"Online Travel" Platform Trying To Stay Optimistic, Aim "Staycation" As Priority

Tourism is one of many industries that have been badly affected by the pandemic. In the first period they struggled to serve refund its users. Now they are preparing for a new wave of customs that is likely to start with domestic tourists.

In the United States, based on data "Travel Stentiment Study Wave 11"arranged Longwoods International and Miles Partnership, as many as 45% of respondents decided to cancel all their travel plans. The rest (55%) decided to make adjustments, including reducing travel plans, changing destinations that can be reached by car, or changing international travel plans to domestic regions.

Changes in the pattern of travel plans also occur in various countries. One that can be adopted is to re-empower local tourism.

Two local OTA players share their preparations for the new order of life. They are ready to welcome users who have been at home for a long time with all their customized strategies and services.

Pegipegi's Corporate Communications Manager Busyra Oryza explained, to recover as usual the industry travel takes quite a bit of time. However, he is optimistic that tourism will rise.

"Currently we see a trend staycation again increased. To make it easier for customers who want to unwind after undergoing months of quarantine, we present a program flash sale with hotel discounts of up to 50% as long as it's not July," said Busyra.

Meanwhile Tiket has also started to introduce several services to keep loyal users.

The first is Tiket Clean, which contains Tiket and partners' commitment to work together in fulfilling the standardization of health and hygiene protocols issued by official bodies such as WHO.

Tickets also extend the validity of Tix Points. Those whose validity period is supposed to expire between April-June will be extended until December 2020.

"Prioritizing service request for help, spike reschedule and refund from customer. We consider this an asset investment in the future by prioritizing service to customers," explained Tiket.

What has changed during the pandemic

The pandemic does not only affect Indonesia. Almost the whole world is in chaos because many economic activities have stopped. In China, changing industrial patterns travel agent already visible.

Chinese local media report there are approximately 10.000 travel agencies that decided to close their business at the end of last March. The estimated decline in revenue from the tourism industry is estimated at $420 billion.

In Indonesia alone, the pandemic has made business helter-skelter airy. Finally one of the players in the budget hotel sector decided to close the service.

McKinsey Report titled "Hitting the road again: How Chinese travelers are thinking about their first trip after COVID-19" with 1600 respondents highlighting various things about travel after the pandemic.

One of the highlights in the report is domestic travel, which 55% of respondents are interested in. The pattern of travelers in the United States and China tends to be the same. Most choose to stay on vacation with caution.

Tickets and Pegipegi agree on the trend staycation is predicted to increase. The need for holidays and the ongoing pandemic situation makes people look for solutions. One answer is a vacation not far from home.

However, the travel industry is no longer the same. Some things have changed. One thing for sure is the health protocol. Tiket took Antis to provide equipment sanitizing kit for those who use the Clean Ticket service.