Once upon a time, around two decades ago, you had to seek the services of a local travel agent to research and book a trip on your behalf regardless of whether it is domestic or international.
With the debut of the internet, booking travel became seamless as online travel agencies started to leverage the internet to make travel seamless for millions of Nigerians. So, nowadays, travellers have many options available to them to help choose destinations, compare prices and make reservations independently and easily.
The undeniable fact is that online travel agencies have changed and disrupted the way we travel. Jumia’s travel and flight marketplace, Jumia Travel is one of the few OTAs that are playing a huge role in making travel smooth for Nigerians.
By booking hotels for Nigerians at any time of the day, Jumia Travel eliminates the stress of scouting for hotels. Today, Jumia Travel has expanded to flight, packages, airport pickups and even cruises. The aim is to become an all-in-one travel agency. So, how is an OTA like Jumia Travel changing the travel experience of Nigerians?
Democratise travel
For some Nigerians, the reason why they do not travel is that they think travel is expensive, which is not always the case. However, with an OTA like Jumia Travel, every Nigerian has a better chance of travelling. This is because unlike other OTAs, Jumia Travel has one of the best available rates you can ever find on the internet. Hence, whether you have a huge amount in your account or not, you can still travel comfortably.
Take the stress off travel bookings
Travel planning can be overwhelming, especially if it is group travel. You have to put together a bucket list of destinations to visit and even book hotels you do not know anything about. If you get this wrong, it can make or mar the travel experience. This is where online travel agencies come into play. All over Nigeria, they have hotels on their platform; you simply reach out to your preferred OTA, for example, Jumia Travel and their travel advisors will recommend fantastic hotels you and your group can stay anywhere in Nigeria. This is, of course, at the best price.
Enhanced customer service
Customer service and satisfaction have also transformed the travel experience of Nigerians. The travel advisors of Jumia Travel help customers make informed decisions. Also, the vast majority of brands have a social media presence that is being used to make customers aware of the best packages and deals. And when necessary, to provide relevant information to help unsatisfied or confused customers.
Travel research transformed
One of the most profound effects that OTAs has had on travel in Nigeria is the democratization of online reviews. Today’s travellers go online to research their future travel destinations and accommodations. When booking travel, a good number of Nigerians plan travel activities based on the content posted by their peers online. Hence, travel agencies do everything in their power to ensure they get positive reviews by offering sterling services.
– Ogunfowoke, Adeniyi Ayuba| PR Associate | Jumia Travel & Food