Peer-to-peer travel booking platform TRVL, which allows anyone to become a ‘travel agent’ has nade its first foray into Asia with the launch of the service in Singapore.
Choosing the Lion City was a no-brainer for its Asia debut, said TRVL’s COO Arthur Hoffman.
"When deciding where in Asia to launch first, the choice was easy. Singapore is an affluent nation of passionate travellers," Hoffman said.
That is backed up by data showing Singapore to be right at the top in rankings for online adoption of travel bookings.
According to Euromonitor data, 89% of Singaporeans book travel online, compared to just a third a decade ago.
Users of the TRVL app get industry rates and exclusive deals and can get commission by acting as a travel agent booking trips for friends, families and social media followers.
"We’re living in the DIY age of travel bookings, and TRVL is rewarding you for acting like your own travel agent. With TRVL, the local experience of other travellers is available during the booking process; on demand and personalized. This is the next logical step in peer-based travel advise," says founder Jochem Wijnands.
TRVL recently hit a roadblock in Canada and was forced to shut down the service in Ontario as the province has strict travel agency rules.
It forbids any non-registered individuals and companies conducting business as a travel agent.
Singapore also has very stringent rules governing the travel trade, so it will be interesting to see whether these will apply to TRVL.
