The Arival | Activate conference will take place from June 12 to 14 at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park in Thailand this year.
The event will bring together leaders from the experiences industry – tours, activities and attractions – to delve into the major trends shaping travel’s third-largest and fastest-growing sector.
It aims to help experience creators and sellers re-activate their businesses after the pandemic, and will highlight shifts in consumer behaviour that are shaping travel experiences across Asia-Pacific and Oceania in 2023 and beyond.
“Experiences are now a primary driver of travel, with three in five Gen-Z and millennial travellers prioritising experiences over things,” said Douglas Quinby, co-founder and CEO of Arival. “But traveller expectations and behaviour have changed dramatically as the Asia and Oceania regions have emerged from the pandemic.
“The Arival | Activate Bangkok conference will deliver the insights, tools and connections that tour, activity and attraction businesses need to gain a competitive edge in this dynamic new landscape.”
The conference – which has secured Klook, Viator, Go City, TUI Musement, BeMyGuest and Headout as partners – will feature an impressive speaker roster spanning many of the experience sector’s most well-known brands.
More than 500 attendees from across the tours, activities, attractions and experiences sectors are expected to attend.
Quinby noted that travellers are “prioritising memorable activities that connect them with local cultures, history and people” post-lockdown.
“They are prepared to pay more for meaningful experiences, and areas such as outdoor pursuits, sightseeing and small group or private tours have grown significantly in popularity since the pandemic. This puts the experiences sector in the limelight, creating a golden opportunity for companies that can give their customers what they want.”
Delegates can expect to gain an in-depth understanding of the entire online ecosystem, alongside the most pertinent trends that are shaping travel in the Asia-Pacific region. Topics will include tapping into revenue opportunities from pent-up travel demand, how new technologies can help enable growth, and how food tourism continues to gain traction in the dynamic new experience-focused travel industry.
