CHINA’S biggest online travel agency, Ctrip, has launched a self-service tour platform for destinations both at home and abroad. From May 31, travelers can easily customize their trip on Ctrip’s website or app, choosing from a range of travel deals and activities, such as packages that cover classic destinations, public transportation cards, exhibition tickets, helicopter rides, hot air balloon excursions, as well as more adventurous pursuits like scuba diving and parachuting. The platform aims to offer a one-stop shop for the needs of individual travelers, says Yu Xiaojiang, Ctrip’s chief operating officer. To date, the platform offers 35,000 travel products covering more than 100 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Europe and the United States. “We found young people are increasingly spontaneous in making travel plans, and some even make decisions after they reach their destination,” says Yu. The idea of the self-service platform is to save travelers time and money, while ensuring that they still enjoy a high quality travel experience, he adds. (SD-Agencies) | 