Brought to you by Digital Travel APAC
The travel landscape has undergone some major shifts over the last few years and continues to evolve, with technology a key contributor to its future.
With evolving traveller preferences, increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI), and more opportunities for innovation and collaboration, the upcoming Digital Travel APAC Summit that will be held on August 14 to 15, will examine trends and share insights on the industry.
Professionals attending the summit can look forward to a refreshed speaker line up and networking opportunities.
Three pivotal themes will shape the discussions at the summit this year.
Evolution of traveller preferences
There has been a significant shift globally in traveller personas and expectations in a post-pandemic world. Understanding these changes is essential for travel leaders to tailor their offerings and enhance customer satisfaction.
Today’s travellers increasingly demand personalised experiences, sustainable travel options, and seamless digital interactions. Understanding these evolving needs is crucial for travel leaders to enhance their services, stay competitive, and meet customer expectations effectively.
Role of AI in travel
This year’s summit will also spotlight how AI is being integrated into different stages of the travel journey, from customer service to personalised recommendations and to backend operations.
AI-driven solutions bring many benefits including improved efficiency, higher customer satisfaction, and the ability to drive innovation. Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT that provide conversational capabilities have enabled more natural interactions with customers.
The summit will present case studies and best practices on utilising AI in the APAC region, show AI’s potential to transform travel experiences and operations. These sessions will equip travel leaders with the knowledge to implement such technologies effectively to help keep them ahead in the digital landscape.
Opportunities for innovation and collaboration
With such currents of change, there are even more opportunities for innovation and collaboration. The summit brings together thought leaders, technology providers, and industry stakeholders to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and explore new opportunities.
The summit will explore topics such as sustainable travel, the integration of new technologies, and the creation of seamless travel experiences. Through collaborative discussions, workshops, and networking sessions, attendees will discover innovative solutions and have the chance to meet new partners.
By fostering a spirit of collaboration, the event aims to help participants collectively shape the future of travel in the Asia-Pacific region.
Secure your tickets for Digital Travel APAC 2024 now. Download the agenda to bookmark the sessions you want to go for.
TTG Asia readers can get a 20 per cent discount on tickets by quoting “TTG20” at checkout.
Travellers from Australia and New Zealand will now be able to enter China for business, tourism, and transit without a visa for up to 15 days, thanks to the country implementing a unilateral visa-free policy.
Australia and China also jointly declared to provide multiple-entry visas mutually with a validity period of three to five years.
According to the National Immigration Administration of China (NIA), the number of Australian visitors to China is continuously increasing.
In October 2023, the NIA released a list of 53 eligible countries for a 72/144-hour visa-free transit, including the UK, France and Australia. Then on May 15 this year, the NIA permitted the entry of foreign tourists by cruise ship without a visa, facilitating inbound visits by Australian residents.
Australia has a large community of Chinese residents; thus the introduction of the unilateral visa-free policy not only facilitates their visits to relatives and friends but also a chance to see the changes in China over the years.
New Zealand will also be included in the unilateral visa-free list, as flights between China and New Zealand have recovered quickly. Since last December, direct flights between China and New Zealand have recovered to that of pre-pandemic period. Six airlines including Air New Zealand, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Hainan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific are offering direct flights from eight stops in China to New Zealand.
China has been continuously expanding the unilateral visa-free countries since 2023 – to date, China has implemented unilateral visa-free for countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, and more. Additionally, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Georgia are mutually visa-free countries with China.