Anglo-French Travel charts global expansion with China XPress

Anglo-French Travel (AFT), a leading provider of corporate and leisure travel services in Singapore and the region, is charting an aggressive global growth plan since becoming a unit of China XPress Group.

This follows the acquisition of a majority stake of 60 per cent in AFT by China XPress, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed China Credit Holdings, in October last year. The remaining 40 per cent of AFT is retained by its Chairman and CEO, Mr Lee Liat Cheng.

AFT also plans to sign an MOU with Beijing-based, China Diaoyutai International Travel Service, that will give AFT the rights to process China Visa applications on a worldwide basis.

“Our vision is to establish our brands as globally-recognized names in integrated travel services with value-added products and services not available anywhere else. Through our strategic partnership with China XPress we will be able to leverage on our core strengths, expertise and market presence to offer synergistic advantages to our customers anywhere in the world,” said Mr Lee.

Since October last year, the two companies have been working on a growth plan which leverages on their respective strengths: China XPress in the banking, card and travel-related business and AFT in corporate and leisure travel services.

“As the corporate and leisure travel market becomes increasingly discerning and travel-savvy, what we are offering is a professional 'one-stop shopping' concept which will provide a comprehensive suite of branded products and services which customers can enjoy. Through AFT we have already began to establish a robust presence in Singapore which will also be our base to reach out to the Asia Pacific region and beyond.” said Mr Chan Heng Fai, Chairman of China Credit Holdings, the parent company of China XPress. 

AFT is expanding its presence in Singapore, its home turf, with the setting up of Anglo-French Holidays (AFH) to penetrate the fast-growing leisure travel market. AFH has set up two additional outlets, one in Chinatown and the other in Orchard Road and is targeting to expand to a total of five stores as well as 10 to 20 franchise stores in strategic locations all over Singapore in the coming months.

In Hong Kong, AFT has set up Hong Kong XPress Travel which will become its Hong Kong-based tour operator. Hong Kong XPress Travel will set up four to five retail tour offices in Hong Kong with plans to operate 10 to 20 franchise stores throughout Hong Kong.

In Japan, AFT has acquired a controlling 60 per cent stake in JCA International, a Tokyo-and-Osaka-based airline ticket consolidator for Air China and China Eastern Airline, which services more than 300 sub-agents in the business.

As with Hong Kong XPress Travel, JCA will handle inbound and outbound tours to/from China XPress group of companies and those of AFT on a global basis.

AFT is also in the process of establishing presence in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, China and Europe.