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Industry leaders discuss strategies for tech-led growth & business expansion in travel sector

The panel discussed leveraging technology to gain operational visibility and scale through platforms like predictive analytics and real-time tracking. Partnerships across the ecosystem from airlines to startups, were highlighted as critical. While raising funds, the two founded the panel emphasised the importance of strong governance, a clear path to profitability the founder autonomy. During the 2nd edition of ET Travel & Tourism Annual Conclave & Awards, key industry leaders engaged in a panel discussion on the topic of "Growth - Scaling Tech-Led Brands and Business Expansion." The insightful conversation covered a range of topics, emphasising growth strategies, technology's role in the travel industry, building brand loyalty,industry trends, and the challenges faced by startups. Moderated by Chirag Gupta, Co-Founder, TravClan, the panel featured Ankush Nijhawan, Co-Founder, TBO.com, Anshul Gupta, MD, Industry Lead for Travel & Hospitality, Accenture, Rakesh Negi, Head of Business Transformation, FCM Travel India and Manish Rathi, Co-Founder & CEO, IntrCity When asked about setting growth benchmarks, the panellists emphasized the importance of clear objectives, key results and metrics. Anshul Gupta noted companies should focus on consistency, reliability, and recognition over visibility alone. For international expansion, Ankush Nijhawan highlighted overcoming cultural differences and complex compliance requirements in new markets. Rakesh Negi discussed the importance of tailoring marketing strategies and prioritising customer recognition and loyalty. Whereas, Manish Rathi advocated for technology to be transparent and focus on business strategies rather than tech strategies. During the discussion, partnerships with startups were seen as key to gaining new capabilities and speed to market. Data-driven personalisation and unique experiences were also noted as important for retention. Sharing his thoughts, Nijhawan emphasised on the importance of techsavviness, funding, and ethical practices in determining the winners in the medium and long term. “Giving a very honest opinion on partnerships, I feel, it's all about sharing, it's not about, you know, I think I'm great, you're great, no, it's not about that. It's about what you can offer to each other, and how you can grow together, in a very, very sustainable, long-term fashion,” he said while talking about the importance of partnerships in the business. While Negi, discussed FCM Travel’s growth strategy, focusing on customer recognition and market penetration. “We are actually a people-first company, and technology is something that is ordering how we can support our people to be able to service our customers. So, when we look at all those aspects, we look at the data from the angle on what is the lifecycle of the customer, and how is that our person can actually be given more support from the technologies. The person is able to spend more and more time with the customer, talking to them, understanding the problem, and then solving the problem,” he said. The panel discussed leveraging technology to gain operational visibility and scale through platforms like predictive analytics and real-time tracking. Partnerships across the ecosystem, from airlines to startups, were highlighted as critical. While raising funds, the two founders on the panel emphasised the importance of strong governance, a clear path to profitability and founder autonomy. Gupta detailed on Accenture's approach, including partnerships with startups through incubation setups, investments, and strategic collaborations. “I am a firm believer that technology shouldn't be for the sake of technology; it has to be transparent; it should never be visible. Right. So, Tech-lead strategy should be the strategies for business and not tech strategies, is my personal opinion. And I and I strongly believe in that,” he stated. Rathi said that partnerships are the biggest element of their business because they fundamentally believe that if we were to make a successful bus business as a category in India, it has to be a very collaborative effort. “There's no single entity that can succeed here because the ecosystem is so complex. It requires a lot of collaboration. Now, for us, that collaboration happens across various dimensions. It's with state governments, with bus operators, with users, but increasingly, it's also with a lot of technology players because of the kind of experience we're trying to provide. It's pretty dynamic. It's pretty advanced,” mentioned Rathi. Overall, the discussion provided valuable insights into growth strategies with a focus on customer-centricity, partnerships and harnessing data and technology for the evolving travel industry. In summary, the panel discussion covered a wide range of topics, including growth strategies, international expansion challenges, technology-driven approaches, loyalty in the travel industry, and the significance of partnerships for business development. The insights provided by the industry leaders offer a comprehensive view of the current landscape and the strategies employed for scaling tech-led brands in the travel and tourism sector.

