Cardiff Airport to drive inbound tourism online
Cardiff International Airport has developed a ‘search & book’ website offering a global booking capability.
It has been designed to provide inbound travellers with the same service as UK passengers and so supporting the country’s tourism industry, it was announced at World Travel Market.
The Welsh airport claims www.cwlfly.com is the first airport website to empower visitors anywhere in the world to search and book all its available flights.
Cwlfly.com also provides both UK and overseas visitors with the scope to book flights, hotels, car hire, and airport car parking. Prices can initially be viewed in sterling, dollars and euros, with more currencies coming online next year.
The service is powered by Travelberry software with facilitation by skybargains.co.uk plus additional XML feeds provided by tourism organisations in Wales.
Airport head of marketing and communications Peter Phillips said: “Every regional airport in Britain is benefiting from the growth of outbound passengers, boosted by the success of low-cost airlines.
“We took the view that Cardiff International also has a responsibility to stimulate more inbound travel, boosting the local economy. We want to play an active part in attracting inbound tourists.”
The latest additions to the site make it easy for overseas internet users to explore what’s on offer in Wales and the West, and book their flights, hotels, and car hire.
“We realised the potential for serving inbound travellers when we saw the results of Zoom Airlines’ bookings for their Toronto and Vancouver flights from Cardiff. Half of their bookings are from North American travellers, wanting to visit Wales and the West of England,” said Phillips. “The same is proving true for our Irish and Scottish markets.
“We have also incorporated links and content for visitors to Wales, providing overseas visitors with the facility to explore forthcoming events in Wales and book accommodation, from hotels to local bed & breakfasts.”
Report by Phil Davies
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