Online travel platform Fliggy, launched by e-commerce giant Alibaba, is transforming China’s tourism industry. With its innovative approach and emblematic mascot, a flying pig with a colorful design, Fliggy is establishing itself as a key player for Chinese travelers. Let’s take a look at how this platform is transforming the travel experience and adapting to new industry trends.
A complete offer for Chinese travelers
Fliggy positions itself as a one-stop shop for Chinese tourists, offering a wide range of services. The platform brings together :
- Over 400 airlines
- 8,000 tourist attractions
- 600,000 hotels
- Numerous local activities
This diverse offering enables users to plan their entire trip in one place. From flight bookings and car rentals to attraction tickets and guided tours, Fliggy covers every aspect of modern travel.
The platform particularly targets young Chinese travelers and millennials, a generation eager for discovery and unique experiences. To meet their expectations, Fliggy is developing strategic partnerships with major players in the tourism industry, such as the Hennessy cognac house, to offer exclusive and memorable experiences.
Technological innovation at the service of tourism
One of Fliggy’s strengths lies in its ability to innovate and exploit new technologies to enrich the travel experience. In particular, the platform has set up livestreaming tours of renowned tourist and cultural sites. These livestreams have enabled hundreds of thousands of Chinese viewers to discover iconic sites such as the Louvre, the Château de Versailles and the British Museum, from the comfort of their own homes.
This initiative proved particularly relevant during the pandemic, offering an alternative to physical travel which had become impossible. It also kept Chinese travellers interested in international destinations, effectively paving the way for a recovery in tourism.
Fliggy also leverages Alibaba’s ecosystem to help tourism players effectively reach Chinese travelers. This synergy makes it possible to offer personalized services tailored to users’ preferences, thereby enhancing the appeal of the platform.
Adapting to the new realities of travel
Faced with the travel restrictions imposed by the pandemic, Fliggy was able to demonstrate its agility by adapting its offer. In particular, the platform targeted Chinese expatriates in Europe, offering them services tailored to their particular situation. This strategy enabled Fliggy to maintain its business and meet the needs of a specific clientele.
In addition, Fliggy has developed innovative offers to meet new travel trends. For example, the platform offers “sports tourism” packages, such as for the World Cup in Qatar. These initiatives demonstrate Fliggy’s ability to anticipate market trends and offer products in line with consumer expectations.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Launch of Fliggy, replacing Alitrip |
| 2020-2021 | Development of live virtual tours |
| 2022 | Special offers for the World Cup in Qatar |
| 2023 | Sharp rise in international flight bookings |
Future prospects for Fliggy
The year 2023 marked a turning point for Fliggy, with a sharp rise in international flight bookings. This trend testifies to the upturn in international tourism and the renewed confidence of Chinese travellers. It also confirms Fliggy’s solid position in the Chinese online travel market.
For the future, Fliggy aims to reinforce its leadership position by continuing to innovate and enrich its offering. In particular, the platform could :
- further develop its international partnerships to offer even more varied and exclusive experiences
- Integrate new technologies, such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence, to enhance the user experience.
- Expand its range of services to cover all aspects of travel, from planning to return.
By leveraging the power of the Alibaba Group and its deep understanding of Chinese travelers’ expectations, Fliggy is well positioned to play a major role in the transformation of the tourism sector. The platform will undoubtedly continue to innovate and adapt to market changes, offering Chinese travelers ever more enriching and personalized experiences.
