Klook introduces the train ticket booking services as one of the safest modes of shared transportation across the country, enabling the recovery of local community and tourism.

• Enhancing Italy's domestic offerings, serving more avid local travelers to explore their backyards in over 15 major Italian cities
• With enhanced local offerings, seamless user experience, innovative technology and benefits from Klook Credits reward scheme, Italian travelers are empowered to discover, book and experience at their fingertips

Klook, a world-leading travel activities and services booking platform, today announced its expansion of travel activities and train ticket booking services in Italy. In addition to its over 100,000 travel offerings around the world, Klook adds the train ticket booking services in more than 350 cities across the country. This enhancement of services caters to further boost business opportunities in the local destinations via rail and activities along the train routes, contributing to the recovery of tourism in Italy.

As a key strategic market for the company's growth roadmap in Europe, Klook has been operating in Italy since late 2019, focusing on building long-lasting partnerships with local operators and bringing in countless travelers from around the world. However, the global pandemic has impacted the global travel industry heavily with a 98% fall in international tourists numbers in May 2020 when compared to 2019^[1] and a similar impact is also seen in Italy^[2]. With new expectations and behavioral changes of travelers emerging, enhancing domestic offerings is fundamental to the recovery of tourism and the broader economy in Italy.

"It is a challenging time for our industry and many tourism businesses in Italy are suffering. With our growing European footprint, continued investments and plans to facilitate domestic travel, we are committed to helping the travel industry and overall Italian economy recover as quickly as possible," said Nicolò Grosoli, Senior Marketing Manager of Italy, Klook. "We are excited to launch our train ticket booking services in Italy today to spur Italian travelers to rediscover the beauty of our nation, safely and conveniently, with zero booking fees on our platform."

Rail as one of the safest modes of transport domestically and enabler for recovery

While public health and safety remains one of the largest concerns for the majority of Italians^[3], rail offers one of the safest shared means of transportation across Italy with managed passenger capacities and an increased focus on hygiene measures. The potential risk of taking trains can be largely reduced with the hygiene and safety measures undertaken by the stations and rail operators^[4], such as ensuring social distance and strengthening train cleaning procedures.

Klook's launch of the train ticket booking services will provide domestic travelers with a safe and convenient transportation option that would allow them to satisfy their wanderlust and rediscover their homeland. With Klook, domestic travelers are empowered to travel safely again, by rail, and revitalize businesses in destinations, contributing to the overall recovery of the travel and leisure industry in Italy. Ranging from skip-the-line tickets of Colosseum in Rome, guided tours of the Vatican Museums, day tours in the wonderful surroundings of Florence, to exclusive food and wine tastings in Bologna, Parma and the rest of Emilia-Romangna and the access to the best amusement parks in Italy, etc., all these activities can also be easily booked on Klook.

Klook also introduces its reward scheme in the nation - Klook Credits, bringing additional benefits for Italian customers to enjoy while exploring the backyards. By completing the activities booked on Klook, customers can earn up to 10% of rebate in the form of Klook Credits of the booking value. The Klook Credits can be used in the next purchases with access to over 100,000 travel offerings around the world.

"With train ticket booking service and our very best Klook Credits reward scheme as the first few enhancements we've launched in Italy, Klook will continue investing in Italian products across attractions, tours, unique experiences and more in the coming months," Grosoli added.

A localized, truly mobile experience for discovering, booking, and redeeming

The global pandemic has transformed customer behaviours and has accelerated the adoption of new technologies. With more people expecting a truly mobile experience, demand for using contactless payment and redemption methods is increasing. As a leader in the in-destination travel industry, Klook is well-positioned to serve Italian travelers with innovative technology, seamless user experiences, and enriching travel offerings - from booking on-the-go with instant confirmation to redemption with QR code vouchers all within the Klook App at their fingertips.

Over the last year, Klook has been laying foundations and growing rapidly in Europe, setting up local offices in Milan, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. The platform also offers locally preferred payment methods and supports multiple European languages including Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, and German, offering a hyper-localized user experience.

Notes:

1. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Tourism Made Clear as UNWTO Counts the Cost of Standstill by UNWTO
2. Survey: The long wave of the COVID emergency sinks the summer of tourism by Assoturismo, Italy's Tourism Federation
3. Survey: Italian consumer sentiment during the coronavirus crisis by McKinsey & Company
4. The risk of COVID-19 transmission in train passengers: an epidemiological and modelling study by Oxford Academic