AVIAREPS, a leading international representation, marketing, and communications company for the travel industry, in collaboration with the Shanghai Municipal Government,has announced the debut of Shanghai‘s official online B2B travel platform, SmoothTravel. Positioned as the official gateway, SmoothTravel facilitates seamless connectivity between the global travel industry and both inbound and outbound Chinese travel agencies, tour wholesalers, online travel agencies (OTAs), and MICE agents in the East China market.
The primary objective of SmoothTravel is to streamline international travel businesses’ access to the thriving Chinese travel market. Catering to various segments of the travel industry worldwide, including major destinations, receptive tour operators, hotel groups, retailers, attractions, rental car agencies, and cruise lines, SmoothTravel aims to enhance business outreach to the Chinese market significantly.
China partner search: SmoothTravel empowers overseas members to identify new inbound or outbound Chinese travel trade partners effortlessly. Through SmoothTravel’s Member Matching Manager, members can establish connections with highly-qualified Chinese travel trade partners tailored to their specific requirements.
Risk mitigation: Addressing disparities in payment practices, SmoothTravel offers a unique payment guarantee system to minimise risks associated with new partnerships in the Chinese travel industry. Additionally, a comprehensive travel insurance program is provided for Chinese members, ensuring risk reduction for both outbound and inbound sectors. Furthermore, a bilingual mediation system is available at no cost to members to resolve any disputes.
Recent data reveals that over 30 per cent of Indian travellers prefer Middle East destinations, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia topping the list. India stands as Dubai’s primary source market, with 1.9 million visitors recorded in the first 10 months of 2023. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, aims to welcome 7.5 million visitors by 2030.
China outbound market and consumer insights: Leveraging extensive resources from the Chinese government and industry, SmoothTravel delivers up-to-date research on China’s outbound travel market, industry trends, and consumer preferences. This includes surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, workshops, and on-site visits. SmoothTravel provides a comprehensive two-way training platform with specialized courses for both overseas and Chinese members. Additionally, all members gain access to promotion and support during various events in China.
