It’s been two years since Trip.com Group announced bold plans
to become the leading
international travel brand in the world by 2025 – an announcement made in tandem
with the company’s 20th anniversary and its Q3 2019
earnings results that showed substantial growth in international business
for hotels and air ticketing.
Shortly after that, of course, the COVID pandemic brought
travel to a halt, beginning in Trip.com Group’s home base of China.
Now as the recovery gradually spreads around the globe,
Trip.com Group co-founder and executive chairman James Liang says the company
is ready to return to a growth mindset, enhancing products and making strategic
investments.
In conversation with Web in Travel founder and editor Yeoh
Siew Hoon during WiT Experience Singapore 2021, Liang says, “We will resume
our expansion and investments very quickly when Asia starts to recover. COVID
slowed us down a bit, but we’ll continue this growth trajectory in Asia.”
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As more countries agree to accept a range of COVID-19
vaccines, Liang says he expects Chinese travelers will return to destinations
in Asia and beyond – likely in “three to six months.” And when asked when China
will re-open to international tourists, he says, “it’s just a matter of time.”
“When we see recovery like this, we will definitely speed up our
investments,” Liang says.
Product developments are also on the horizon. Liang says
priorities include improving Trip.com’s international flight product,
developing its app and improving customer service.
Watch the full interview below.