Global air travel up 37% in 2023, yet challenges remain
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently released data indicating a continued rebound in global air travel throughout 2023, inching closer to pre-pandemic levels. Let's delve into the numbers and trends shaping this recovery.
In 2023, total air traffic, measured in revenue pass [...]
Singapore ends 2023 on a high but concerns loom over costs and demand
STB forecasts 15-16m arrivals in 2024, short of 2019’s 19m
There’s much reason to celebrate within Singapore’s tourism industry as Lunar New Year approaches on Febuary 10. The destination saw a 115% increase in the number of visitors last year, from 6.3m in 2022 to 13.6m in 2023, which fell [...]
Schiphol app curbs flight stress. Hilton ready to chat. Visa waiver ignites travel surge. More.
Your watch is your flight buddy
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has created an app for Apple Watch that uses AI and motion sensors to give travellers up-to-date information about their flights. The app tells users when their flight is leaving or arriving, which gate to go to, and provides status updates [...]
MakeMyTrip hails best ever quarter driven by high travel demand
India online travel agency MakeMyTrip Group (MMT) has reported its highest ever quarterly gross bookings, revenue and profit for its fiscal 2024 third quarter.
The Gurugram, India-based business reported a 20% increase in gross bookings to $2 billion while revenue increased 26% to $214 million. [...]
WiT Podcast: Customer love to planet love; practise what you preach
This is Episode 2 of the Customer Love series. Listen to Episode 1 here.
In the middle of this episode, “From Customer Love to Planet Love”, Eric Ricaurte, CEO of Greenview burst (nearly) into song, reciting the lyrics of Barry White’s Practise What You Preach – “You say there's a lesso [...]
JTB and Veltra partner for Tour & Activity business, focused on enhanced experiences
In a move to tap into individualised travel preferences, travel companies JTB and Veltra recently formalised a capital and business alliance agreement. The primary goal is to foster and expand tour and activity businesses, with a specific focus on catering to the growing demand within the Japanese o [...]
Rabbit R1 and its impact on Tours and Activities
The debate continues on its implications in wider tech and travel space
Read Part 1 of Travel Pros React to the Rabbit R1 here.
Earlier this month, tech startup Rabbit made waves with the launch of its R1, a pocket-sized AI assistant designed to do daily ‘smartphone tasks’ without the use [...]
Pickleball courted by TravelAI. WAGS and HABS in the money. Robots on Tokyo Bay. More.
Help for Pickleball fans
If you’re a fan of Pickleball - a fast-growing paddle sport combining elements of ping pong, badminton and tennis - chances are you will find it difficult to source a pickleball court on your travels.
Step up, TravelAI which specialises in personalised travel experienc [...]
Millennials and Gen Zs up travel budgets for more shared experiences
Social media is a primary source of travel inspiration, with over 80% basing their travel bookings on recommendations from non-celebrity figures
Klook's latest Travel Pulse research reveals that 3 in 5 travelers are allocating up to half of their budget to create meaningful connections while explor [...]
Middle East business travel platform Tumodo raises $35M
Tumodo, a Dubai-based startup business travel platform, has raised $35 million in pre-seed funding.
The company said the funding is “co-led by MENA-focused angel investors” and will be used to grow its presence in the United Arab Emirates and to develop its product. And by 2026 it aims to expan [...]
