KKday lets tourists get up close and personal with whale sharks in the Philippines. Some tours can be booked the night before, a rarity in the industry. (Photo courtesy of KKday)

Taiwanese travel startup KKday gives local tours a global reach

Millennials drawn to last-minute bookings and on the ground tips

ERI SUGIURA, Nikkei staff writer

April 5, 2019 15:31 JST

TOKYO -- The travel industry isn't what it used to be. Budget airlines and websites like Expedia and Booking.com are disrupting old-fashioned agencies. Airbnb and other home-sharing services are giving hotels a run for their money. But these companies are only beginning to answer globe-trotters' most important question: what to do once they've reached their destination.

Taiwanese startup KKday is looking to beat the big players at this new game. Its app connects tourists with thousands of locally-run activities, whether it's skiing lessons in South Korea or swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines.