Online booking, or online sales of travel services - the fastest growing tourism market. In line with global trends, the output of the next segment in a "global spider web" led to a rapid growth in demand from consumers. In an effort to find the best deals and save on travel agency services, modern travelers actively flowing into line, forming a new trend in the tourist market. Indicators in this relatively new segment grow to hundreds of percent per year, and it develops much faster than the "old" off-line market. In the U.S. share of online bookings to total sales of travel services is about 60%, while in Western Europe - more than 30%. The domestic market is still in the beginning of a long way: according to various estimates, Russia now has only 2-5% of the bookings of travel services going online, but only online agencies in the Russian market is no more than 2% of the players.

Russia has long been this white spot on the map of online travel services and, as so often happens, has lagged behind other developed countries in a couple of years. The main reasons for this, according to industry experts, are lagging behind in the development of the Internet, the prevalence of small plastic cards among the population, difficulties with visas and features mentality dictates Russian tourists prefer ready-made and pre-paid ticket to independent travel. Nevertheless, in times of crisis, the direction of online sales has received a great impetus to the development, when, on the one hand, the spread of broadband networks has become almost universal, but on the other - loss of income has forced tourists to pay attention to spending on leisure.

«Over the past two crises, most of the tourists accustomed to autonomy in the organization of travel, and increasingly choose not to classic travel agencies and online portals where you can buy service without additional service charges" - says commercial director of one of the fastest growing online projects for the sale of travel services Amargo Roman Krylov. - "In the end, self-organization of a trip is simply a fashionable and fun. After all, no one except you knows best - what you need. The Internet is available all the information: the prices, schedules and details of the trip, maps, attractions, descriptions of hotels - all to plan a trip at a convenient time for you in a convenient place ».

Of course, the factor of fashion has played a significant role in the development of this segment of the market of tourism and recreation. If previously separate trip seemed a sign of low income (travel "savages" in the Crimea and the other local resorts during Soviet times), then today, on the contrary, the complex permit increasingly seems the choice of the slothful and insufficiently informed. Originated a new trend, offering travelers the opportunity to choose a new, as yet uncharted routes and hotels that are recommended in the World Wide Web "seasoned" travelers. The market has to adapt to new trends.

«Now, many users have become not just competent experts in the field of independent travel, even in some cases, professionals, to whose opinion should not just listen, and always carefully and with gratitude to analyze, making the correct conclusions. I am convinced - the rapid development of our business is primarily provided by the new requirements of our modern traveler "- says Roman Krylov.

Crisis of 2008-2009, played role of the last straw, fractures are not camel's back, and general market practices. And the statistics confirms this. According to the spokesman of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (PCT) Irina Tyurina, for the first six months of 2010 dramatically increased the number of those tourists who do not apply to travel agencies, but prefer to travel alone. "In many European destinations registered significant growth in tourist numbers. Moreover, the main increase is believed to tour operators, given the right independent tourists, who themselves booking of hotels, tickets, often choosing cheap transit flights through third countries ", - said Turina.

trend growth in the number of independent tourists and confirm the online agencies. Estimated to representatives of the largest companies in the industry, monthly volume in this segment of travelers' market is growing at about 50%. The greatest demand, as always, is marked on the flight reservation: electronic versions have become accustomed. At the same time increasing the demand for hotel reservations. Purchase a variety of tourist services and a complete set of individually become a new trend in 2010 - if last year you could only talk about emerging trends, in 2010. strong growth in demand and supply in this segment became evident.

«Today in Russia, more than 190 sites travel agencies are working on technology-based e-commerce Amadeus E-commerce. There is growing interest in more advanced solutions capabilities that meet the requirements of discerning travelers. The average monthly number of visitors to these resources is around 10-12 million ", - said Catherine Grigoryan, manager of marketing and external communications company Amadeus - Information technologies».

Now on Internet sales of tours in Russia accounts, according to various estimates, only 2-5% of the total sold tours. Over the past two years the volume has increased by 20%, and this year is expected to experts, will give a strong boost. Tour operators are well aware of the growing desire of Russians to independence. This trend is believed they will continue to grow, given the speed connectedness of the country. Now the level of internet coverage is in Moscow for almost 95% on average in Russia - no less than 35%. By 2012, the Russian average, is expected to grow to 50%.

