OFFERING a wider variety of content, investing in the right technology and improving online sales strategy are the top three business priorities for travel agencies in China, according to Amadeus, which surveyed participants at its recent series of workshops held in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.
Based on interviews with over 300 travel agencies, 69 per cent of the respondents said the top expectation from customers is the company’s ability to deliver “more content to meet their needs”. This takes precedence over offering low prices and high quality service.
More than 90 per cent also revealed that online sales is important or very important to their company strategy. About half of them, however, said they are currently dissatisfied with their companies’ online business strategy.
Listing pricing pressure from competitors, operating costs and lack of technology as the main challenges they face, some 93 per cent indicated that technology has the potential to transform their businesses.
Bart Tompkins, managing director of Amadeus China, said: “The insights delivered at these exclusive workshops are very valuable to us as we look to develop and deliver products and services that will cater to our customers’ needs in China as the market opens.”
