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Sabre tracks soaring travel confidence

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 8 December 2022: With the big festive getaway about to begin, new bookings insights revealed by Sabre show improving travel confidence and the emerging festive destinations of choice for global travellers.

Sabre analytics reveal that booking windows for the holiday period are nearing pre-pandemic levels, while Christmas and New Year bookings have soared compared to last year.

Booking windows and improved confidence 

A deep dive into Sabre’s booking trends (of bookings made to the end of October) shows that 60% of bookings for the holiday period were made in September and October this year versus 55% in 2019. While a higher percentage of bookings were made closer to the holidays this year, the gap is narrowing between 2022 and 2019.  

Booking windows can be a significant metric for determining traveller confidence, as a longer booking window may indicate greater confidence. During the pandemic, there was a higher percentage of last-minute bookings believed to be due to uncertainties of travel and border restrictions. Travellers were often less keen to make advanced bookings as they were unsure if the travel situation would change when their departure date arrived. Now, with a more predictable travel landscape, people are generally more willing to make longer-term plans as it is more likely for the trip to proceed as planned. 

Looking at international trips originating from the USA, where travel restrictions were lifted much earlier than in other regions, a clear recovery picture emerges.

29% of international festive bookings (of bookings made to the end of October) were made during September and October in 2022, compared to 38% in 2021 and 27% in 2019.

In Asia, 76% of all bookings (bookings made to the end of October), both domestic and international, for the year-end holidays this year were made in September and October, in line with when travel restrictions began to further unwind across the region.

In 2019, around 55% of bookings were made in the same months. Recovery in APAC has been particularly pronounced in Taiwan and Hong Kong, where travel restrictions have recently been relaxed. Hong Kong bookings started Q3 at just 16% of the same period in 2019. By the end of the third quarter, the recovery there was 29%. Taiwan is an even better story, with the quarter starting at a 17% recovery and ending at 45%.

Festive season destination trends 

Sabre’s booking analysis shows most travellers are opting for destinations close to home for the upcoming holiday period, with 33% of global travellers choosing domestic travel, compared to 27% in 2019. Key destination trends include: 

Almost half (47%) of passengers travelling internationally from the US, as part of a family or couple, have booked to go to Mexico or the Caribbean for the holidays.

67% of those travelling from Asia are choosing to stay within Asia. This was higher (70%) in 2019, with the drop likely due to ongoing border closures in China.

The top destinations for Asia are Japan, followed by Thailand, making up close to a third of bookings. Some travellers who may have previously gone to China have switched to Japan or Thailand, as Japan, Thailand, and China together used to make up a third of trips in 2019.
Globally, the US, Mexico and Japan are among the top destinations for both couples and families in both 2019 and 2022. 
Family travellers globally are increasingly opting to travel to the United Arab Emirates, whereas Thailand is a popular destination for those travelling as a couple. 
For those travelling from North America as a family or couple, emerging top destinations are Costa Rica and Italy, respectively. 
Vietnam and China were among the top 10 destinations globally in 2019, but both fell beyond the top 10 this year, giving way to the Dominican Republic and Canada.
While Thailand remains within the top 10 global destinations for the festive season, it has dropped from the third to the fifth spot. 
Fewer travellers from India are choosing Vietnam this year, compared to 2019, while fewer Japanese travellers are choosing Thailand. 

Top 10 festive travel destinations globally

So, what are the most booked top 10 trips global travellers are taking this festive season?    

10th Place: India to UAE 

With eased travel restrictions, affordable accommodation options and short travel times between the two countries, the UAE is a popular destination for Indian travellers looking to spend time with their partners and family.   

9th Place: Canada to Mexico 

With an under five-hour flight, Mexico is a popular getaway destination for Canadian travellers looking for affordable holiday options.   

8th Place: South Korea to Thailand 

South Korea is a major inbound source market for Thailand, with the Thai tourism body expecting to attract more than 500,000 Koreans this year and over 1.3 million during 2023.   

7th Place: US to Jamaica 

With Jamaica only a short flight from the US, it is always popular amongst Americans looking to trade the cold winter for sun, sand, and blue seas. 

6th Place: UK to the US 

The US is a major tourist destination for many countries worldwide. Historically a strong source region for the US, inbound tourism from the UK continues to look strong in 2022. 

