JEDDAH: The days of travelers using tourism and travel offices to book their holidays are over, with 90 percent of jet setters now using online websites and smartphone applications to plan their trip.This shift is due to the speed of bookings offered by these services, in addition to a range of 'online-only' discounts on travel. Further, service fees typically cost less online than when a customer goes into a travel agency to make their booking.
Office owners have confirmed that there was a clear increase in bookings during the Eid holiday, which almost doubled the regular number of bookings per day. Abdulaziz Al-Ghamdi, the owner of a travel office, said that they have begun offering more services to clients in order to maintain their share of the market, such as providing tour group programs, airport pick-up and drop-off services, in addition to providing extra services for business and first-class passengers.
Mohammad Al Mojil, Chairman of the National Committee for the Chamber Tourism Board, confirmed that there was a high percentage of bookings made through websites and smartphone applications during the holiday period due to the good prices and the ability for users to compare between sites and make their booking at any time of the day.
Ibrahim Al-Harthi, a sales manager at a travel and tourism site, said that there was a notable increase in flight reservations during the holiday period, of which approximately 90 percent were e-bookings.
Office owners have confirmed that there was a clear increase in bookings during the Eid holiday, which almost doubled the regular number of bookings per day. Abdulaziz Al-Ghamdi, the owner of a travel office, said that they have begun offering more services to clients in order to maintain their share of the market, such as providing tour group programs, airport pick-up and drop-off services, in addition to providing extra services for business and first-class passengers.
Mohammad Al Mojil, Chairman of the National Committee for the Chamber Tourism Board, confirmed that there was a high percentage of bookings made through websites and smartphone applications during the holiday period due to the good prices and the ability for users to compare between sites and make their booking at any time of the day.
Ibrahim Al-Harthi, a sales manager at a travel and tourism site, said that there was a notable increase in flight reservations during the holiday period, of which approximately 90 percent were e-bookings.