As an example of a successful start and no less successful development strategy include the already mentioned earlier Agency Online booking Amargo. This company is notable for the fact that in time she became the first "swallow" in the segment of the online sales of the full range of tourist services in real time, and opted for an integrated customer service: literally everything you need for travel, the ticket to insurance can be ordered on the company website in a few clicks. Amargo project was launched in August 2009 and today is a serious contender for the leadership position in the segment of the online sales of travel services.

«Amargo is developing dynamically, and since July 2010. turnover of the service exceeded $ 1 million a month. The total sales plan by the end of the fiscal year is 12 million dollars, and most likely he will be exceeded ", - says Olga Zakharova, President Amargo. She also reported that over the past six months, the service used by more than 10 000 people, but at the time of purchase travel services through Amargo make more than 110 people daily. Valeria Zakharova, development manager of new business Travelport, confirms: "According to our data, it became Amargo" Best Start "- the leader of the dynamics of growth in ticket sales among all Russian online agencies».

; Buying tickets - the most familiar and popular service for users of its volume increases on a monthly basis and 69% of total sales Amargo. About 18% of total sales bring rail tickets and hotels as long as it takes just 7%, but have excellent growth prospects. Through a partnership with Expedia, since November base Deals Amargo site more than tripled, and will make 130,000 hotels in 900 locations worldwide.

Company possesses unique to Russian technology platform, which allows you to create customized travel available to reservation services on the site and then pay for some services a single transaction. The main technological feature is the possibility of simultaneous work with several suppliers of uniform services. In particular, the base is formed by the hotels offers companies Expedia and Tourico, taking into account the overlapping of options, the availability of seats at different vendors and pricing.

«We do not intend to dwell on sale only tickets and hotels, now we offer our customers a package of services, including airfare, hotel, ticket Aeroexpress, insurance, and the ability to order a taxi. This package allows you to completely independently, without the aid of travelers' manager to organize virtually any, not only private but also a business trip "- says commercial director Amargo Roman Krylov.

Proceeding from the general market trends, we can predict the future and the segment of online sales of travel services. First of all, the industry will expand in two directions - independent travelers will develop budget proposals, self-opening up new areas and finding the cheapest airline. Corporate players continue to study the proposals of the business class, so we can hardly expect that this class "prosyadet in demand. Most likely, after the traditional offerings we expect out of online agencies on new, previously unexplored tourist markets - the fashion will truly exotic travel and really unusual city and country.

and, finally, increasing the number of players in this market will inevitably lead to increased competition, and competition - to reduce costs and seek new opportunities to earn money. It may be new services, both directly and indirectly related to travel and travel. This period has already passed the other country, and he invariably waits, and Russia. At a time when the number of professional players in this market will triple, only the fittest will survive.

materials graciously provided by Amargo

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Amargo

The company name comes from the combination of the Italian word «amare» - love and the English «go» - travel, travel. Literally, Amargo can be translated as "love to travel" or "travel with pleasure».
Amargo - the first draft of the Russian Internet zone is set up to provide integrated services for planning and purchasing travel services in real time. Service was launched in August 2009 and is aimed at the unconditional market leader in high-tourist services.
Project Amargo fundamentally differs primarily in that it allows you to make up their own journey from start to finish online, using the services of world-class with round the clock support in Russian.
user chooses one thing - for example, the ticket - and then can add other services as required: a room in a hotel or tickets to Aeroexpress. Payment is formed and book your package is done electronically as a single transaction. Particular attention is paid to the safety of payments and privacy of personal data.
Currently active projects as airline reservations, real-time combining the proposals of the majority of Russian and foreign air carriers, as well as booking of more than 130 thousand hotels in over 900 locations worldwide, purchase train tickets, including Aeroexpress and bundled offers "air + hotel».
In the near future to launch new services, including taxi and insurance.

For more information contact :
Agayeva Elmira,
Marketing Manager Amargo
Tel. +7 (495) 783 4722, ext. 1534
agaeva @ amargo