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Singapore, China plan reciprocal 30 day visa-free entry

"Both countries will work out the implementation details of the mutual 30-day visa exemption arrangement and implement it in early 2024," the Singapore Ministry of Foreig Affairs said in a statement. Thailand and Malaysia also have exempted visas for Chinese tourists. This year, China resumed 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore, more the three years after such visas were suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Singapore and China will put in place a 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement early next year, the Singapore foreign ministry said on Thursday. "Both countries will work out the implementation details of the mutual 30-day visa exemption arrangement and implement it in early 2024," the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Thailand and Malaysia also have exempted visas for Chinese tourists. Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also Singapore's finance minister, is on a visit to Tianjin city and Beijing. Wong is co-chairing the 19th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Tianjin on Thursday. He said personnel exchanges between the two sides were increasing, with flights between both countries recovering to close to pre-pandemic levels, Singapore's main Chinese language paper Lianhe Zaobao reported on Thursday. reciprocal, Reuters reported in May, citing Beijing's embassy. Singapore's central bank and the People's Bank of China are also starting a pilot programme to allow travellers from both countries to use China's e-CNY digital currency for tourism spending in Singapore and China, the Monetary Authority of Singapore announced.

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Southeast Asia banks on aviation boom

Analysts expect growth to be powered by the growing Chinese and Indian middle classes as well as a younger generation more keen to travel than their parents. But OAG warns the region's tourism has sometimes been over-reliant on China, and for now Chinese visitor numbers are still way below pre-pandemic levels as the Asian superpower grapples with challenging economic slowdown. Major airport expansion projects are taking off across Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and a new airline is set to launch next year -- all banking on an expected boom in air travel in Southeast Asia, fuelled by Chinese and Indian tourists. But there are doubts about whether it will materialise in an uncertain economic environment and as worries about the impact of travel on climate change deepen. Thailand's Really Cool Airlines is expected to start flying betweenBangkok and Japan around mid- 2024, but CEO Patee Sarasin -- aveteran of the region's cutthroat budget sector -- says it has been a battleto launch a new carrier just after a pandemic."It's a lot of money. It has been quite gruelling to raise the funds," he told AFP. "There are some points (where you say) 'why am I doing this?' It crossed my mind many, many times." Patee ran budget carrier Nok Air for more than a decade, but while he is coy about the finer details of the new venture, he claims it may yet evidenced by a flurry of big-ticket orders at this month's Dubai Air Show and bumper profit jumps for the likes of Air France-KLM and Ryanair. Southeast Asia is becoming a hot property, with private and public players competing for an expanding market. The region currently accounts for 10 percent of global traffic -- more than 500 million passengers in 2019. And Boeing expects this figure to grow around 9.5 percent a year over the next two decades, well above the global average of 6.1 percent. Across the region from Bangkok to Hanoi, governments are splashing A new terminal opened at Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok's main international airport, in September, and a third runway is being built. There are plans for a third terminal at the city's other airport, Don Mueang, as well as a doubling of capacity at Chiang Mai in the north, and expansion in the major island tourism hub Phuket. Cambodia has grand plans to make Phnom Penh's new USD 1.5 billion airport, expected in 2025, a regional hub to compete with Bangkok and Singapore, with about 50 million passengers by 2050. Further evidence of the kingdom's ambitions came earlier this month with the opening of the new Chinese-funded USD 1.1 billion airport at Siem Reap, the gateway to the AngkorWat temple complex, Cambodia's biggest tourist draw. Built as part of Beijing's sprawling "Belt and Road" infrastructure scheme, the Siem Reap airport is designed to handle 12 million passengers a year by 2040 -- double the total number of foreign tourists who visited the country in 2019. Philip Kao, president of a Siem Reap tourism association, hailed the new airport as a "game changer" because its longer runway means it can handle bigger planes flying long-haul. Tourist numbers are not yet hitting pre-pandemic highs, and Mayur Patel, Asia Director for aviation data consultancy OAG said they are unlikely to do so before late 2024 or early 2025. "It's fragmented from an economic perspective, but there is a coordinated effort to bring tourism back. Complexities will ease out in the years to come," he told AFP. Thailand, where tourism accounts for around a fifth of gross domestic product, has stepped up measures in recent weeks to boost numbers by granting visas on arrival to visitors from China and India -- two huge reservoirs of customers. Analysts expect growth to be powered by the growing Chinese and Indian middle classes -- as well as a younger generation more keen to travel than their parents. But OAG warns the region's tourism has sometimes been over-reliant on China, and for now Chinese visitor numbers are still way below prepandemic levels as the Asian superpower grapples with a challenging economic slowdown

