Travellers can now earn points when they join an online travel network with the launch of homegrown portal Tourist Guide. The points earned, in turn, can be converted to hotel bookings, flight bookings and travel packages.
Tourist Guide managing director Devan Kumar said Tourist Guide differs from other travel platforms by setting up the world’s largest travel network.
“When travellers sign up as our member, they will be placed in the traveller’s network and be connected to each other,” he said during the launch in Kuala Lumpur, adding that the free membership programme is a first of its kind in the world.
Devan said the goal is to create a database of over 100,000 Malaysian travellers before expanding to other countries, with over 10 million global travellers registered in the future.
“With this vast database of travellers, we are able to bargain with travel agents and providers to get better deals,” he said.
Tourist Guide is a platform for travel agents and hotels from across the country to promote their travel packages to Malaysians.
Tourist Guide will also serve as a platform for travel agents and hotels from across the country to promote their travel packages to Malaysians. Devan said the platform only charges commission for each successful sale.
There are currently 13 travel agents that have partnered with the platform. Tourist Guide also works with online hotel wholesaler bedsonline to source to provide hotel booking service on its portal.
Meanwhile, Tourism Malaysia director (Kuala Lumpur) Mohd Akbal Setia applauded the initiative by Tourist Guide.
“Travelling should not be hard and Tourist Guide has a simple enough system that will be able to help people to travel,” he said.
Tourist Guide has over 3,000 registered members to date and can be accessed at www.touristguide.com.my.
