SoftBank-Backed Tourism App Klook Eyes Expansion in Europe

Japan is a popular travel destination, but planning visits to lesser-known sights can be hard for foreigners. Online booking isn’t always available on local websites, and information in English can be limited. That’s where Klook, a fast-growing global tourism app, comes in. Its offerings in Japan include tickets for everything from trains to museums to hot springs.   

The Hong Kong–based Klook, founded in 2014, is one of a growing number of companies—also including Airbnb’s Experiences division and TripAdvisor’s Viator—that focus on helping travelers book activities such as Broadway shows and scuba diving courses in places they visit. Klook said last month that it had raised $425 million from SoftBank’s Vision Fund and other investors in its most recent funding round. Backers also include Sequoia Capital China and Matrix Partners.