As the Web in Travel Singapore conference looms, titled “The Human Revolution”, industry leaders in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region candidly share their most pressing concerns in the current travel landscape.

1. Meeting the Rapidly Changing Consumer Wants.

The rise of unique travel demands has been evident, with a noticeable spike in short-distance and extensive travel. Boon Sian Chai, the esteemed Managing Director and Vice President of International Markets at Trip.com Group, emphasized this growth by highlighting the sharp 3.5x increase in the demand for Chinese outbound group tours in the past month. These travellers predominantly gravitate towards top-ranking destinations such as Japan, Thailand, and Singapore.

Chai elaborated, “The real challenge lies in our ability to adapt swiftly to these dynamic demands. Our aim? To consistently elevate the quality of service and the value we extend to our clientele in this rapidly evolving travel arena.”

2. Green Initiatives: A Real Commitment or Mere Lip Service?

While it’s promising to see increased interest in environmentally conscious travel, there’s a significant obstacle that industry leaders face: the threat of greenwashing, which can stall genuine sustainability efforts. This is particularly relevant as the Asia Pacific region emerges as the leader in sustainable tourism growth.

Loic Dujardin, the head of ESG at Traveloka, expressed optimism, stressing that every effort, regardless of its magnitude, is instrumental. “There’s a tangible momentum building towards sustainable tourism in the APAC region, driven by the increasing environmental awareness of the consumers,” Dujardin noted.

Traveloka is leading by example. It has joined hands with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) in pursuing genuine green initiatives. This collaboration seeks to empower hotel partners with GSTC-approved training and certification. Moreover, a pioneering climate action checkout feature for users in Singapore is just the tip of the iceberg of Traveloka’s green initiatives.

3. The Digital Age’s Double-Edged Sword: Cybersecurity.

While the rapid evolution of technology has primarily benefitted the travel industry, it’s not without drawbacks. Doris Goh, VP Commercial at Como Hotels, raised her concerns regarding the alarming rise in sophisticated cybercrimes.

Goh stated, “Technology’s swift advancement, while a boon, poses significant cybersecurity threats. The surge in data breaches and cyberattacks is a persistent issue. Our top priority remains the protection of our customers’ data, and we’re doubling down on staff training and compliance to fortify our defenses against these digital threats.”

These shared insights are just a glimpse into the broader dialogue set to take place at the Web in Travel’s mainstage session on October 3, “The Heart of Tech & Product”. This platform will witness industry giants, including Airbnb’s Darrell Chan and Google’s Gianni Marostica, delve deeper into the APAC travel sector’s challenges and opportunities.

Written by: Don Power

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