As we enter a new phase of the world order, we can see that the traditional first and second Worlds are entering a period of stagnation perhaps even decline.

Just as the New World eclipsed the Old World so too is Asia rising to take on the role of the world’s leading economic area.

For the past 15 years – indeed way before as far as ecommerce is concerned – the West and in particular America ruled. They defined the world and their evangelists spread far and wide. They were much revered.

The adoption of the web found its acceleration in the free and open economy of the US market. There are many scholarly works as to why – I just think it’s the intersection of many influences that made it work. As Asia rises – business is not as usual. The West has lost its hegemony and what replaces it is very different.

In the past Asia has looked up to the West for the ideal models in ecommerce. The move from conventional commerce to ecommerce was a trend that could and in fact did accelerate Asian economies.

Everyone knows that China will be the world’s leading economic power in a relatively short period of time. The boost effect will raise the regional adjacent territories. I hasten to add that this is not a vassal state issue – but rather there is a halo effect. At this point where should one look for pointers.

West or East?

I looked up the definition of Colonialism. There are a large number of different ones. The one that resonates is this one: “Control by one power over a dependent area or people.” That power from the old World(s) has now passed to Asia. Note that the past tense was used.

Airbus has just published its biannual Global Market Forecast. Along with Boeing’s Current Market Overview, these are the bible for long term planning.

Howeve, the reality is closer than even these documents reveal. Next year approximately 20% of Airbus’s production will go to serve the Chinese customer.

Perhaps now is an interesting time to examine if those influences – or rather new ones – are right for the change. Yes – this is actually happening.

At this year’s WIT Conference, we will be witnessing a changing of the guard in my opinion. Having come to every single WIT since its inception – I can see and sense this change.

There is less adulation of the Western models and now more attention to the Asian ways of doing things. In travel, there is so much that is different.

We can start at the level of how the world of Asia communicates, how its social interaction is different. I am trying to avoid generalization but for this I have to generalize.

When I am asked to distinguish differences in travel between Americans and Europeans, I use the simple analogy. Americans are cash rich and time poor. Europeans are time rich and cash poor.

Asia so far defies such easy generalizations. So who are these Asians? They are different. There is the wonderment of exploration and expansion. There is the lure of different experiences. The joy of watching the output of the travel systems that are in place is sometimes just sitting in one place and watching the different behavior of tourists.

Travel is one of life’s purest forms of pleasure. The process of travel has become very complicated and this complication is not necessarily good. Asia is breaking those bounds and defining new boundaries for how the younger and hungry Asian markets need to be serviced.

Now is the time for investment in technologies. The end of old colonial models and technologies and the emergence of truly Asian worlds will require different technologies.

And I am not talking about just double byte characters. With little legacy to hold them back, new players will emerge not just in China but across the entire region.

Welcome to the new world. Goodbye Columbus.