In August 2023, Buupass, Kenya’s travel platform, partnered with the award-winning fintech company GiftPesa. This holiday season, millions of Kenyans will benefit more from this partnership than ever. 

The companies will introduce digital travel vouchers, offering a more flexible and convenient way for Kenyans to manage and gift travel arrangements during the bustling holiday period. 

The holiday season in Kenya typically kicks off at the end of November, with families and friends travelling across the country. Buupass, known for simplifying travel bookings, has taken a significant step forward by integrating Gift Pesa’s digital voucher technology. This new feature lets users purchase and send travel tickets as digital gifts directly to recipients’ mobile phones. 

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“We’ve noticed a growing demand for digital solutions in the travel industry, especially during peak periods like the holiday season,” said Sonia Kabra, director and co-founder at Buupass. “This partnership with Gift Pesa enhances the travel experience for our customers, offering them a convenient way to send travel tickets as gifts and have a safety net for unconfirmed travel dates.” 

Unlike traditional paper vouchers that can expire or get lost, Gift Pesa vouchers are valid for 12 months and can be redeemed in parts at over 3,000 outlets across the country. This flexibility allows recipients to use the vouchers for multiple trips or select their preferred destination, making travel more accessible. 

A more straightforward benefit will be avoiding long queues at ticketing stations this festive season. Holiday travellers can walk into bus stations with their digital tickets and board without delay. 

This service, which has already been launched, will make it easier for families and friends to reunite during the holiday. Buupass users can purchase travel tickets and send them as digital vouchers stored on mobile devices for convenience. 

As Kenya continues to embrace mobile-first solutions, this partnership between Buupass and Gift Pesa signals a shift toward the future of travel bookings. The collaboration simplifies travel arrangements and aligns with the broader digitisation trend in Kenya’s fintech and transport sectors.