Webjet poised for Mexico launch

Webjet poised for Mexico launch
By admin


Webjet is on the verge of launching into Mexico in what could pave the way for a wider expansion in Latin America.

The retailer will base the operation out of Tampa in Florida but will have a local ticketing agent on the ground in Mexico.

The venture is expected to give Webjet its first insights into the Latin and South American markets which it will explore further should the Mexico business perform well.

The operation will sit in Webjet’s North American joint venture with Mathias Friess. The JV launched into the US in 2010 and expanded into Canada six months ago. It recorded a profit in the second half of the 2012 financial year with Total Transaction Value rising 47%.

Managing director John Guscic said Mexico was a natural extension of its North American division.

“It is a continuation of our strategy in the USA and we see growth opportunities in Mexico,” he told Travel Today. “We’ve been able to find that sweetspot in US, we’ve now found it in Canada and we feel we have a fair chance of being successful in Mexico.”

Webjet will focus on long haul leisure travel.

Guscic confirmed the next step would be expanding further south but he declined to reveal a time frame.

“Ultimately we’d love to have a presence in the rest of Latin America but we’ll wait and see how we go in Mexico. If we get some traction it will encourage us to continue.”

Although the Mexican market is dominated by the big four online travel agents, Guscic said he was confident there was room for Webjet, insisting it can “carve out a successful niche”.

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