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New tourism products and new destinations beckon travellers, trends indicate an interest in lunar and solar eclipses, outback adventure, gaming and sporting events, green gardens and of course just being able to relax. In an interview with TDM, Jarrod Kris, Head of Partnerships- APAC, Skyscanner shares more.
Travel Daily Media (TDM): What has your growth been like in APAC and Asia?
Jarrod Kris (JK): With APAC and Asia, we have been established for a while. Our head office in APAC is here in Singapore, and we have just launched an office in India outside of Delhi, and that launched in September. So, we are excited to expand the team there. In the last 12 months, it has become the number one volume market for Skyscanner globally based on absolute numbers and sessions. So, we understand the importance around the Indian traveller and what they are searching for. Post COVID, we saw the recovery of travel to and from India. A lot of that was the VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives), but that has now completely sustained, and we are starting to see the leisure travel continue as the Indian market opens up as well.
TDM: Can you share with us top five travel trends that you see coming up and even growing more in 2025?
JK: So, we released seven travel trends for 2025. The first is what we describe as Astro Adventurers, travellers that are looking to travel to see the Northen lights, they are also interested in lunar and solar eclipses. The second is Horti-Culture, we often see, 72% of travellers from APAC visiting a garden, so a botanic garden of some sort, in the destination of their choice when they visit. The idea that they’re getting out and experiencing Gardens is important. The fourth is what we call Cowboy Core. We see the rise of things like Yellowstone TV show. People are inspired to visit national parks horseback riding and having that sort of Outback adventure. Beyond that we have Gami-Vacation. So, gaming conventions are proving very important and crucial. Younger millennials of Gen Z and Gen Y are flying to these gaming conventions worldwide to experience and share commonalities around their interest in gaming. Then we have the Reset Jetters, holistic living is becoming increasingly popular among traveller, so beyond just spas, but really about mental well-being and making sure that they can have the time to relax and unwind. And then they will often fly to destinations to simply just zone out and take that time to relax and chill out.
TDM: How is inbound tourism to Asia and Asia Pacific changing, what are the trends that you are seeing? What do people want to experience?
JK: I think APAC is a growing region within itself. As we came out of the pandemic, APAC was probably the last region to recover. And what we’re seeing is the increase in short haul flights from low-cost carriers, making it more affordable for those Budget friendly vacations, for people to travel within the APAC region. So, flying from Singapore to Thailand, Singapore to India, Japan to Korea, Korea to Japan, compared to Australia. There’s more robust competition in pricing from those low-cost carriers, and ultimately, it makes it a more attractive package to travel within the region. So, the idea is that these are many lesser-known travel destinations, waiting to be discovered. Its about moving away from the big cities to experience these off the beaten track adventures which are becoming popular.
TDM: What main things in technology do you see changing, especially in the tourism industry?
JK: The number one thing we are starting to see globally is the adoption of AI. Skyscanner is offering its Skyscanner Savvy Search, which is a tool that operates on the app and is being offered across eight different markets currently. And it adopts natural/native language, so you have a more conversational response. If you are looking to apply a vibe or a passion as to where you want to travel, that can then adapt it into a content piece that will describe the destination that would be most ideal for you, together with a price for a flight to get to that destination.
TDM: How have you found ITB Asia 2024, has it changed?
JK: It still feels as exciting as ever. I know last year we were probably talking more about the recovery. This year we are talking more around adoption of AI and adoption of long-haul markets, the increase in short-haul flights within APAC region. So, the big thing we have been talking about is really around this collective experience, so travellers that are looking to have likeminded experiences, like I shared earlier around going to gaming conventions or horticulture for gardens. The other big thing is we are seeing is people travel for major sporting events. So, looking at things like Formula One, US Open Australia, these major sporting events are becoming a major trend for travellers to plan their holidays around.
TDM: What is the best part of your job? Why do you like being in the travel industry?
JK: The best part about the job is to be able to travel to so many different markets and countries and cultures. I am lucky enough as an Australian to have lived in Singapore for five years, and part of my everyday life is experiencing the amazing multicultural lifestyle here, and that often shows itself in the food I eat in the places I travel to, the people I connect with, and I love that, and I am very grateful for that.
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