September 2024: Broad Asia Pacific trends indicate strong market growth driven by rising disposable income, urbanisation, and a growing middle class. There’s an increasing focus on mobile apps and platforms for travel bookings, reflecting the region’s high smartphone penetration. Local and regional OTAs are gaining traction, competing with global players by offering specialised services for Asian travellers.
In Country-specific trends, March 2024, saw Japan having 11.6% more passenger arrivals compared to the same time in 2019.
China’s domestic tourism is exceeding 2019 levels while the Mastercard Economics Institute estimates that international outbound flight traffic will recover back to 2019 levels by late 2024. As the largest OTA serving the Chinese traveller market, Trip.com continues to be a major player with over 400 million users worldwide.
Korean travellers are showing increased interest in international destinations, particularly within Asia.
In Indonesia, Traveloka is playing a significant role in the region’s online travel market. There’s a strong focus on promoting travel within Indonesia and to nearby Southeast Asian countries.
India is seeing more travel democratisation. Nearly 20 million more people are expected to enter the middle class over the next 5 years, leading to increased travel demand. Country-wide domestic air passenger traffic is 21% above 2019 levels as of March 2024. India-based OTAs like MakeMyTrip and Yatra are expanding their offerings and market presence.
Overall, the Asia Pacific region is seeing strong growth in the OTA market, with mobile bookings, AI integration, and personalised experiences being key drivers. Each country/region appears to have its unique trends, reflecting local economic conditions, travel preferences, and market dynamics- all of which makes for a rather complex but dynamic online travel landscape.
Source: Mastercard report
As we have done with other regions, we thought it will be useful to have a handy list for the top OTAs in Asia Pacific. As always with such lists, we will repeat the few caveats:
- Only travel companies that offer standalone hotel bookings as an option in addition to everything else including packages are listed as an OTA. There are increasing overlaps between Wholesalers, Tour Operators and the traditional definition of an OTA and hence the clarifying definition.
- An abundance of options doesn’t always guarantee success and in many cases less is more. Align your strategy with the right OTA partners, as not every OTA will work for your hotel.
- Equally, the industry is ever-evolving, with changes happening all the time. Our list is curated based on industry knowledge but we have no claims that it is comprehensive or exhaustive.
- If you feel overwhelmed by a long list of choices, conduct a thorough audit of your current channel mix. Identify any gaps and explore untapped markets where certain OTAs could be valuable sources.
- Not all OTAs however will want to work with your hotel directly. It could be because they are currently sourcing inventory for hotels in your region through another provider who is already working with you (think Expedia or Hotelbeds). Sometimes it may be because they just don’t have enough volume for your destination. Always worth finding out more…
List of OTAs
Go MMT – MakeMyTrip (India): MakeMyTrip is one of India’s leading online travel companies, offering a wide range of travel services including flights, hotels, holiday packages, and more. They provide a user-friendly platform for booking domestic and international travel, with competitive prices and exclusive deals. MakeMyTrip was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Gurugram, India.
Go MMT – Goibibo (India): Goibibo is a major Indian online travel agency known for its comprehensive travel services. They offer flight bookings, hotel reservations, train tickets, and bus bookings, with a focus on providing attractive discounts and a seamless booking experience. Goibibo was launched in 2009 and merged with Make My Trip in 2016.
EaseMyTrip (India): EaseMyTrip is an Indian multinational online travel company, headquartered in New Delhi, India. It was founded in 2008 and the company provides hotel and airline bookings along with related travel services.
Cleartrip (India): Cleartrip is an online travel agency that helps customers book flights, hotels, trains, and activities in India and the Middle East. Founded in 2006, Cleartrip is headquartered in Mumbai, India and has offices in India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. In 2018, Cleartrip bought Flyin.com an OTA in Saudi Arabia but subsequently sold it along with their Middle East unit to Wego.
Ixigo (India): ixigo is an Indian travel website and mobile app that offers a comprehensive platform for booking flights, trains, buses, and hotels. They provide 24/7 customer support, hassle-free bookings, and additional features like flight tracking and fare alerts. ixigo was founded in 2007 and is based in Gurugram, India.
Via.com (India): Via.com is an online travel agency that offers flight bookings, hotel reservations, and holiday packages. They focus on providing competitive prices and a wide range of options for both domestic and international travel. Via.com was launched in 2011 and is headquartered in Gurugram, India.
