By Lee Hyo-sik
Expedia, the world’s largest online travel agency, has launched its Korean language website (expedia.co.kr), making it official that the U.S.-based firm has entered one of Asia’s fastest growing travel markets.
Daniel Lynn, Expedia Asia CEO, said Wednesday that the cyber-based travel agency will provide Korean travelers with a comprehensive set of products including hotels, plane tickets, rental cars and more.
“As the world’s largest online travel company, we provide a wide selection of hotels across the globe. We are in partnership with over 130,000 hotels in 35 countries. On top of an unrivaled selection of hotels worldwide, we offer the lowest prices,” Lynn said during a press conference.
Expedia operates in 23 countries and plans to add 10 more by 2012, with about 75 million people visiting its websites worldwide each month.
The firm opened its Korean language website earlier this month, making the country its eighth operational base in the Asia-Pacific region.
Lynn said there is no online travel agency here offering a comprehensive set of travel products and services.
“Only 17 percent of Korean travelers booked online last year, significantly lower than in other countries. It means there is more room for growth in the online travel sector. Additionally, a growing number of free independent travelers (FITs) here who tend to book online presents us a great business opportunity,” the CEO said.
He said every market is different, adding Expedia has been offering differentiated and tailor-made products and services to customers in each country.
“Korea is different from other countries. In this sense, we are building a strong local team who perfectly understands the Korean market. We are primarily targeting travelers aged 30-45, professionals focusing more on value. They make more efforts to get high-quality but low-priced travel products,” Lynn said.
Expedia is running a call center staffed with native Korean speakers, who provide customers with consultation and booking services from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.
The firm is currently only offering hotel reservation services here. But customers will be able to buy plane tickets in the fourth quarter, the CEO said. “We are in partnership with Air Asia, a Malaysian low cost carrier. We will expand a list of our airline partners, including budget Korean carriers and flagship carriers,” he said.