Africa’s N°1 hotel-booking website, Jovago.com has hit a new milestone by launching the Swahili language version of the website.
Jovago has announced yet a new and unique feature through incorporation of Kiswahili language on its website. The move is in alignment of the company’s objective in creating online convenience through easy and faster bookings. The adoption of the region’s lingua franca on the platform will offer over a hundred million Swahili speaking people with a user-friendly process.
The popularity of Swahili as a second language continues to increase supported by factors such as incorporation of the subject in school systems, media influence, regional commerce as well as growing numbers in immigration and overseas travel.
Commenting on the development, Cyrus Onyiego, country manager for Jovago-Kenya cited that, “the inclusion of local languages on the website actively supports a multicultural community in the region while reinforcing the company’s efforts in meeting the customer’s needs” He added that breaking language barriers is key in promoting both business and leisure in travel across the continent.
Jovago.com was originally created in English and French languages; with a demand for a more inclusive and accessible interface leading to the addition of three major Nigerian languages (Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba) thus granting a significant fraction of Africa’s most populous nation all-round access to the Jovago platform. These available translations are supported by the provision of customer support in local languages.
With the Swahili option now made available on the website, Africans native to Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda amongst others can have access to Jovago services in their local languages. In this bid to expand the reach on Africa and boost customer relations, plans are being made to include the Amharic language which is a major language of Africa’s 2nd most populous country – Ethiopia.
Jovago, has hit a new milestone with the unveiling of its local languages translation service in Nigeria
Jovago.com which features Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa translations offers users a chance to learn Nigerian local languages interactively and increases the ease with which hotel rooms are booked via the mobile app and website in three simple steps.
The company which marked its second year anniversary activities with the grand launch of its Android mobile application, ‘Hotels Booking’, in over 40 countries around the world, provides customers who visit the website the convenience of booking hotels in their native dialects at the click of a button.
Speaking on the success of the launch, Marek Zmyslowski, Managing Director, Jovago Nigeria said, “Our core mission at Jovago right now is to simplify the way customers use the internet to engage in online transactions which is why we are excited to introduce the local language translations. This way booking hotels becomes fun.”
With Nigeria recording 200-percent increase in internet users between 2009 and 2013, market observers are of the view that the full-scale introduction of easy-access facilities such as the local language translation service by Jovago across the country will drive the wider adoption of digital services.
A survey carried out by the group found that 92 per cent of Nigerians who booked hotel on Jovago were satisfied with the speed of the booking experience.
Click here to learn more about the Jovago.com Hotels Booking app
About Jovago
Jovago.com is an online hotel booking service with offices in Lagos (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya), Dakar (Senegal) founded by Africa Internet Group and has MTN and Millicom as its investors. Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 booking portal, facilitates the booking process for its users to provide them with the best hotel booking experience with fast, transparent and easy-to-use services. Jovago.com has over 20,000 local hotel listings across Africa and over 200,000 hotels around the world.
About Africa Internet Group
Africa Internet Group introduces and accelerates the online shift in Africa – for its people and its culture. It is committed to running successful and vibrant internet companies which boost the evolution of African online culture. AIG is the parent group of nine successful and fast-growing companies in more than 26 African countries, accounting for over 3,500 staff. AIG cares about entrepreneurship and brings together all the key elements required to build great companies: team, concept, technology and capital. Its network of companies includes JUMIA, Kaymu, Hellofood, Lamudi, Carmudi, Zando, Jovago, Lendico and Easy Taxi.
