India’s Online Travel Business Expected To Nearly Quadruple Every Year Until 2010
Now, I know some of you may not be surprised by the headline considering that we are talking about a growth spurt in the online travel business from a relatively small base. Still, I am sure some of our readers will be interested in seeing how India stacks up against other Asian countries. Online travel sales in Asia Pacific are estimated to reach $25.6 billion this year, which is about one-third of the U.S. market forecast, according to New York Internet research firm eMarketer. [via Businessweek] India is expected to see a much higher annual growth rate than Vietnam, China or Indonesia. From 2006 to 2010, India is expected to grow at 271.6% annually, while Vietnam’s online travel sector is forecast to expand 202% and China’s and Indonesia’s in the 70% to 83% range. (The biggest markets in revenue terms outside of Japan are India at $300 million and China at $200 million.) The U.S. online travel biz, by contrast, will grow 17% on an annual basis during the same time.
If you buy your airline ticket or book a hotel room from a live person at arzoo.com, does that count as an online sale?
i get the feeling where in a consolidation phase of the travel agency business and as a by-product some of these "online" sites are getting the business even though it's still done the old fashioned way.
Travelers are looking for quality research BEFORE moving to retail sites.
The Web is now a powerful forum for branding rather than just counting clicks.
Readers are looking for qualitative information, opinions, brand reviews.
.check out http://www.smarttravelasia.com, the perfect solution..
This is where Travel brands need to advertise.