners like Aaron Group, ATRIIS, HitchHiker, PKFARE, Travel Boutique Online, Travelfusion, TravelNDC and Verteil Technologies.
In addition, SIA’s travel agent portal AGENT 360 will be enhanced to allow travel agents direct access to content via KrisConnect.
SIA senior vice president sales and marketing, Campbell Wilson, said the introduction of new technology like the KrisConnect programme enables the airline to better meet the needs and expectations of their customers..
Travellers’ expectations are constantly evolving, he added. The latest development will enable them to access information as and when they prefer, “to quickly and efficiently execute desired actions” and meet the demand for greater personalisation.
The carrier’s appointed travel agents in Singapore who have joined or expressed their interest in the KrisConnect programme include CWT, Chan Brothers, CTM, Corporate Travel Services, Ctrip, FCM Travel Solutions, Fortune Travel, Global Travel, New Shan, Pacific Arena and UOB Travel Planners.
The National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) is supportive of SIA’s initiative to onboard its member agents to the programme.
“We are committed to work with SIA and consume content through its KrisConnect programme. Today’s customers demand a greater variety of choices, and the new capabilities enable us to react to their needs in a timely manner,” said NATAS president Steven Ler.
In a separate statement, Sabre said it is collaborating with SIA in the latter’s expansion of the KrisConnect programme. Through this cooperation the technology company will provide travel agents with scalable NDC-enabled offerings from the Singapore carrier, and enable end-to-end workflows with integrated content.
The agencies will also have access to a broader array of fares and a more tailored shopping experience via the Sabre agency point-of-sale, in addition to having access to new KrisConnect-exclusive content categories, ancillary bundles and third-party content.
Rakesh Narayanan, vice president, South-east Asia and Pacific, Sabre Travel Solutions Airline Sales, said together with SIA the company “is committed to making NDC become an everyday reality for travellers, carriers, agencies, corporations and more.”
Marketing: Wego, STB join forces to drive more Middle East travellers to Singapore
(Image credit: MongkolChuewong/Getty Images
Online travel marketplace Wego and Singapore Tourism Board are undertaking a co-marketing campaign to promote Singapore to Middle East travellers during the winter season.
The campaign, the first such collaboration between the tourism board and Wego in the Middle East, aims to increase brand and destination awareness to Singapore showcasing the unique experiences, events and all-year-round activities.
Beverly Au Yong, STB’s area director Middle East, said Singapore has many attractions for travellers from the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) – from world-class galleries and museums to high flying thrills, green sanctuaries and local artisans.
“With the wide variety of specially curated experiences available in Singapore under our brand, Passion Made Possible, we have something for every passion tribe. Whether you are a Foodie, Explorer or Action-Seeker these activities will provide visitors with unique experiences to embrace their passions with like-minded people in Singapore to celebrate their passions with,” she added.
Wego has seen a 34% increase in the number of bookings to Singapore on its platform in H1 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, said its managing director, MENA and India, Mamoun Hmedan
“Through our partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board, we aim to educate travellers and showcase Singapore’s unique offerings helping holidaymakers plan and book their next trip.”
Transport: Hop on to the free taxi service at Dubai International
(Image credit: Dubai Airports)
The next time you arrive at Dubai International (DBX), one of the busiest airports in the world, you can just hail a taxi right inside the concourse.
The airport has launched the new free taxiDXB service in Concourse B to make it easier for travellers to navigate through DXB’s linear concourses easier.
The fleet of 15 eight-seater buggies are available at pick-up points around the arrivals and departures level of concourse B. Passengers may hail them to go to another gate or to one the many restaurants and shops. However, the airport’s management said priority would be given to those who may find walking a challenge or have their hands full with young children.
“The introduction of taxiDXB is in direct response to the needs of our customers. The design of DXB’s concourses is very linear, which some customers told us they found hard to manage when they have to reach a gate at the opposite end but lends itself perfectly to a closed-loop buggy service,” said Frank McCrorie, SVP operations at Dubai Airports.
“We have operated similar services in the past, but this is entirely free for our customers and has proved very popular in the test phase,” he added
taxiDXB is operated by the airport’s specially trained customer service team, who are equipped with up-to-date flight movement information to ensure customers get to where they need to be in plenty of time.
The service will be extended to DXB’s other concourses in the coming months.
• Featured image credit: ake1150sb/Getty Images
