Tag Archives: B2B

STB ramps up B2B engagements in India to push travel recovery

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has rolled out ambitious plans to make the city-state an even more desirable destination for Indian visitors in 2023, as it aims to build on last year’s post-pandemic travel rebound.

This comes in along with announcement by the Indian government of removing all RTPCR requirements, in addition to all covid restrictions being lifted, for Indian travellers returning from Singapore with effect from February 13, 2023. This shall further facilitate fuss free travel for Indian visitors to Singapore.

Travel from India to Singapore has picked up pace since April 2022 with the greater easing of travel restrictions. India accounted for 686,000 of the overall 6.3 million global visitor arrivals in 2022, emerging as Singapore’s second largest source market after Indonesia (1.1 million visitors). With direct flight connectivity between Singapore and 17 Indian cities , Singapore is poised to tap into the burgeoning travel demand from across the country.

Built around the theme ‘Ramping up Pathways to Recovery, Together!’, the STB’s vision for 2023 and the coming years includes a focus on positioning Singapore as a destination that offers rewarding travel experience to Indian travellers by broadening its appeal, both to a wider Indian demographic which includes young Indian travellers, and as an aspirational destination to celebrate life milestones such as weddings and anniversaries. STB will also sharpen its offerings in its family segment, Meetings and Incentive travel, and cruise tourism strongholds.

GB Srithar, Regional Director, India, Middle East, South Asia and Africa, said, “India has long been one of Singapore’s largest tourism source markets, and is only set to become even more important in 2023, bolstered by a strong recovery in 2022 of close to 50% of the visitor arrivals achieved in 2019. The year ahead in Singapore is exciting, with hotly-anticipated tourism developments and we invite many more Indians with different passion points, travel desires, and aspirations to enjoy our diverse, vibrant, and reimagined offerings.”

The Singapore Pavilion showcases new attractions, initiatives and focus areas STB is working on. Upcoming tourism developments that will be launched in 2023 include Sentosa’s multi-concept family development and Sensoryscape experiential park, as well as Mandai Wildlife Reserve’s Bird Paradise. These developments are expected to further anchor Singapore’s destination attractiveness to travellers from all across India.

Alongside SATTE 2023, STB has lined up a series of trade outreach activities across India, which includes a B2B networking platform in Chennai, and two wedding networking engagements with 35 top wedding planners.

Vishen Mootoo Director of Sales & Marketing Cora Cora Resort

‘India ranks among our top five markets nine months of the year’

Cora Cora Maldives is geared to tap the Indian market with participation in variety of trade shows along with B2C & B2B outreach programmes. Vishen Mootoo, Director of Sales & Marketing, Cora Cora Maldives speaks to Disha Shah Ghosh about the all-inclusive premium branding of the resort, and the importance of India as a source market.

Q. What is the brand positioning of Cora Cora Maldives?
Cora Cora Maldives is positioned as a premium all-inclusive (Gourmet Meal Plan) resort with its motto: it’s freedom Time. We’re talking of the feeling ‘hair down, feet up, check in, chill out’. What’s lost can always be found – reconnect with the real you. Have whatever you want whenever you want it’s all unlimited. So forget the rules; have breakfast at midnight and drinks in the morning! Whether vegan, vegetarian or all-out cheat meals. We’ve got tons of options for everyone. We are here to help make sure you are living the best life, every moment, everyday.
It’s freedom time. Made by us, lived by you.

Q. India is key market for Maldives, with a lot of stakeholders active in the Indian Market. How are you planning to differentiate your property from the peers?
Indeed India is an important market for the Maldives, generally speaking equally for Cora Cora Maldives. As a premium all inclusive resort we have four restaurants; in each restaurant guests will have the choices to choose from vegan, vegetarian, gluten free dishes as well as meat and seafood. We offer an array of zero proof beverages, and that does set us apart from the standard all-inclusive concept which is already available in the market. We are working not with stakeholders but fans of Cora Cora Maldives and there is a handful of them which cater for all regions of India. With this strategy of having a handful of fans working with us, it makes it easy for distribution towards the B2C segment. We are also working with a handful of media partners who will give justice to the new brand, and position Cora Cora Maldives as a premium product in the India market.

 

Q. Where does India Rank in terms of priority markets for Cora Cora Maldives?
India ranks among our top 5 markets, 9 months out of 12 months.

Q. In terms of market segmentation, which set of travellers are your key areas of focus?
Our focus is on couples but we have noticed a growth in the last 5 years in the Maldives with lots of families travelling for their gateaway. At Cora Cora Maldives, we do equally cater for the Families, with our range of Two Bedroom Villas both on the beach and overwater as well as Cora Kids, where our junior guests can be entertained.

Q. With regards to promoting the property in India, what is your strategy in terms of in-person events, online and digital activities?
Our strategy in this market is to do regular in-person visits to our partners/fans, making sure they are up-to-date with the product knowledge; additionally small events amongst the B2C segment with presentation. Another area is attending major luxury B2B trade events for our brand awareness and networking in the region. Moreover, we are engaging with our partners for collaboration on the digital platform and influencers to elevate the brand awareness and its offering.

Q. Are you working with airline partners for better reach?
We are open for discussion with airlines when the right time comes. Indeed we will like to collaborate with the airlines serving the destination with fam trips, press trips, and to create package trip for a better online/retail reach.