Letter from Barcelona: Rebalancing tourism in the age of protest
On the weekend after Phocuswright Europe, thousands of protestors across southern Europe took to the streets to demonstrate their unhappiness over overtourism. “Your holidays, my misery,” they chanted in Barcelona, as they held up slogans such as “mass tourism kills the city” and “their gr [...]
Not first but fast followers: Michael Cawley on Ryanair’s tech playbook, OTA rapprochement & regulatory realities
Michael Cawley may be best known for his long tenure as Deputy CEO and COO of Ryanair, but his thinking continues to influence not just aviation, but also how we see technology, regulation, and the distribution battleground in Europe.
In a wide-ranging interview at Phocuswright Europe, Cawley lai [...]
Beyond the selfie queue: Japan’s overtourism challenge calls for data, dialogue, and decentralisation
As Japan races toward its goal of welcoming 60 million tourists annually, it faces a mounting dilemma – how to remain a dream destination without becoming a nightmare for its residents. At WiT Japan & North Asia 2025, a spirited panel moderated by Morris Sim of Montara Hospitality tackled the [...]
Rod Cuthbert on simplicity, rocket boosters and serendipity | Conversations On Turning 20
When you get to the ripe young age of 20, you’re bound to collect lots of stories – not only about the past but lessons for the future.
As WiT marks its 20th year in 2025, we turn the spotlight on our community, our tribe pioneers and leaders, to tell their stories and share their views on th [...]
Experts weigh-in on Jetstar Asia’s closure: Strategic misstep or inevitable fallout?
On June 11, news broke that Jetstar Asia, the Singapore-based low-cost carrier under the Qantas Group, will cease operations on July 31, affecting more than 500 employees in Singapore. The closure is part of a broader “strategic restructure” by parent company Qantas, which aims to reallocate res [...]
From rock dreams to travel reality: Traveloka’s Caesar Indra on serving the next generation
At WiT Japan & North Asia 2025, Caesar Indra, President of Traveloka, took to the stage with the calm confidence of a man who’s weathered many storms, seen the travel tech tides shift and lived to tell the tale. Thirteen years after joining Traveloka to build its flight product, Caesar is now [...]
WiT Podcast: From lucky beginnings to a mind-blowing future
Omri Morgenshtern reflects on 20 years of Agoda and 10 years of leadership
This WiT Podcast exclusive is part of our “Conversations on Turning 20” series.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a tech-loving realist runs one of Asia’s biggest travel platfor [...]
AI, multimodality & the human heart: Amy Wei on designing for the Golden Age of Travel
At WiT Japan & North Asia 2025, Amy Wei walked onto stage jet-lagged but charged – with fresh insights from Google I/O in California, her own AI panel at Trip’s Envision Summit in Shanghai, and now, Tokyo. Her global sprint mirrors the speed at which generative AI is transforming travel and [...]
The future is young, deep, and silver: Michael Dykes on the new demographics of APAC travel
At WiT Japan & North Asia, Michael Dykes of Expedia Group laid out a compelling picture of the shifting travel landscape in Asia Pacific. In a fast-evolving region shaped by cultural pride, youth influence, and ageing populations, Dykes identified three powerful demographic trends that are rewri [...]
From phone cards to payment cards: Visa’s Tania Platt on powering the Next Age of Travel
Tania Platt didn’t start in travel. She started in telecoms, selling international phone minutes – Mother’s Day and Ramadan were peak days – just as they are now in travel. That deep understanding of human connection and the friction in how it’s facilitated still drives her today in her ro [...]
