Google Cloud announces partnerships with key travel ecosystem players. Organizations like Airports of Thailand, SKY, and EVme are using open cloud and advanced analytics to reshape the future of travel.
Bangkok, Thailand – At a press conference with Mr. Nithee Seepraethis Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Lieutenant Governor for Digital, Research and Development Google Cloud highlighted insights and business opportunities organizations can leverage to drive the country’s travel recovery once the country fully reopens.Google Cloud subsequently announced a partnership with Airports of Thailand Co., Ltd. (AOT), SKY ICT Public Co., Ltd. (sky), and EVME PLUS Co., Ltd. (EVme), which will use Google Cloud’s open data cloud to deliver a sustainable, digital-first travel experience.
Impact of Tourism on Adjacent Industries
With more than half of Thailand’s urban digital consumers already using online travel services, and with this category expected to grow 22% year-on-year and contribute US$9 billion to Thailand’s digital economy by 2025, the importance of travel ecosystem players cannot be ignored Sex provides always-on, simple, personalized and secure digital services.
Google search trends suggest that adjacent industries can also take advantage of Thailand’s tourism rebound.Over the past year, search queries related to Thailand ‘travel insurance’ and ‘medical tourism’ have grown by more than 900% and 500% respectively1Therefore, financial institutions and healthcare providers must find ways to provide tailor-made services for travelers looking to find peace of mind from unexpected changes or travel to Thailand for specialized treatment.
Search queries related to ‘food tourism’ in Thailand have grown by over 110% over the past year2food industry players have the opportunity to better attract tourists whose main focus is to taste and take home authentic Thai food.
multiple sclerosis. April SrivikornThailand country manager, Google Cloud, said: “When we think about the economic impact of tourism, we usually focus on the contribution of core areas such as aviation and accommodation – and rightfully so. But our analysis also highlights the impact of tourism on other industries, from financial services to healthcare , to retail and transportation. We are committed to empowering organizations across industries with intelligent, data-driven capabilities to make smarter business decisions and to be part of an integrated ecosystem that delivers a world-class visitor experience. Our partnership with AOT , SKY and EVme’s partnership will enhance their ability to offer travelers personalized, digital-first offerings powered by our secure and scalable open data cloud. It also builds on our partnerships with Siam Commercial Bank and Central Retail , to support hotel, restaurant and catering businesses, and partner with a large local private healthcare company to promote medical tourism.”
gentlemen. Nithee SeepraeDeputy Director General for Digitalization, Research and Development of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said: “Tourism will continue to be one of the country’s most important contributors to GDP – these insights from Google Cloud align with TAT’s goals of promoting sustainable and responsible tourism, driving industry-wide digital transformation, and enhancing the overall competitiveness of Thailand’s tourism industry Consistent. It is encouraging to see AOT, SKY and EVme at the forefront of digital innovation. We hope that more local organizations will likewise adopt new tools from leading tech companies like Google Cloud to attract today’s digitally savvy, eco-conscious consumers and inspire them to pursue meaningful travel experiences in Thailand.”
Stay ahead of recovering travel demand
In Thailand, inbound air travel demand—flights by non-residents to a country—experienced a sharp upturn based on Google search volume3. October 1, 2022 – the day Thailand lifts remaining COVID-19 restrictions, saw inbound demand jump 386% year-on-year. This recovery continues until March 2023, with year-to-date inbound demand up over 161% year-over-year.
Thailand’s demand for outbound air travel — the flights its residents take to other countries — has experienced a similar surge4. On October 1, 2022, outbound demand will increase by 544% year-on-year. This recovery continues until March 2023, with outbound demand up over 187% year-to-date.
To stay ahead of the surge in traffic in and out of six international airports (Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fahrenheit-Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai), AOT and its partners SKY – a leading aerospace technology solutions provider – is migrating AOT’s digital assets to Google Cloud’s open, scalable and secure infrastructure.
As a result, AOT started to benefit from Google Cloud’s dynamic autoscaling feature, which enabled SAWASDEE, the IT system supporting ground aviation services and the AOT mobile application, to handle up to 10 times the normal workload before autoscaling and provide smooth user Experience lower costs when additional computing resources are no longer required. By breaking down internal data silos using Google Cloud’s database management service, AOT and SKY are enhancing the ability to push real-time airport and flight information to millions of passengers, allowing them to enjoy a smoother experience from check-in to immigration and boarding Go to baggage claim.
