Lessons on how to unlock opportunities in Africa, North Asia, Middle East and ASEAN

If you’re looking for engines of growth for your business, look no further than these four markets that were highlighted during WiT Europe's track at Phocuswright , as four market trailblazers highlighted growth opportunities across Africa, North Asia, ASEAN, and Middle East.

stephan ekbergh , CEO of Travelstart , who’s passionate about Africa's potential, highlighted its young workforce and entrepreneurial spirit. "African women and men who have nothing to lose are building the new Silicon Savannah," he said.

As for ASEAN, Chee Chong Chan , CEO of Singapore-based GlobalTix , highlighted the rising wealth and the growing Generation Aplha demographic. “Gen Alpha is the group of people that places more importance on travel experiences over material goods, and there are 667 million of Gen Alpha in ASEAN. It’s a huge market that not so many people are focusing on at the moment,” he said.

Blanca Menchaca , CEO of BeMyGuest - Tours & Activities , emphasised the travel surge from North Asia, with China and South Korea leading the way. "The future of our travel sector excites me," she said

Meanwhile, Ross Veitch , CEO and co-founder of Wego.com , whose business has grown exponentially since its bet on the Middle East market, said the region was one in which governments are investing in tourism, unlike Europe where governments seem in two minds about whether they want tourism or not.

One young hotelier who’s carving out his niche in the matured market of Japan is Howard Ho , CEO of Japan's Section L , who shared his journey from an 18-year-old lured by wine classes to leading a hospitality brand focused on apartment-style accommodation. Inspired by Airbnb, Section L wants to create "hotels among strangers” where long-stay visitors share insights with short-stay guests, creating a community vibe.

And to do this, it leverages both tech and talent. Its InterSection platform enables communication among guests and staff. "Our digital experience will guide our guests toward each other, creating opportunities for shared experiences," Ho explained. Its corporate culture emphasizes inclusivity, with its team boasting 27 nationalities, with a focus on listening and acting on feedback to retain diverse talent.

But even as we celebrate future growth and new thinking, we must also take a moment to honour pioneers such as Mrs Pamelia Lee who pushed through the first $1b tourism masterplan which essentially saved Singapore’s heritage. She was justly recognised at the Singapore Tourism Awards.

On a larger scale, ASEAN countries are experiencing a resurgence, with Singapore welcoming 5.71 million visitors and Thailand generating significant revenue from 9.4 million tourists. Visa-free agreements, such as those between China and Thailand, are expected to further boost regional travel.

Dr. Guy Llewellyn from EHL spoke to WiT about the strategic nature of visa-free policies, balancing economic benefits with security concerns. "Visa-free access can attract more tourists, directly benefiting the local economy," he said.

For more stories from travel and tech in Asia, visit www.webintravel.com.

Have a great weekend, everyone!