5th Place: South Korea to Vietnam

Many Korean tourists travel to Vietnam due to its proximity and frequent direct flights. The government of Vietnam has also made efforts to promote the country as a tourist destination and attract more visitors from South Korea. 

4th Place: US to Dominican Republic 

The Dominican Republic is another popular beach getaway promising sunshine and relaxation to US tourists nearby and at affordable rates.

3rd Place: Canada to the US

With a short flight time, the US is an extremely sought-after getaway for Canadians looking for an affordable holiday this festive season.  

2nd Place: South Korea to Japan

Japan, one of the last few countries globally to unravel travel restrictions, is a popular destination for many travellers globally, so it’s little wonder to see so many inbound tourists from neighbouring South Korea.   

1st Place: US to Mexico 

The US is also a natural destination for Mexico due to the proximity of the countries.

NusaTrip enrols more airline partners

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 8 December 2022: NusaTrip, an Indonesia-based online travel agent and travel platform under Society Pass Incorporated,  announces new airline partners in Southeast Asia.

It is teaming up with JetStar Airways, VietJet Air, NokAir, Thai Smile Air, and Thai Lion Air in a move that will boost flight content, travel options and convenience in booking multiple airline trips through NusaTrip’s consolidator and distribution technology platform, NusaXchange.

NusaXchange connects worldwide flight content through streamlined integration with low-cost and full-service airlines from multiple points of sale and enables its global distribution at ease. NusaTrip’s flight contents include various domestic and international inbound-outbound routes.

NusaTrip’s CEO, Johanes Chang noted: “Direct connectivity with more airline partners means more inventory to offer, more reliable and faster responses, as well as more competitive pricing for our customers and distribution partners”.

NusaTrip’s newest airline partners are the leading low-cost carriers in their respective regions. Carrying more than 250 million passengers worldwide since 2004, JetStar serves over 5,000 flights to over 85 destinations every week – across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the Pacific. VietJet, with its affiliate, ThaiVietJet, operates 197 domestic routes in Vietnam and Thailand, as well as international routes to Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Japan, and India.

NokAir is a SkyTrax-certified three-star low-cost airline and offers flights to 25 destinations throughout Thailand and Myanmar.

Low-cost carriers are gaining momentum during the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2016-2030 estimates the value of the global low-cost airlines market will grow from USD155 billion in 2016 to USD440 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.4% from 2022 to 2030.

About NusaTrip

Founded in 2013, NusaTrip is an IATA-licensed online travel agency serving local and global customers and partners by optimizing cutting-edge technology and providing quality customer-centric support team-as-a-service. NusaXchange platform is the travel technology built to consolidate worldwide flight content through streamlined integration with low-cost and full-service airlines from multiple points of sale and enables its global distribution at ease.

NusaTrip is a member of the Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) ecosystem, with headquarters in Jakarta and representative offices in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Singaporeans slim down travel budgets

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 8 December 2022: UserTesting, a leader in video-based human insight, recently conducted a survey in Singapore to understand emerging consumer travel trends this holiday season.

As Covid cases have significantly decreased worldwide, the survey revealed that 70% of Singaporeans have a holiday planned for this year-end despite rising costs due to inflation. The survey showed 90% of Singaporean respondents would travel overseas for their next trip rather than book a stay vacation locally.

However, with increasing prices due to inflation, most Singaporeans are cost-cutting while planning their travels. The survey revealed that 40% of Singaporeans are now taking fewer trips than before, while 40% opt for cheaper accommodations rather than luxurious stays.

For the upcoming holiday season, 80% of Singaporeans reported they would alter their plans and take an economical route by choosing cheaper destinations to keep their expenses in check. According to 50% of Singaporeans, the highest cost spike is observed in flight tickets, while 30% reported witnessing a sharp uptick in food and city travel prices.

Of the Singaporeans who are not travelling anywhere this year, 70% prioritise savings, making minimal expenses during the last leg of 2022.

Singaporeans Prioritise Family Trips

Family bonding emerged to be of prime importance for Singaporeans this holiday season. As per the UserTesting survey, 50% of respondents mentioned that they would be travelling with their families instead of friends this year. Additionally, in terms of travel priorities, 50% of Singaporeans are more inclined towards simple, short, and low-key vacations. In the short term, visiting their families to spend quality time with loved ones is another option. However, the overall sentiment for the long run is to plan extended international trips.

When planning, 40% of Singaporeans wanted their holidays to be luxurious and wellness-focused with minimum inconvenience and maximum amenities.