Yatra (India): Yatra was founded in 2006 and operates as an online travel agent and consolidator of travel products including business travel services. Yatra is headquartered in Gurugram, India.
HappyEasyGo (India): HappyEasyGo is an online travel aggregator that started in 2017 and offers flight and hotel bookings for domestic and international travel in India, Southeast Asia, and Japan. HappyEasyGo is based in Gurugram, India.
SOTC (India): SOTC is a well-established Indian travel company that specializes in tour packages and holiday experiences. They offer a wide range of domestic and international travel options, catering to various preferences and budgets. SOTC was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Mumbai, India.
Trip.com – formerly Ctrip (China): Trip.com is the largest and most widely used online travel agency in China. Over 65% of travellers in a recent survey said they use Trip.com to plan their trips. It’s actually one of the five biggest OTAs in the world! Trip.com dominates the online travel market in China, though their CEO estimates they still only make up less than 30% of the total market. The company is headquartered in Shanghai, China and was founded back in 1999.
Qunar (China): Qunar is another major player in the Chinese online travel market. It was actually acquired by Trip.com (Ctrip) back in 2015. Qunar has over 29 million monthly active users in China and allows people to book all kinds of travel products like flights, hotels, transportation, and more on their platform. Qunar is headquartered in Beijing and was founded in 2005.
Fliggy (China): Fliggy is a significant player in the Chinese online travel market. As Alibaba’s dedicated travel platform, Fliggy benefits from the tech giant’s massive user base and resources. Fliggy is headquartered in Hangzhou, China and was launched in 2014 as an evolution of Alibaba’s previous travel service Taobao Travel.
Meituan-Dianping (China): Meituan-Dianping is best known for its food delivery and local services, but it also offers travel bookings and is a major force in the Chinese online travel space. The company is headquartered in Beijing and was founded in 2010 through the merger of Meituan and Dianping.
Tuniu (China): Tuniu is another prominent online travel agency in China. It provides a wide range of travel products and services, from flights and hotels to vacation packages. Tuniu is headquartered in Nanjing, China and was founded in 2006.
Tongcheng Tongcheng Travel (China): Tongcheng Tongcheng Travel was formed in 2018 through the merger of Tongcheng Network and elong Travel. It’s a major player in the Chinese online travel market and was successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2018. The company is headquartered in Suzhou, China.
Klook (Hongkong): Klook is a leading online travel agency based in Hong Kong. They offer a wide selection of travel experiences, activities, and services across Asia Pacific. Klook was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Hong Kong.
Agoda (Singapore): Part of Booking Holdings, Agoda is a prominent online travel agency based in Singapore. They specialise in hotel bookings and have a strong presence across Southeast Asia. Agoda was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Singapore.
Rakuten (Japan): Rakuten Travel operates Japan’s largest online hotel reservation website with over 1.8 million room nights booked per month. Rakuten, which means “optimism” in Japanese, is a leading e-commerce and internet services company in Japan. Rakuten Travel offers a wide range of accommodation options, from hotels to ryokans (traditional Japanese inns), across Japan and Southeast Asia, as well as in China, the UK, US, and Germany. Rakuten Travel is part of the broader Rakuten group.
Jalan (Japan): Jalan is one of the biggest online hotel and ryokan reservation services in Japan. Operated by Recruit Holdings, a major Japanese conglomerate, Jalan provides a comprehensive platform for booking accommodations across Japan, as well as in select markets in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the US. Jalan is a leading player in the Japanese travel market, catering to both domestic and international visitors.
JAPANiCAN (Japan): JAPANiCAN is the online travel booking platform operated by JTB, one of the largest travel agencies in the world. With over 1,100 offices in 38 countries and more than 27,000 employees, JTB has a vast global reach. JAPANiCAN.com provides online bookings for hotels, ryokans, bus tours, and other activities across Japan, catering to both domestic and international travelers. As the digital arm of the JTB group, JAPANiCAN leverages the company’s extensive travel expertise and network to offer a wide range of Japan-focused travel products and services.
