Relaxed visas, AI, and B2B loyalty programs bolster promising start to 2024 – WiT

As the tourism industry sets its course for the year, Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of digital travel platform Agoda, sees 2024 as a promising period for travel enthusiasts worldwide. Speaking at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Laos, Morgenshtern highlighted the industry’s positive momentum, building upon the successes of the previous year.

In 2023, significant growth was observed in the Asian tourism sector, with countries like Japan, South Korea, and India emerging as notable outbound travel markets. Morgenshtern emphasised this growth, particularly within Agoda’s network, indicating a promising trajectory for the travel industry.

Following discussions at the ASEAN Tourism Forum, Morgenshtern identified five key trends that are expected to shape the travel landscape in 2024:

Visa ease promotes travel accessibility

According to Morgenshtern, one notable trend is the increasing ease of visa requirements in popular and emerging markets. This move aims to reduce travel barriers…