As the looming threat of Covid-19 forced many to be stuck inside their homes for more than two years, Singaporeans are now looking to travel more frequently. According to the survey, 80% of Singaporeans were willing to plan more foreign trips. Most respondents stated they wanted to make up for lost time and move on to explore newer destinations outside of Singapore.

About UserTesting

UserTesting (NYSE: USER) has fundamentally changed the way organisations get insights from customers with fast, opt-in feedback and experience capture technology. The UserTesting Human Insight Platform taps into our global network of real people and generates video-based recorded experiences, so anyone in an organisation can directly ask questions, hear what users say, see what they mean, and understand what it’s like to be a customer. Unlike approaches that track user behaviour and then try to infer what that behaviour means, UserTesting reduces guesswork and brings customer experience data to life with human insight. UserTesting is headquartered in San Francisco, California. To learn more, visit www.usertesting.com

Princess rolls out new packages

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 7 December 2022: Princess Cruises has enhanced its all-inclusive premium add-on packages, incorporating an exciting juxtaposition of new premium indulgences and premium health and wellness offerings to its Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages. 

Rolling out on sailings after 20 February is a series of decadent Princess Premium desserts. These elaborate confections overflowing with gelato, pastry, and candy mixtures will be added to the Princess Plus and Princess Premier and are available in the Gelateria, Swirls or Coffee and Cones.

As part of its recently announced exclusive partnership with Xponential Fitness, the largest global franchisor of boutique premium fitness brands, guests will also enjoy complimentary onboard Pure Barre, Yoga Six and Stretch Lab classes as part of the packages starting in February with classes from additional boutique brands including Club Pilates, Cycle Bar, Stride, and Stride to follow shortly thereafter.

“Adding more content to our much sought-after Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages with the addition of premium experiences, including fitness and indulgences, not only guarantees an exceptional onboard experience but also ensures our guests have maximum options and superior value when vacationing with Princess,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president.

For just USD60 per person per day, Princess Plus will give guests almost 60% off a retail value of USD140 if components are purchased separately. The enhanced package includes the Plus Beverage Package, single device wi-fi plan and daily crew appreciation. The new additions to the Princess Plus package are two premium crafted desserts, two fitness classes/day, and unlimited juices.

And with Princess Premier, inclusivity and value are taken to the next level. Guests receive up to USD257 per day in total amenity value if components are purchased separately, for just USD80 per person per day, an almost 70% savings. Within the Princess Premier package, guests will enjoy the Premier Beverage Package, four device wi-fi plan, daily crew appreciation, two nights of speciality dining, a photo package, unlimited premium crafted desserts, unlimited smoothies or juices, unlimited fitness classes, reserved seating in the Princess Theater and a complimentary Medallion accessory.

New packages are available for bookings made after 14 December for 20 February and beyond sailings.

More information on Princess Premier, Princes Plus and Princess Standard can be found here.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com.

(Your Stories: Princess Cruises).

STB supports rural tourism growth

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TTR WEEKLY
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KOTA KINABALU, 7 December 2022: Sabah Tourism Board is committed to working closely with University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and other higher learning institutions to support the continued growth of the state’s rural tourism industry.

Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said STB and tourism players could benefit significantly from the university’s studies of rural tourism. He also said STB could assist academicians in their studies to grasp the topic at hand better and identify collaborative solutions to the industry’s problems.

Joniston, who is also chairman of STB, was speaking at the Community Based Tourism Symposium (CBTS) 2022, themed ‘Rural Tourism Prosperity: Transforming the Well-Being of Local Communities’ at the Azman Hashim UMS Gallery here, last Friday.

This symposium was co-organised by the varsity’s Borneo Tourism Research Centre (BTRC); Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy; and Sabah Tourism Board. It was supported by the Federation of Rural Tourism Association Sabah and the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research (ATLAS Asia).

Joniston shared details about STB’s pioneering efforts in community-based tourism through its project division and the subsequent success of this initiative since its inception in 2014.

He also called on stakeholders to continue playing their role in helping position Sabah as the top sustainable and innovative rural tourism destination.

“Tourists today are more environmentally conscious and are looking for sustainable travel options. They would like to be part of the sustainability of the tourist sites.

“A vibrant public and private ecosystem that facilitates partnerships with stakeholders to grow their capabilities should be implemented.

