Didi Chuxing invests $7 million to launch travel agency

Didi Chuxing, the biggest ride-sharing platform in China, has invested $7 million in starting an international travel agency based in Beijing, according to a report by ChinaTravelNews.

As per public information from company-data provider Qichacha, Beijing Jucai Dongli Technology (Jucai Tech), an associate company of Didi Chuxing, has invested RMB50 million ($7 million) to establish a new company called the Beijing Xiaoju International Travel Agency.

Xiaoju International Travel Agency will provide services covering domestic travel, inbound tours, tour information consultancy, tickets sales and others.

In fact, this is not the first time Didi has dipped its toes into tourism. In 2015, Didi had launched more than 50 tour itineraries in Beijing and Shenzhen after it started the Didi bus service.

Later in October 2016, Didi announced a strategic cooperation with Tripadvisor to further integrate smart transportation with tourism. The collaboration was similar to its ride-hailing service arrangements with airlines and hotels.

On July 17, 2018, Booking Holdings and Didi jointly announced they established strategic cooperation relationship, through which Booking invested $500 million in Didi.