GLOBAL tourism industry IT solutions provider Amadeus advised local travel agencies to start forging strategic partnerships with low-cost and secondary carriers to expand their menu of offerings and survive these tough economic times.

Peter Smith, Amadeus Asia-Pacific vice president for solutions, said low cost carriers have been the catalyst of change in the airline industry, which is now driven by cost and business necessities brought about by the international financial crisis.

With this, Smith said travel agencies should not limit their alliances with the national and full-service carriers.

“In addition to their partnerships with national and full-service carriers, travel agencies can work with low-cost carriers and secondary carriers to package and offer value deals to regional destinations,” Smith said. These alternative alliances, he added, will continue to make their businesses viable.

Amadeus started operating in the Philippines in 1997 and has since grew its clients to more than 2,000 travel agencies throughout the country.

Smith said local travel agencies should also work together with other tourism stakeholders in improving their propositions to their customers.

“If travel agencies work together with tourism bodies, industry associations and government organizations, they can create attractive joint promotions and packages that will boost travel volumes in the Philippines and create more business for everyone,” Smith said.

Smith also said Amadeus can provide travel agencies with the tools to compete with the current trend of airlines going online and having a direct channel to their customers.