THE Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology sector – new partnerships, product launches, aviation industry updates, innovative solutions, and more …
Rise in demand for travel to South-east Asia with border reopening
Bangkok is a favourite destination with international tourists – 3rd on their wishlist. (Image credit: Lisheng Chang on Unsplash)
As countries in South-east Asia reopen their borders to international tourists and remove entry restrictions, travel demand is increasing to the region.
According to booking data from Travelport, these are the top 10 destinations in South-east Asia travellers plan to visit (from 1-10): Manila (Philippines), Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hanoi (Vietnam), Phuket (Thailand), Bali (Indonesia), Angeles/Mabalacat (Philippines)
The Philippines and Thailand are among the earliest countries to reopen their borders, and together they represented over 51% of all international flight bookings to the region.
The Philippines announced on January 28 it would fully reopen to vaccinated travellers on February 10. Within a week of the announcement international flight bookings to the country rose by 114%. A month after that the daily flight bookings reached 294%.
Thailand meanwhile allowed foreigners to enter the country on February 1 with the introduction of its Test & Go programme, which required tourists to undergo testing at intervals during their stay. In the 24 hours following this relaxation, international flight bookings to the Kingdom grew by 37%. On March 7 the Thai government dropped further testing requirements, which led to a 128% increase in international flight bookings.
Travellers visiting South-east Asian are mainly from the US, the UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. The largest segment is solo travellers who make up 44% of international flight bookings in Q1 2022. These travellers may comprise returning business travellers, flexible tourists whose bags are packed the moment borders reopen, and South-east Asian expats who are eager to return home without having to serve quarantine.
Travalyst implements standardised way to calculate carbon emissions for air travel
Travalyst travel partners agree to implement a shared framework to collect and display flight emissions data. (Image credit: JM_Image_Factory/Getty Images)
Travalyst Coalition, comprising six of the top brands in travel, have aligned on a shared framework to collect and display flight emissions data.
Travalyst, the not-for-profit sustainable travel organisation, was founded by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, in partnership with Booking.com, Google, Skyscanner, Trip.com Group, Tripadvisor and Visa.
The focus of the Travalyst aviation sustainability framework is to bring “immediate transparency” around carbon emissions for flights, said Travalyst in a statement. “To better inform travellers, this collaboration will evolve over time to reflect further factors impacting sustainable aviation.”
The framework consists of a set of shared principles and preferred methodology for estimating carbon emissions from air travel, agreed and committed to by all Travalyst travel distribution partners.
With the standardisation consumers will be able to easily find the information they need when they want to book a flight with lower emissions.
All Travalyst’s partners have confirmed their intention to adopt and implement the new model from 2022 onwards, with Skyscanner and Google being the first to integrate it fully into their platforms for consumers.
Founding partner Skyscanner, since the launch of their Greener Choices model in 2019, has been instrumental in the development of the framework.
Google has published a Travel Impact Model for emissions estimates that further details the Travalyst framework to support the coalition’s goal of greater industry adoption. The company will also act as a technology provider, and make it possible later this year for more platforms to easily display carbon estimates using its impact model with minimal technical requirements.
Sally Davey, CEO of Travalyst, said: “We know that one of the barriers to consumers making better choices is a lack of visibility and overly complicated information, leading to confusion.
“By delivering clear and consistent tools for collecting and reporting airline data we are helping travellers and the industry to make more informed – and lower emitting – air travel choices. It is hugely significant that our partners have reached agreement on this framework and will be using the same data across all of their platforms.”
airasia Super App partners Trip.com to expand its hotel inventory
More accommodation choices for airasia Super App users (Image credit: AirAsia)
Following its enlisting Google’s help to further push its airasia Super App, AirAsia has partnered with China’s leading online travel agent, Trip.com “to strengthen its position” as an OTA.
With this tie-up the super app has over 1.2 million additional hotels from 200 countries and regions added its inventory, providing travellers with more choice in accommodation.
Amanda Woo, CEO of airasia Super App, said the partnership would expand the superapp’s capabilities as an OTA and strengthen its travel ecosystem. “We look forward to serving all of our new and existing super app users with more travel deals through this partnership with Trip.com.”
Yudong Tan, CEO of Trip.com Group Flights Business Unit added the expansion of its collaboration with AirAsia would support the growth of the travel market across the region, and “provide travellers with over 1.2 million additional accommodation options through the airasia Super App channel.”
To expand its reach and increase its offerings the super app has entered into similar partnership with MG Group, WebBeds and Travelport “as part of a continued strategy to become the leading OTA and preferred travel and lifestyle app of choice in ASEAN”.
• Featured image credit (view of Manila from Manila Bay): Joseph Christopher Oropel/Getty Images
