South Africa’s $2.5b online travel market attracts new wave of homegrown tech
Is South Africa the world's quiet travel tech powerhouse?
South Africa's online travel market, valued at $2.54 billion in 2024, is on a trajectory toward nearly $6 billion by 2033. But the more interesting story isn't the size of the prize, but who's showing up to claim it. South Africa has quietl [...]
BTS brings bookings. F1 travel trends. No-phone tiger reserves. MakeMyTrip’s AI concierge.
Lobby raises $2.2m to automate group bookings with AI
Swiss startup Lobby has secured USD 2.2 million from venture capital firm Founderful, whose co-founder Pascal Mathis, also a GetYourGuide co-founder, will join the board, to scale its AI platform for processing group travel bookings. The platfor [...]
Fliggy launches open-source travel skill and adds AI bookings
Chinese online travel platform Fliggy, an Alibaba Group subsidiary, has made two moves in quick succession: opening up its travel inventory to AI agent developers via a new open-source skill, and enabling actual travel bookings through an AI interface for the first time.
Fliggy, the travel divisio [...]
Almost half of Southeast Asian travel businesses see worse prospects in Q2 due to war in Iran
A recent survey has revealed that 48% of Southeast Asian travel businesses believe that the prospects for their business in Q2 2026 are worse than they had originally anticipated at the start of the year, due to the Iran War impact.
The report conducted by the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) an [...]
WiT Phocuswright Middle East rescheduled to August 14, 2026
WiT and Phocuswright, part of the Northstar Travel Group, wish to announce that WiT Phocuswright Middle East has been rescheduled. The event, originally planned for May 1, 2026, will now take place on August 14, 2026.
This decision has been made in consideration of the ongoing conflict in the regio [...]
Co-sourcing cuts agent turnover. MakeMyTrip eyes India IPO. Japan’s new pre-screening. Sakura trends.
Specialized co-sourcing cuts travel agent turnover by 95%, says 24/7 TPD
Colombia-based 24/7 Travel Partner Desk (247 TPD), a co-sourcing firm operating exclusively in the travel sector, reports that its specialized model reduces agent turnover by 95.3% compared to the industry average, a finding d [...]
Eid staycations gain momentum in Saudi Arabia with rising hotel demand
Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has seen a surge in hotel searches across Saudi Arabia as residents increasingly explore Eid Al-Fitr getaways within the Kingdom.
As the holiday approaches, many travellers are exploring destinations tha [...]
Air travel demand will more than double by 2050
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its Long‑Term Demand Projections (LTDP) for air travel, showing that global air passenger demand is expected to more than double by 2050. Here are some key takeaways:
Under the mid‑range scenario, demand is forecast to reach 20.8 t [...]
HTS launches ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ for hotels
HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions)’ says its AI-powered fintech solution drives incremental revenue for hotel partners and delivers flexibility to travellers – already live at global scale.
HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions), a global travel technology platform, announced the launch of its Cancel [...]
55% increase in Hari Raya accommodation searches with Japan and China among top markets
Signalling broader festive travel consideration beyond familiar destinations, this shift in travel preference underscores the value of localized listings for hotels
As Hari Raya approaches, digital travel platform Agoda marks a 55% month-on-month increase in accommodation searches from travellers [...]
