TravTalk India Online Magazine
Global industry leaders representing different sectors share insights on how the industry should respond, and the trends to expect as people begin travelling again in the post-pandemic period. Pre-sale offers and deep discounting may rule the roost.
Steve Saxon, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Traveller confidence is still low, and the recovery slow. But travel has been the single strongest consumer trend over the last 50 years. And we do see that trend continue even post Covid. Domestic will lead international travel by six months plus. For some, domestic will be an opportunity. For others, they will need to be quick in opening up and persuading international tourists that they are safe.
Hermione Joye, Sector Lead, Travel & Vertical Search APAC, Google
There is no longer a predictable ‘normal’ in terms of consumer behaviour. Our survey in 17 markets in APAC shows that top concerns were exposure to the virus and economic cost of a holiday. APAC customers, especially in India and Indonesia, were more optimistic about international travel than the rest of the world. Companies need to invest in Machine Learning to personalise and save time.
Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group
We’re offering flexible, safe, and discounted options for our clients to help them and the industry ‘travel on’. We have already seen a recovery of 50-80%. Risk-free travel booking will be a new norm as free cancellations become a number one priority. Pre-sale offers and deep discounting on perishable inventory will also become popular. Another trend is insurance coverage for travellers.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC
It is very important to have a co-ordinated approach between countries to open borders. We also believe in having corridors rather than quarantine. We suggest governments that it’s better to create corridors than to have quarantine and allow the flow of people between those countries. In order to encourage international travel before a vaccine is developed, we need to add the component of testing contact tracing of travellers.
Kai Hattendorfm MD & CEO, UFI
For every trade show that is not taking place, tens of thousands of deals are not signed. This crisis will lead us to new procedures and standards. It is accelerating trends that were already shaping up around the marriage of on-site event with online services before, during, and after the event. Business events will become more digital, but the main element that will drive success is face-to-face meetings.
Peter C Borer, COO, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels
Quarantine is detrimental to our industry. We urge governments to implement alternative public health preventative measures including testing and contract tracing which may be more effective. Travel bubbles are a good idea but we must be prepared for a second wave of infections. We must regain the confidence of guests but the fundamentals of hospitality will not change.
Inputs by Hazel Jain