As SKY transforms AOT’s SAWASDEE into an all-in-one “must-have app for Thailand travel” offering a full range of travel-related services, it is using Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) to automate application deployments and upgrades—without causing downtime. With GKE , SKY’s technology team can now avoid time-consuming manual back-end IT configuration and accelerate the regular rollout of a variety of new in-app features—from luggage tracking for peace of mind to travel checklists with helpful resources before departure, providing safety Hassle-free travel, duty-free e-commerce, airport loyalty programs, curated travel recommendations, e-payments, and more.
gentlemen. Kittipoj VenunantanaSenior Executive Vice President, Digital and Communication Technology, Airports of Thailand Public Co., Ltd. said: “As our industry recovers from the impact of the past few years, we must find the ability to both optimize costs and improve operations. We chose SKY as our long-term partner and Google Cloud as our new primary cloud provider that enables us to combine automated solutions and deep innovation expertise to deliver high-quality and safe digital-first passenger experiences at scale. Google Cloud’s open data cloud will enable AOT to operate the world’s most The vision of a smart airport provides a strong and flexible foundation and serves as a gateway for tourists to discover and enjoy all that Thailand has to offer.”
gentlemen. Kayon TanticathiwatChief Technology Officer of SKY ICT Public Company Limited said: “As the industry recovers, airports must address challenges such as optimizing the passenger experience and minimizing disruption. Airports’ back-end IT systems – largely invisible but critical to their success – must also remain cohesive and secure As Thailand’s leading aviation technology service provider, SKY is committed to partnering with like-minded companies such as Google Cloud to provide trusted solutions to promote tourism and benefit society. Google Cloud’s open source and security design principles will Allowing us to seamlessly integrate new technologies such as indoor map navigation, smart parking and biometrics, while encrypting the data flow across these systems to ensure user privacy and data security.”
The road to success in sustainable tourism
People are becoming more aware of the impact of tourism on the environment, and sustainability has become a key consideration when people design travel itineraries.Search queries related to ‘sustainable tourism’ in Thailand have increased by more than 200% in the past year5. In fact, nearly four in 10 digital consumers in Thailand have expressed a willingness to pay more for sustainable products or services.
To support Thailand’s transition to a low-carbon society, EVme, a subsidiary of PTT Public Company Limited (PTT), is building its Electric Vehicle (EV) lifestyle application for consumers and businesses entirely on Google Cloud, the cleanest cloud in the industry.
EVme also deployed Google Cloud’s advanced analytics and business intelligence tools, giving its employees access to data-driven insights that help them better understand customer needs and deliver personalized interactions. This gives EVme a choice of EV models that can be rented through its mobile app to suit different lifestyle preferences, it should be connected to more public EV charging stations to meet demand, and the ability to provide prompt advice and 24-hour service is a big plus Emergency assistance for customers.
gentlemen. Jirapong LaokajornChief Commercial Officer of EVME PLUS Company Limited said: “The concepts of sustainable tourism and mobility are deeply intertwined. At EVme, our goal is to provide Thais with the experience of ‘owning an electric vehicle’ through rental services on a modern digital platform at an affordable price. We will continue to Promote ecotourism and the country’s transition to a low-carbon society by promoting the widespread use of electric vehicles to mitigate the environmental impact of transportation on communities living near popular tourist destinations.Given Google Cloud’s leadership in data science and the fact that it is the only As a cloud provider that uses 100% renewable energy to power its infrastructure and services, building our platform on Google Cloud’s Open Data Cloud was a clear choice for us.”
1 Source: Google internal data from Google Trends searches related to travel or tourism between March 13, 2022 and March 12, 2023
2 Source: Google internal data from Google Trends searches related to travel or tourism between March 13, 2022 and March 12, 2023
3 Source: Google Destination Insights with Google internal data, aviation-related searches from 1 October 2022 to 11 March 2023
4 Source: Google Destination Insights with Google internal data, aviation-related searches from 1 October 2022 to 11 March 2023
5 Source: Google internal data from Google Trends, travel or tourism-related searches from March 13, 2022 to March 12, 2023
Theodore is Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews’ long-term opportunities.
