Japanese travel operator acquires tour package search startup Flocations

Online tour package marketplace Flocations has been acquired by Japan’s Venture Republic Group for an undisclosed amount. VRG also owns and operates travel sites Travel.jp and Hotel.jp. The acquisition allows the Japanese company to set foot in Southeast Asia, where Flocations is operating.

“Travel agencies still need a bit of time to get online in Southeast Asia, and having an experienced backer like VRG is perfect for Flocations to continue to offer its services [here],” Flocations co-founder Tudor Coman told Tech in Asia via email. The Singapore-based startup rose out of JFDI’s incubator program and Tech in Asia’s Startup Arena contest in 2012. It allows users to search for tour packages, working with over 80 tour and travel agencies in Singapore and Indonesia. According to the company, its searchable marketplace contains 6,000 tour packages that users can explore.

Flocations brings with it technology it has developed over the last three years, including its travel agency database and chat and booking platform for agencies. Co-founders Venkatraman Dhamodaran and Shaw Chian will join VRG and will remain with Flocations to drive the company forward. “We are very excited to work closely with Kei [Shibata, VRG CEO] and his team,” said Dhamodaran in a statement. “VRG has a very successful packages business in Japan and we can’t wait to build better travel products for the region together.”