Where We Traveled

whitePaper | March 19, 2022

Tourism in the region has been rapidly transforming for decades. Rising regional incomes and shifting consumer consciousness have shaped the growth of intraregional travel and customer preferences. Global megatrends such as digitalization and globalization have also influenced the sector. Yet even among these major changes, the COVID- 19 pandemic stands as a milestone in tourism’s development in our region. Existing trends, such as digitalization, have been accelerated, and industry faces new demands in areas such as health and safety protocols. Many tourism businesses across the region are thus reimagining the future of tourism and their place in it.

whitePaper | December 5, 2022

Sustainability has risen to the top of the CEO agenda and leaders across industries are stepping up action.1 In travel, many companies are already in the process of setting ambitious sustainability goalsand developing corresponding strategies, including the transition to net zero. 2 However, to achieve these goals and transition to a more sustainable future, travel and tourism (T&T) companies mustsuccessfully develop products that enable more sustainable travel choices.

whitePaper | July 8, 2021

This whitepaper explains: Travel is an ultra-high-risk sector for card acquirers because most payments are for future delivery. If merchants fail to fulfill a service for which they have taken payment (often months in advance) customers can recover their money from the acquirer by initiating chargeback. Acquirers traditionally demand substantial cash collateral (holdbacks) or other financial security from travel merchants to mitigate this risk. Holdbacks lock away substantial funds for travel companies and can therefore be highly damaging to liquidity. High-profile collapses and the COVID-19 crisis have driven acquirers to impose harsher terms or quit the travel sector completely.

whitePaper | February 24, 2022

Covid-19 has changed travel in many ways. Since the onset of the pandemic—which has had a devastating impact on human life and society— travellers are thinking more about the impacts of their holidays on communities, local economies and the environment. Although these discussions picked up in the past few years, the pandemic has resulted in a travel awakening of sorts and accelerated the push towards more conscious, responsible travel in Asia-Pacific.

whitePaper | July 20, 2021

The travel industry is at an inflection point as it recovers from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The confluence of a shift in consumer mindset, recognition of travel and tourism as an economic driver, and more robust acknowledgment on Wall Street of compatibility between profit and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, creates the optimal time to focus on a more sustainable future.

whitePaper | August 22, 2022

Travel retail is a complex channel which includes airport retail (duty free & food services), cruise & ferry, border stores and other smaller channels. Airport retail is the biggest channel with a focus on international travellers. Retail is operated through a concession model which is costly for retailers which in turn must focus on high value and profit categories & products.