Ikyu (Japan): Ikyu.com is an online travel booking platform operated by Yahoo! Japan, the country’s leading internet portal. In 2016, Yahoo! Japan integrated its OTA business into Ikyu, making it a gateway for booking hotels, ryokans, and other travel products through the Yahoo! Japan ecosystem. Ikyu.com primarily serves the Japanese domestic market, providing users with a convenient and familiar platform to plan and book their travel within Japan.
Daily Hotel (South Korea): Daily Hotel is a South Korean online travel agency that specializes in last-minute, curated hotel deals. Launched in 2013, the platform uses big data analysis to personalize its offerings and provide users with tailored accommodation options. Daily Hotel focuses on the South Korean domestic market, offering a wide range of hotel and motel choices at competitive prices for last-minute bookings.
Hana Tour (South Korea): Hana Tour is one of the largest and most prominent OTAs in South Korea. As part of the broader Hana Tour travel conglomerate founded in 1993, the Hana Tour platform offers a comprehensive range of travel products, including domestic and international hotel bookings, package tours, and transportation services. The company’s international booking platforms, Nextour.co.kr and Webtour.com, cater to both domestic and outbound travel from South Korea.
Privia travel (South Korea): Privia Travel is a South Korean online travel brand operated by the Tidesquare group. Tidesquare is a travel technology and distribution company that offers a range of services, including an online travel mall for premium card members through the Privia Travel platform. Privia Travel focuses on the South Korean market, providing curated travel deals and packages for its target audience of high-end consumers.
Mode Tour (South Korea): Mode Tour is a leading South Korean travel consortium with both online and offline travel offerings. Founded in 1989, the company has a long history in the Korean travel industry, starting as a wholesale travel provider before expanding into the online travel space. Mode Tour’s online platform, Jautour.com, serves the domestic South Korean market, as well as outbound travelelrs to destinations in China and Southeast Asia.
DR Travel (South Korea): DR Travel is a well-established online travel agency in South Korea, offering a wide range of travel products and services. The platform caters to both domestic and outbound travel, with a focus on destinations in Asia, including Taiwan, Japan, and China, as well as Europe. DR Travel is part of the NHN Travel Corp group, a major player in the South Korean travel industry.
Online Tour (South Korea): Online Tour is a leading online travel agency in South Korea, serving the domestic market as well as outbound travellers to destinations in Taiwan, China, and Europe. As one of the prominent OTAs in the country, Online Tour provides a comprehensive platform for booking hotels, flights, and other travel-related services.
Traveloka (Indonesia): Traveloka is Indonesia’s leading online travel booking platform, offering a wide range of travel services including flights, hotels, trains, buses, and airport transfers. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Jakarta, Traveloka has grown to become one of the most popular OTAs in Southeast Asia. Traveloka has expanded beyond Indonesia, with a presence in other key Southeast Asian markets like Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Tiket.com (Indonesia): Tiket.com is another prominent online travel agency in Indonesia, providing booking services for flights, hotels, trains, and other travel products. Launched in 2011 and headquartered in Jakarta, Tiket.com has established itself as a leading player in the Indonesian travel market. Tiket.com has also expanded its services to include additional features like travel packages, airport transfers, and travel insurance.
Airpaz (Indonesia): Airpaz is a prominent OTA based in Jakarta, Indonesia, established in 2011. Since then, Airpaz has expanded its services from domestic to international flight bookings and now includes accommodation reservations as well. Airpaz primarily operates within the Southeast Asia market but has plans for global expansion. Its services are accessible in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and several others across Asia-Pacific.
ivivu (Vietnam): ivivu.com is a leading hotel booking platform in Vietnam, founded in 2010 and owned by the Thien Minh Group. The platform offers a network of over 30,000 hotels worldwide, catering to both domestic and international travellers visiting Vietnam. As a homegrown Vietnamese OTA, ivivu has a strong understanding of the local travel market and preferences, allowing it to provide tailored services to its customers.
Luxury Escapes (Australia): Luxury Escapes is an Australian online travel agency that specialises in curating and offering exclusive luxury hotel deals and vacation packages. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Melbourne, Luxury Escapes partners with high-end hotels and resorts around the world to provide its customers with unique, all-inclusive travel experiences at discounted prices. Luxury Escapes has a strong presence in the Australian and international travel markets, catering to a discerning clientele looking for exclusive, tailor-made travel options.