Asia as one great destination

Alan Hoffery, Singapore Airlines. (right)
"We want this autumn to arrange a large Asian Road show in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki, Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn,” says says Alan Hoffery, Singapore Airlines. (right)

“Although Scandinavia has different travel patterns, there are two trends which is the same all over the Nordic countries: The family would like to travel several generations together. They not only want a beach holiday, but also a holiday with activities and experiences.

Everyone wants to do a little more for the family, and do it in a different way.

Previously the family took on few days city break in Europe. Now it is developed, so the trip is a little further away.

Here it is quite obvious, to visit some of the many interesting places in Asia,” says Alan Hoffery, Copenhagen, newly appointed Sales – and Communications Manager for Singapore Airlines, Nordic, which include Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Baltic.

To tell about Asia’s many offerings, Alan Hoffery has now started to organize a joint promotion for several countries in Asia.

“We want this autumn to arrange a large Asian Road show in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki, Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn, with the participation of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and maybe Viet Nam, addressed to agents from the travel agency.

I expect at least two participants from each country, preferably more, and hope the road show will be developed, so that it in the future can be organized twice a year.

Singapore or Malaysia may have difficulty in organizing a road show alone. Together it is possible, and agents from travel agents can see it all at once.

The aim is that the various countries in Asia instead of being marketed separately can be marketed as one great destination. It will be a benefit for all.

There will be travel fairs in Scandinavia in January and February. But it is often too late for agents, who want to know more about what is happening in the season in Asia. Therefore, a Road Show in October or November is targeted to fit into the production of the following program,” says Alan Hoffery.

“Singapore or Malaysia may have difficulty in organizing a road show alone. Together it is possible, and agents from travel agents can see it all at once.”

A family tracking in northern Thailand, could also be interested in a trip to mainland Malaysia, Singapore might be interested not only to be a stop-over destination. Many people have visited Thailand several times, and may now wish to visit different areas and or some of the new destinations other places.

Although Thailand is known in Denmark, Thailand can well see the benefit of creating new and different products, thinking when there are several new affordable destinations in the Caribbean, and Norwegian starts new routes in the Caribbean and the United States.

Many of the smaller agents in the niche markets in Asia, which now find it difficult to tell about themselves in Scandinavia, will have a good chance at a Road show. Therefore it will be beneficial for all, if we instead of promote us individually, can do a joint effort be marketed together,” says Alan Hoffery.