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Kolkata: Safest city in India for the third consecutive year

If reports are to go by, for three years in a row, Kolkata has successfully maintained its status of being the safest city in India. It is important to note that this is as per a report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). As per this report, the city of Kolkata recorded the least number of cognisable offences per lakh population among other major cities in India. Following Kolkata is Pune in Maharashtra and Hyderabad in Telangana. For those unaware, cognisable crimes are those crime cases that are registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special Local Laws (SLL). This report and ranking was the result of comparison among 19 major cities in India, with all of these cities having populations of over 20 lakh. However, it is imperative to note that, Kolkata being the safest city does not mean that the city has zero crime rate. It was also reported that the city recorded an increase in the number of crimes against women. While no city is devoid of crime, Kolkata gives a ray of hope to travellers when it comes to be able to travel in a somewhat peaceful environment, as compared to other cities of course. Low levels of violent crime in the city is probably one of the most reassuring things for a traveller. Kolkata's iconic landmarks, such as Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, and the Maidan, are not only symbols of the city's rich history but also safe and welcoming spaces. Being able to safely visit these popular tourist spots with families, friends and even as a solo traveller is a great feeling, especially if you are visiting the city for the first time. The city’s law and order makes it comfortable for tourists and individuals to gather at these public places without fear.

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AI-driven solutions, sustainability revolutionising travel industry: Amadeus

