Ross Veitch, CEO and Co-founder of Wego
Travel is becoming more dynamic, more digital, and increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, changing consumer expectations, and the rapid rise of new tourism hubs. As travellers across the Middle East and Asia-Pacific seek greater flexibility, personalisation, and confidence when planning their journeys, online travel platforms are evolving beyond simple price comparison to become intelligent travel companions. Travel Daily Media interviews, Ross Veitch, CEO and Co-founder of Wego, who shares the key traveller trends reshaping the industry, the growing role of AI, the importance of partnerships in enhancing religious tourism, and why Saudi Arabia continues to emerge as one of the world's most influential travel markets. He also shares his outlook on the future of travel technology and what will define the next generation of online travel platforms
Travel Daily Media (TDM): Wego has witnessed significant growth across the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions. What are the biggest shifts in traveller behaviour you've observed over the past 12 months, and how are they influencing Wego's product strategy?
Ross Veitch (RV): Over the past 12 months, we've seen travellers become more informed and more intentional in the way they plan and book trips. Price remains important, but it's increasingly balanced with convenience, flexibility, and confidence.
One of the trends has been shorter booking windows, particularly during periods of operational disruption, while demand for premium leisure and long-haul travel has remained healthy. Travellers are also placing greater emphasis on destinations with strong connectivity, seamless travel experiences, and good value.
Perhaps the most encouraging trend has been the resilience of Middle East travellers. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has continued to perform exceptionally well, both as a source market and a destination. This reflects the strength of domestic demand, growing international interest in the Kingdom, and the continued momentum created by Vision 2030. These behavioural shifts are shaping our product roadmap, reinforcing our investment in AI-powered discovery, smarter personalisation, and real-time information that helps travellers make confident decisions.
TDM: Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming travel planning and booking. How is Wego integrating AI into the customer journey, and where do you see the greatest opportunities for AI to improve travel experiences in the coming years?
RV: AI is fundamentally changing how travellers discover, plan, and book their journeys. At Wego, we're using AI to deliver more personalised recommendations, improve search relevance, and help travellers compare options more efficiently based on their preferences and budgets.
AI is also improving operational efficiency by helping us automate customer support, optimise search results, and respond more quickly during periods of high demand. As markets like Saudi Arabia continue to grow rapidly, AI will become even more important in helping travellers navigate an expanding range of destinations, experiences, and travel options. Looking ahead, we see AI evolving into a trusted travel companion that provides proactive recommendations, real-time guidance, and a more personalised journey from inspiration through to booking.
TDM: Religious tourism, particularly Umrah and Hajj travel, is becoming increasingly digitised. How do partnerships with government bodies and tourism authorities help Wego simplify the travel experience for pilgrims?
RV: Partnerships are central to creating a more seamless travel experience for pilgrims. By working closely with tourism authorities, airlines, and government entities, we can provide travellers with trusted information, integrated booking options, and a simpler planning experience. Bringing together flights, accommodation, and transport within a single platform helps reduce friction throughout the journey. Saudi Arabia's continued investment in digital transformation under Vision 2030 is redefining the travel experience for both religious and leisure visitors. As international interest in the Kingdom continues to grow, these collaborations will play an increasingly important role in making travel more accessible, efficient, and convenient.
TDM: Geopolitical tensions, airspace disruptions, and fluctuating airfares have created uncertainty for travellers across the region. How is Wego helping consumers navigate a more complex travel environment while maintaining confidence in their bookings?
RV: Periods of operational disruption reinforce the importance of timely information and flexibility. Our priority is to help travellers make informed decisions by providing real-time pricing, comprehensive travel options, and timely updates as airline schedules evolve. During recent disruptions, we also experienced significantly higher volumes of customer enquiries, and our customer service teams worked around the clock to assist travellers with itinerary changes and alternative booking options.
What has been particularly encouraging is the resilience we have seen across the region. As flight schedules have recovered, demand has returned quickly across key travel corridors. Saudi Arabia has continued to perform strongly throughout this period, reflecting both resilient domestic demand and sustained international interest in the destination. It demonstrates that while traveller behaviour may become more cautious in the short term, the underlying appetite for travel remains very strong.
TDM: The GCC travel market continues to outperform many global regions. Which destinations and travel segments are currently driving the strongest demand among Middle Eastern travellers, and what trends do you expect to shape 2027?
RV: The GCC continues to be one of the world's most dynamic travel markets, supported by expanding airline networks, strong consumer demand, and significant investment in tourism infrastructure. Saudi Arabia remains one of the region's standout success stories. We continue to see strong demand both from travellers visiting the Kingdom and from Saudi travellers exploring international destinations. Alongside Saudi, destinations such as Egypt, the UAE, Türkiye, and Thailand continue to generate strong interest across our platform.
Family travel, premium leisure, cultural tourism, and wellness experiences continue to perform well, while travellers increasingly seek authentic and personalised experiences. Looking towards 2027, we expect AI-driven personalisation, seamless digital experiences, and continued investment in tourism across the GCC to unlock even more opportunities. Saudi will remain one of the region's primary growth engines as its tourism ecosystem continues to expand and diversify.
TDM: As competition intensifies among online travel platforms, what do you believe will differentiate the next generation of travel companies: price, personalisation, loyalty, AI-powered services, or something else entirely?
RV: Price will always be important, but travellers increasingly expect much more than competitive pricing. The next generation of travel companies will be defined by trust, personalisation, and the ability to simplify increasingly complex travel decisions. AI will be an important enabler, helping deliver more relevant recommendations and better customer experiences, but technology alone won't be enough.
Deep local market expertise, strong partnerships, and the ability to understand evolving traveller behaviour will become even more valuable. We've seen this first-hand in Saudi Arabia, where understanding local demand patterns has enabled us to support one of the fastest-growing tourism markets in the world.
The companies that succeed will combine intelligent technology with regional expertise and strong partnerships to create experiences that are personalised, seamless, and genuinely valuable for travellers.
