On October 28, “Oooh,” an online travel service that allows users to arrange original overseas travel plans in more than 60 countries around the world, began offering an AI translation function. Questions and requests entered in Japanese are automatically translated into English, making it possible to discuss travel plans more smoothly with local travel agencies in countries around the world.
In conjunction with this, we asked Teppei Yamagami, director and COO of the company, about the features of the service and its future prospects.
According to Yamagami, “We began developing Oooh in early 2018 because the traditional international travel model, including package tours, is unable to meet the increasingly diverse needs of travelers in some respects.
As a specific issue, he said, “If a tour has a fixed itinerary, it is inconvenient to realize a travel plan that you really want to visit. On the other hand, if you arrange the entire itinerary by yourself, there is a possibility of increased anxiety and risk at the destination.
He also explained that conventional customized tours offered by Japanese travel agencies tend to be expensive and require a lot of time to complete arrangements because of the message-game-like back-and-forth between the traveler, Japanese travel agency, and local travel agency.
The service will begin in November 2019. It was then temporarily suspended due to the new coronavirus, and is being fully deployed again around June 2023.
Oooh allows users to create and arrange travel plans with experienced local “travel coordinators” (travel agencies) in a chat format based on the content of questionnaires answered at the time of application. Oooh offers a new travel style in which you can freely choose your destination, means of transportation, and experiences at the destination.
By communicating directly with a local representative about the details of your itinerary, you can review it more quickly and accurately than with a customized tour, and you can make detailed requests such as “I want to add more niche experiences” or “I want to spend a little more time at this destination.
To ensure smooth communication despite time differences and cultural differences, the “Oooh Concierge” is always available to check the contents of chats and provide support. To ensure that there are no errors in the exchange of information, a travel management system (inquiry management, itinerary creation, application, payment, voucher management, etc.) is provided for travel agencies.
Furthermore, the newly introduced AI translation function enables travelers who speak only Japanese to consult with coordinators around the world in English in a timely manner.
Regarding the use of the service, consultation on travel plans is free of charge for as many times as needed. The turnaround time from application to the first proposal is approximately 40% within one day and 70% within three days.
Payment for the trip can be made by bank transfer and credit card; the average unit price per trip is 600,000-800,000 yen worldwide. Africa and South America are pushing up the average, and in the case of Asia (Thailand), the average is in the 200,000-300,000 yen range.
In addition, because Oooh often provides a local guide and driver for one person or a small group, the price per person is inevitably higher than for package tours for groups of 10 people.
However, the concierge will check the proposal to ensure that the price is appropriate, and if the price is too high, the concierge will ask another travel agency to make a new proposal.
Most recently, there have been an increasing number of cases of high unit price plans selling for 2 to 4 million yen for two people, and more than 90% of users are satisfied with the service.
Travel plan destinations cover more than 60 countries around the world. Women in their 20s to 40s account for 40% of all users, and Asia, India, and Egypt, which are less affected by the weak yen, are the most popular destinations.
The party composition was 22% women traveling alone, followed by 21% men and women traveling together. As for the background to the large number of women traveling alone, Ms. Yamagami explained, “There may be a general increase in the number of cases where women have destinations they want to visit as a group, but are unable to travel with the same members due to high prices and the weak yen, or where it is difficult to find friends, such as pilgrimages to sacred places in Indian movies.
He continued, “Oooh not only has quality coordinators, but also arranges local guides and private vehicles to the smallest detail. For example, not only do we meet you at the airport or at your train destination by car, but our guides accompany you to the station platform to ensure a safe and secure situation,” he appealed.
The local travel agency will also be flexible to postpone or cancel activities due to illness or weather conditions during the trip.
Regarding future service development, Mr. Yamagami states, “We will support the DXing of the entire travel industry by enhancing the management system for travel agencies.
He also cited “kimkim” and “Zicasso” in the U.S. and Europe as services similar to Oooh’s. “Although we do not yet have any major rivals in Asia, we expect a similar business model to spread in the future. Oooh is eager to build on its connections with “travel professionals” around the world, and eventually offer destinations and travel experiences that Japanese people have not yet seen, such as from Thailand to Africa and from India to the U.S., by incorporating users who are not flying to/from Japan.
© Source travel watch
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