Dheeraj Ranjan Kumarr, Founder, Balitrip Wisata & Group Principal, DMC Hub, highlighted margin pressures despite strong summer demand, with profitability shrinking by 3–5% compared to last year. He attributed this to rising airfares and aggressive OTA pricing. “This summer, while demand remains strong, margins have come under noticeable pressure compared to last year. On average, we are seeing a contraction of around 3–5%, driven by elevated airfares and aggressive OTA pricing. This is pushing serious players towards value-based selling, curated experiences, controlled inventory, and direct contracting to protect margins while maintaining service quality,” he said.
Janice Alyosius is a travel and MICE journalist focusing on business travel, destination marketing, aviation and industry policy. She leads editorial content at MICEtalk and also writes for TravTalk, covering global trends, trade developments and key industry conversations. With regular reporting from tourism forums, conventions and on-ground industry events, her work blends news-led analysis with strong industry voices, offering clear context and relevance for travel trade professionals and decision-makers.