In Conversation With Berivan Birkan, Klook

How is Klook different from other travel booking platforms
As Asia's leading travel platform,  Klook lets travellers decide how to spend their holiday. Through our  platform, they can easily access over half a million authentic experiences ranging from attractions and tours to local transport and accommodation in over 1,700 destinations worldwide. Klook is a platform that provides flexibility by allowing users to plan their itinerary with ease. In addition, Klook offers a range of travel essentials in one platform, such as Wifi/SIM, Food Vouchers, Bus/Car Rentals, and Private Transfers that would typically require multiple searches on different platforms. With tailor-made deals, Klook's commitment to serving Indian travellers goes above and beyond. During festival seasons like Republic Day and Valentine's Day, Klook also provides exclusive discounts to Indian travellers.

Can you walk us through booking an activity or attraction through Klook
For booking, users can view activity listings with descriptions, details, and reviews to suit their travel needs. Upon successful checkout and payment, users will receive confirmation directly via the app or website, with many of our top-selling activities offering instant confirmation for a seamless booking experience. For example, Dubai is one of the top destinations for Indian customers. Their favourite product is the Klook Pass Dubai, an exclusive product we provide as a tourist pass with the options to famous attractions, such as Burj Khalifa, Miracle Garden, Desert Safari, Dubai Aquarium and Atlantis aqua venture. Customers can explore top Dubai attractions and save up to 54% on attraction ticket prices.

How does Klook prioritize the safety of its users
During the pandemic, we worked alongside our merchants to offer hygiene and safety measures across our activities and product offerings. We also have our Klook staff (Klookers) testing and reviewing our experiences first-hand to ensure that they are safe and well-designed, which can inspire and enable moments of joy for our customers. Additionally, as a technology company, we have developed our platform with data protection at our core, continually reviewing existing cyber security protocols and upholding rigorous standards when working with third-party providers.

Can you share any successful customer stories or feedback that showcases Klook's impact on travel
We've seen tremendous demand and growth in cross-border travel in and out of Asia, especially after restrictions were lifted for Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and most recently, mainland China this year. We've also seen outbound bookings grow about 200% in Q4 2022 compared to Q3, with platform searches more than doubling, signalling that the desire to travel is stronger than ever. Also, we brought back our community-based physical event Klook Travel Fest in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.  Klook has revolutionized how Indian travellers explore the world, empowering them to travel better and smarter.

Berivan Birkan, Marketing Lead for Klook in the US, EMEA, and India, is driving the travel industry's digital transformation. In this interview, we delve into her journey with Klook, her insights on the industry's current state, and her vision for the future of travel.