Ctrip, which is China’s largest online travel agency and the second largest travel agency in the world, has announced plans to open a customer service call centre in Edinburgh.
The move by the owner of Edinburgh-headquartered travel site Skyscanner will create up to 200 jobs over the next few years.
The Edinburgh call centre, which is due to open in the early part of next year, aims to provide a high-level customer service experience across time zones and languages.
While the call centre will be separate to Skyscanner, Ctrip will learn best practice from the flight comparison site’s experience in providing online service to customers from all over the world.
The company acquired Skyscanner in December 2016 for £1.4bn and the call centre will be its first outside its home market.
Ctrip director Coley Dale said: “Ctrip’s leadership team has visited Edinburgh several times since the acquisition of Skyscanner at the end of last year.
“It is clear to us that there is considerable talent in Scotland and the city makes an ideal base for Ctrip to open a dedicated call centre.
“While Chinese travellers continue to be the focus for Ctrip, we’re step by step investing in our services across the world.
“We’re excited to be building roots here in Edinburgh and will be recruiting at scale for our new office.”
The customer service office will be located in central Edinburgh and is set to open early 2018, with recruitment starting towards the end of 2017.
Those chosen to staff the centre, which could number up to 200, will undergo between one and a half and three months of training.
A number of Edinburgh call centre employees will also visit Ctrip’s Shanghai headquarters as part of an initiative to share skills and experience.
Managing director of Scottish Development International, Paul Lewis, said: “We are delighted Ctrip has chosen Edinburgh for its first call centre outside China.
“The company joins many international investors which recognise the strength of our skills base, competitive business environment and effective support network.
“We look forward to working with Ctrip to help deliver this significant investment and new jobs for Scotland.”