"AirAsia teams up with Expedia"

Kuala Lumpur: Budget carrier AirAsia Bhd has teamed up with US-based online travel firm Expedia Inc to set up an online travel agency to offer hotels, and flight and hotel packages in the Asia-Pacific under three main brands – AirAsiaGo, GoRooms, and Expedia.
AirAsia yesterday (TuesL March 29, 2011) signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with Expedia to form a new company with an initial paid-up capital of S$100,000 (RM240,285), which will be equally owned by the two companies.
In a statement, AirAsia group CEO Datuk Seri Tony Tony Fernandes said: “With this announcement, AirAsia and Expedia are launching a revolution in online travel for Asia. This partnership between two global brands and leaders in the travel industry comes at a time when online travel bookings are exploding in the region”.
To celebrate the partnership, www.AirAsiaGo.com is offering hotel discounts of up to 80% in to Asian cities until tomorrow (March 31, 2011), and Expedia will be launching its new Malaysian site www.expedia.com.my and Thai site www.expedia.co.th with a two-week sale period offering discounts of up to 60% on Southeast Asian destinations.

Comment:
A good move, timely, and should be welcomed by all sectors in promoting tourism industry among the local peoples and abroad.
Malaysia’s population is now hits 27,565,821 comprising 14,112,667 males and 13,453,154 female, according to the preliminary count report of Census 2010.
The average annual population growth rate from 2000 to 2010 was 2.17% - a drop compare with 2.6% for 1991-2000 and 2.64% for 1980-1991.
The setting up online travel agency by the above industry leaders definitely can tap the increasing Asian demand.