“We want Sabah to be the best place to test bed for sustainable solutions, new tourism products and experiences, enabling businesses in rural tourism to gain from first-mover competitive advantage,” he said.

Meanwhile, UMS Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Md. Mansor was pleased with the UMS-STB partnership to organise the CBTS event while describing it as a good example of University-Industry partnerships that would be developed further.

The CBTS 2022 drew 288 participants and was conducted via a hybrid mode with both on-site and online participants. On-site attendees comprised tourism sector representatives, government agencies, students, and staff, whilst international delegates registered from Indonesia, China, Ireland, Portugal, Singapore, the Philippines, and Spain.

For more information on Sabah visit: www.sabahtourism.com.

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board)

Discount deals on Vietnam stays

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TTR WEEKLY
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Photo taken in Thai Mueang, Thailand

HO CHI MINH CITY, 7 December 2022: Radisson Hotel Group in Vietnam introduces ‘Dream Deals’ valid for stays first quarter of 2023 for bookings made by mid-December.

Guests who book directly with www.RadissonHotels.com until 15 December 2022 for stays from 16 December 2022 to 15 March 2023 gain a 10% discount at their chosen resort, while members of Radisson Rewards will earn an additional 15% discount and 1,000 bonus points per night.

Photo taken in Thai Mueang, Thailand

The promotion covers the group’s properties on Vietnam’s east coast and Phu Quoc Island.

Danang central Vietnam

Opened in April 2022, the 182-room Radisson Hotel Danang overlook the gateway city, sea and Son Tra Peninsula. 

Nha Trang south central coast

The 292-room Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh features seven restaurants and bars, three outdoor swimming pools and a wellness centre.

Phan Thiet Southeast Vietnam

Phan Thiet is a popular destination on the southeast coast, 212 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The favourite way to get there is by train, which takes around four hours for a fare of around USD8. 

The 76-room Radisson Resort Phan Thiet opened its doors in April 2022 and is located just south of the town or a 194 km car drive from HCMC.

Phu Quoc Island, far south

The 504-room Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc is located on the island’s northwest coast in an integrated resort complex and close to top attractions like the safari and amusement park.

Destination Mekong revives annual summit

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TTR WEEKLY
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PHNOM PENH, 7 December 2022: The commercial arm of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, Destination Mekong, will hold its 2022 Destination Mekong Summit from 14 to 15 December in Phnom Penh.

Destination Mekong, the private regional tourism board registered in Singapore, has its operational office in Cambodia. It’s the first Destination Mekong Summit since the group was formed legally earlier this year and subsequently hired its first CEO, Catherine Germier-Hamel.

The two-day event will take place at Trellion and Aquation Parks on Koh Pich in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with a live and virtual audience discussing the theme ‘Together – Smarter – Stronger’.

Destination Mekong has recruited  40 speakers packing them into business session panels over two days. They include tourism and hospitality executives in the Mekong region, mainly owners of tourism SMEs, social entrepreneurs, educators, and a smattering of public officials representing the six Mekong Region countries – Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Of note will be the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) session on ‘Championing the GMS as a sustainable tourism destination and the Child Protection in Travel and Tourism led by (ECPAT) International.

On the morning of the second day, 15 December, the Destination Mekong Summit will offer its participants the opportunity to attend the following training sessions and workshops:

The latest line-up of speakers and programmes can be found here

Registration fee: USD30 for the full in-person event but free for Destination Mekong members, partners, speakers and online participants. There is a USD15 charge for non-DM members to attend the opening cocktail party and awards presentations.

For more information and registration details visit https://www.destinationmekong.com/dms22/

Vistara starts Pune to Singapore service

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TTR WEEKLY
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DELHI, 7 December 2022: Vistara, a joint venture of Tata group and Singapore Airlines, has launched nonstop flights between Pune and Singapore.

The inaugural flight departed from Pune at 0210 (IST) and arrived in Singapore at 1030 (GMT) on 2 December. It was flagged off by Honourable Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, in Delhi.

The airline will operate four weekly flights on the route using its A321neo aircraft.

An inaugural event was organised at the Pune airport, attended by Gavin Roch, Vice Consul, Consul General of Singapore; Prashant Girbane, Director General, Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture and Deepak Karandikar, President, MCCIA.

The event was virtually attended by Honourable Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia; Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara; Chandrakant Patil, Cabinet Minister, Govt. of Maharashtra & Guardian Minister of Pune;  Sudhir Mehta, CMD and Pinnacle Industries Pvt Ltd.

