Bookings on Asian airlines pick up

The travel trade industry is expecting a recovery this year as bookings on Asian airlines have started to pick up after the Sept. 11 attacks in the US.

Don Birch, president and chief executive officer of Abacus International said that bookings in 20 Asian countries had gradually improved beginning in December last year.

Abacus International, Asia Pacific’s largest global distribution system and computerized reservations systems, said its bookings in the Philippines showed the same pattern with the other Asian countries at 3.4 to 3.5 percent.

Its bookings in 20 countries before the Sept. 11 attacks grew by five percent and dropped by 45 percent after the tragedy.

The Sept. 11 attacks in the US has frightened potential travelers and preferred to stay home. Insurance companies have raised their premiums for airlines’ insurance, cost which is being passed to passengers.

The number of visitors to and from North America had dropped significantly right after the Sept. 11 tragedy.

Asians were either staying at home or are traveling to perceived safe destinations like Australia and China.

Birch said that while business travelers are cutting costs, they are still likely to come to safe destinations like Singapore and Hong Kong to do business.

Asia Pacific airlines and airport authorities have stepped up their security measures that would help build confidence among travelers to fly within the region.

Birch said travelers need more information and reassurance from travel agents that it is now safe to travel.

About 86 percent of people felt more comfortable in booking with their travel agents rather than using the Web-based portals.

Birch also cited a survey by international airlines that security onboard aircraft has improved significantly since Nov. 2001.

In response to the travel trade industry needs, Abacus has launched an aggressive campaign dubbed as “TravelSmart-Asia” designed to help accelerate the airline and travel industry’s recovery.

Birch noted that the travel industry is facing a number of challenges and must offer more and better services to the traveling public.

One way to meet these challenges is through TravelSmartAsia’s updated information on travel safety, tips and advisories issued by various governments for destinations around the region.

Travel agents can better advise their clients and build public confidence to travel again in the region, Birch added.

Birch also noted that confidence in travel is gradually coming back as Abacus bookings showed partial recovery in October and November last year.

However, bookings still averaged at 16 percent, lower than the 2000 figures. By the second week of December, bookings went up to almost parity levels in 2000.

On the third week, Abacus saw a 12 percent increase followed by a similar growth during Christmas week.