AI and ML aren't just concepts but are actively addressing crucial challenges, said Amade Lab’s Associate Vice President, Global Technology & Cloud, Ranaj Biswas while elaboratin the role of Amadeus as the key travel technology solutions provider in a presentation due the 2nd edition of ET Travel & Tourism Conclave & Awards. Technology and sustainability redefining the very essence of travel in 2024, he said. In a presentation during the 2nd edition of ET Travel & TourismConclave & Awards, Amadeus Lab’s Associate Vice President, Global Technology & Cloud, Ranaj Biswas elaborated how technology and sustainability are redefining the very essence of travel in 2024 and adding value to the rapidly evolving landscape of the travel industry. Biswas highlighted the remarkable strides made in the industry since the post-Covid resurgence. He stressed the dominance of artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine learning (ML) as a driving force behind the transformative changes. “Examples like Walt Disney's heavy investments in virtual experiences and Qatar Airways' metaverse offerings, allowing users to virtually experience airports, showcase the tangible impact of AI,” he shared. Transitioning to the role of Amadeus, which is the key travel technology solutions provider, he continued talking about the company’s strategic collaborations, notably with Microsoft, showcasing how these partnerships have revolutionised content and shopping searches within the travel industry. He emphasised that AI and ML aren't just concepts but are actively addressing crucial challenges. “In the past December, a significant incident regarding air crew scheduling occurred within a major airline. We've heavily integrated AI revenue is a complex task. But incorporating AI into this process provides a service that can significantly transform operations,” explained Biswas, speaking during the session on travel technology redefining the ease of business. “While methods like Google Pay were once unfamiliar, today, facial recognition facilitates payments. This technology isn't novel for us; we've been implementing these solutions since 2015, starting with New Zealand, expanding to the USA, and most recently, achieving a full biometric solution in Japan's Narita Airport in 2021,” he detailed, adding that this significantly streamlines airport operations, case in point the affirmed. Addressing the imperative shift towards sustainability in the travel industry, Amadeus positioned itself as a contributor through technological interventions as well as collaborations. “One organisation, based in the United States, we invested in, is pioneering the development of intelligent AI and ML algorithms specifically tailored to optimise flight bookings and capacity management. This innovation addresses overbooking scenarios by offering viable alternatives or the provision of free tickets for passengers relinquishing their overbooked eats. Not only does this approach save countless flights but it also empowers customers by adjusting carbon footprints,” he added. The other entity that Amadeus has invested in, CAPHENIA, from Germany, has devised a groundbreaking method to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) more affordably and on a scalable level. “Our investment in this venture aligns with our broader commitment to champion sustainable travel practices. This arena presents a tremendous opportunity to enhance the efficiency of aviation fuels, a critical focus people, places, and the planet—vowing aggressive targets for carbon neutrality by 2024-25. Shifting focus to predicted trends in 2024, Amadeus anticipates the rise of music tourism, which will amplify family travel experiences as well as the influence wielded by social media influencers on travel plans. Electric skyways, although not currently available in Indian cities, are a tangible reality elsewhere, shared Biswas, adding that organisations in Europe are already facilitating swift travel across various locations in minimal time. Additionally, the concept of a 'lux-lite' business class, offering a business class experience at a slightly lower cost than traditional business class fares, is swiftly becoming a reality, shared Biswas, hinting that airlines like Emirates and Qatar are already pioneering these options on specific routes. Also, the utilisation of chatbots for ticket bookings is gaining traction, especially with advancements in tools like Chat GPT, offering potential for easier and more comfortable interactions. “Regarding generative AI and machine learning, we anticipate a significant surge in these technologies for 2024 and beyond,” he said. Biswas was representing Amadeus at the 2nd edition of the Economic Times Travel & Tourism Conclave and Awards. Amadeus also cosponsored the event organised on November 30, 2023 at the Eros Hotel New Delhi Nehru Place and attended by over 250 delegates.

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Gujarat Tourism turns focus on MICE; to sign MoUs at CIC forum

As a prelude to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TCGL) and India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) are jointly organising a three-day event, The 14th Conventions India Conclave (CIC) on the theme of “Sustainable MICE: Empowering Event Towards the USD 5 Trillion Economy” from December 7 to 9 at Mahat Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 30 exhibitors and 80 buyers will be a part of the event. With the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) gaining utmost prominence, the state is now trying to pin its focus on the sector, said Hareet Shukla (IAS), Secretary, Tourism Department of Gujarat. “MICE sector is one of the important efforts made in the tourism sector to increase all-year-round tourism. One of its features is that conferences and meetings are held all year round and due to this, there are many differences in the economy,” he acknowledged. “According to last year's report, Gujarat is the number one preference among the total foreign tourists visiting India in the tourism sector Gujarat is also in the top five in the field of domestic tourism,” added Shukla As a prelude to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TCGL) and India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) are jointly organising a three-day event, The 14th Conventions India Conclave (CIC) on the theme of “Sustainable MICE: Empowering Event Towards the USD 5 Trillion Economy” from December 7 to 9 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. “We are happy to host this conference in Gujarat. Our purpose is tohighlight Gujarat in the Indian MICE Industry. For this, we aim to create a sub-brand, ‘Meet in India’. MoUs will be signed which will facilitate India’s MICE Industry and Tourism Sector,” informed Shukla. The 14th Convention India Conclave, will be inaugurated by Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, and Mulubhai Bera, Minister of Tourism, Cultural Activities, Forest and Environment, and Climate Change, Gujarat on 7th December 2023. As per the department’s estimated figures, about 300 delegates will participate in this program. Additionally, 30 exhibitors and 80 buyers will also be a part of the event In the context of this pre-event, Secretary Shukla held a press conference at Leela Hotel, Gandhinagar. Speaking at the conference, Dr. Sourabh Pardhi (IAS), Managing Director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TCGL), reiterated that Gujarat has always been a leader in hosting big conferences and events.

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