Commenting on the start of the new international route, Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer of Vistara, said: “We are excited to be able to connect Pune and Singapore – two cities that were not directly connected thus far. There is a growing demand for air travel between the two cities, especially from corporate travellers. We are confident that customers will appreciate having the option of flying India’s best airline in this sector.”

Schedule of flights between Singapore and Pune, effective 2 December 2022:

Sector

Flight No.

Days of Operation

Departure

Arrival

Pune – Singapore

UK 111

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday

0210 hrs

1030 hrs

Singapore – Pune

UK 112

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday

1150 hrs

1515 hrs

* All timings shown are in local time zones

** Subject to regulatory approvals

Malaysia: Next step a tourism nation?

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TTR WEEKLY
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PETALING JAYA, 7 December 2022: The Tourism Productivity Nexus (TPN), under the purview of Malaysia Productivity Malaysia (MPM), sets out its goal to build Malaysia as a tourism nation through its “Sayangi Malaysia” campaign at the recent World Tourism Conference.

According to TPN, Malaysia is a “Tourism Nation” which is an inclusive group of people made up of both locals and tourists who actively participate in and contribute to Malaysia’s tourism value chain, democratising sustainable income, opportunities, and activities by promoting Malaysian values, attractions, arts, cultures, tradition, and heritage.

TPN Chairman Rohizam Md Yusoff stated at the 6th World Tourism Conference (WTC) 2022 in Kota Kinabalu: “The tourism industry, at its social, cultural, environmental, and economic foundations, involves everyone, locals and visitors, individuals and societies, groups of people made up of both locals and tourists, who actively participate in and contribute to Malaysia’s tourism value chain, democratising sustainable income, opportunities, and activities by promoting Malaysian values, attractions, arts, cultures, tradition, and heritage.”

“Everyone participates in the tourism industry from a Makcik food stall by the roadside to the airline industry, from a backpacker to a yacht owner.” This is an industry that leaves no one behind. Everyone has a fair share of opportunities in the huge tourism pie, making building Malaysia as a tourism nation an apt movement.

“TPN’s Sayangi Malaysia campaign aims towards this long-term goal, which necessitates everyone to understand and move towards this goal of elevating Malaysia as the global destination of choice,” he added.

About Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC)

Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) is a statutory body under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). MPC promotes productivity, quality and competitiveness in the industries and organisations in Malaysia. MPC’s vision is to be the leading organisation in productivity enhancement for global competitiveness and innovation.

About Tourism Productivity Nexus (TPN)

Tourism Productivity Nexus (TPN) is a one-stop centre that caters to enterprises to boost productivity while increasing innovation and capturing growth opportunities. The Nexus’ initiatives emphasise the development of a holistic ecosystem to increase technology adoption and further strengthen key industry enablers.

(Source: Bernama)

Trip.com hosts partners’ summit

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE 7 December 2022: Trip.com Group presented its Outstanding Partner of the Year awards to the Singapore Tourism Board and Resorts World Sentosa during its Global Partner Summit held in Macau on Monday.

Tourism boards, international airlines, hotel groups and industry representatives from the travel industry joined the attendance.

Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, delivers her keynote presentation to partners at the Global Partner Summit.

Celebrating this year’s theme, ‘Journey into the Future Together,’ Trip.com Group and partners provided insights on the industry’s growth and opportunities, with leadership and experts sharing sector-specific knowledge via breakout sub-forums.

James Liang, Chairman and Co-founder of Trip.com Group, made no secret of his expectations for the future of tourism.

He believes: “Travel has great significance on innovation and heritage. At Trip.com Group, we play an important role in bringing people together worldwide. It’s our mission to help build communication and innovation, using our travel platform to create new value for the industry.”

Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, highlighted some of the Group’s financial results, emphasising triple-digit growth in hotel bookings across key APAC markets compared to the same period in 2019, with its global air ticket bookings increasing by 100% year-over-year.

Rising international air ticket and hotel bookings have empowered partners with a source of business and revenue. Trip.com Group’s hotel travel specials (PKG programme) delivered recommendations to over 30 million cross-users and brought over RMB10 billion GMV to hotel partners.

During her keynote presentation to partners at the Global Partner Summit, Sun noted: “The early recovery of global markets has given us confidence. We will continue looking for more possibilities to better serve our partners and users by building an improved travel ecosystem to meet users’ needs”.

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