Omio has bagged $10 million in new investment as the travel booking platform puts Japan and Southeast Asia at the heart of its next phase of expansion.
Headquartered in Berlin, the booking platform combines flights, trains, buses, ferries and other modes of transport across 48 countries, enabling users to search travel options, compare prices and book within the one platform.
The latest investment comes from Singapore-based Granite-Integral. Omio will use the funding to expand its coverage across Japan and Southeast Asia, with the company’s Director of Business Operations and Strategy Florian Cointet calling these regions “key priorities” in the company’s international growth strategy.
“Omio launched in Japan earlier this year and already has the core foundations in place for international travellers, bringing together bookable transport options across Shinkansen bullet trains, regional rail, long-distance buses, domestic flights, ferries and National Japan Rail Passes in one platform,” Cointet told Zag Daily.
“The next phase is focused on expanding transport coverage and local partnerships to enhance the booking experience for international travellers. With this investment, Omio will further expand coverage, including more bus, train and ferry lines so travellers can search, compare and book more of Japan’s transport network in one place.”
Cointet said the company is targeting Japan’s most touristic areas to capture inbound travellers, with demand strongest on the Golden Route between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. He added that travellers are also diversifying into destinations beyond the major cities such as mountain regions, coastal communities and sacred routes.
Outside of Japan, Omio plans to use the funding to scale its presence across Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand, though Cointet declared no specifics.
Omio will also dedicate funds to its Singapore hub which serves as the company’s APAC regional headquarters. Opened last July, Cointet called the hub the company’s “global AI centre of excellence”, with the hub developing AI capabilities across the pre, during and post-booking experience.
The latest investment, Cointent said, will be used to continue developing and scaling these AI capabilities while accelerating Omio’s regional expansion, commercial and supply partnerships and recruitment across Asia.
