The travel business has been modified as a result of technological advancements. The emergence of technology is encouraging transformations in the travel and commercial industry, from client communication to online booking. With changing traveler expectations and behavior, technology has aided businesses in providing a wide range of immersive experiences. Different types of technology are being used by travel and commercial enterprise companies to improve client experience and other elements. Today, in this blog, we’ll discuss top travel tech trends.
So, let’s start with,
Why are travel apps gaining popularity?
Technology has ushered in a significant upheaval throughout industries, with the travel and tourism business being one of the most notable examples. Travel mobile app solutions are currently at an all-time high, with numerous companies expressing interest in establishing a travel booking app.
If your business is in the travel and tourism industry, it’s the best time to think about developing a mobile app focused on travel tech trends for your clients to get a competitive advantage over your competitors. If you’re still undecided about whether or not to pursue travel app development, consider the advantages of doing so and how convenient it has made things for consumers.
According to Businesswire, the global online travel market will reach US$ 1,463.98 billion in 2027, up from US$ 800.72 billion in 2021.
Also, let’s check some,
Advantages of Having Mobile Apps for Your Travel and Tourism Business
Well, there are many advantages to developing a travel app and beyond. A few of the advantages are mentioned below! So, have a look,
#1. Ensures easy booking
The travel solutions make bookings simple and allow users to plan, book, and manage their vacations from the comfort of their own home. In a matter of minutes, they may select their desired destinations, book and pay for tickets, make hotel reservations, book local cabs, and order meals. App users can also access travel itineraries to get a breakdown of their trip. The best part is that the booking amount is revealed upfront, allowing consumers to budget accordingly.
#2. Improves experience
Travel applications are used to book tickets online, make hotel reservations, find local attractions and restaurants, read reviews about a place, and more. Users can also view images and videos from the destination. They can look at those photos and videos to have a better idea of their destination, as well as keep informed in advance. This type of information can help users have a better travel experience.
#3. Enhances ROI
In the aggressive travel sector, a mobile app related to travel and tourism can increase visibility and build your brand. It’s a proven truth that businesses who use social media and local channels to increase their brand awareness and connect with their customers maximize their return on investment.
#4. Helps to acquire new customers
The travel and tourism business has seen a significant increase in competitiveness. When it comes to booking a trip, users have a lot of options. In this scenario, the discount factor is critical. There are apps that allow consumers to compare travel expenditures, so figure out how you can outperform your competitors when it comes to attracting new customers.
As you’ve seen, the benefits and reasons to develop a travel app; now, let’s move forward and talk about,
Top travel tech trends emerging in the travel & tourism industry!
As per the McKinsey Global Survey of administrators, the Covid-19 has expedited the digitalization of customers by three to four years. However, as one of the industries most affected by the Covid-19, the travel & tourism industry is likely to embrace digitalization more quickly than ever before, shedding its conservative reputation.
Let’s take a closer look at how technology is now being used in travel and tourism.
#1. Artificial Intelligence
AI is one the hottest travel tech trends. Operations that often require human intervention and a significant amount of time to master new skills can be automated, resulting in faster procedures, improved performance, and lower costs.
Without a question, this travel trends is one of the most promising technologies to strike the travel business, cutting away human capital and substituting it with artificial intelligence to simplify tasks for all industries. Chatbots, on the other side, have entered customer service, and are trained to fix minor situations that formerly required the intervention of a human. Chatbots can help with vacation planning, switching consumers to real-life agents when the conversation exceeds their skills and troubleshooting. Those that have implemented AI bots have created their own systems.
#2. AR & VR integration
Virtual Reality (VR) is a virtual environment in which a human may interact, whereas Augmented Reality (AR) adds digital components to the real world. These technologies have been increasingly popular in the travel & tourism industry as a means of addressing intangible services and mitigating the impact of Covid-19. In 2025, the augmented reality industry is estimated to reach a value of 198 billion US dollars, as per the reports by Statista. Even while travelers rely so much on online guest reviews, seeing the product and service before booking a stay is difficult and nearly impossible. Hotels may use VR and AR to attract new audiences and connect with new demands. Furthermore, considering the pandemic’s social distance norms, employing those technologies makes complete sense. Travelers are anticipated to remain cautious when booking once the limitations are released, which is why providing them with more credible information during the buying process can encourage them to complete their booking. The hospitality business recognized how those technologies may improve the guest experience on a different level, for example by giving an augmented reality menu.
#3. Online KYC
Online KYC services are now at the forefront of enlisting legitimate consumers in real-time while also storing and maintaining their data in order to combat fraud. Because the travel industry is also undergoing digitization and new travel trends are emerging, using online video KYC would be beneficial and will aid in the prevention of identity fraud and other financial crimes. Customers only need to follow the instructions provided by automated systems and KYC professionals in order to be confirmed before being onboarded. Furthermore, OCR technology eliminates the need for the human operator to manually extract information, as data is automatically extracted and entered into verification forms.
#4. Contactless payments
This is yet another one of the best travel tech trends. In travel & tourism industry, contactless payments are also becoming more popular. People stayed away from the actual card and cash exchanges during the pandemic, making it virtually a necessity. Holding a credit card – or another device such as a smartphone, watch, or key fob – near a card reader enables contactless payments. Instead than swiping a magnetic strip or entering a credit card into a machine, the user’s device talks with the reader using RFID technology.
#5. Virtual tours
Virtual tours allow potential visitors to get a feel for a region before making the trip. Virtual tours, which are not to be confused with virtual reality, are 360-degree images of rooms designed to give potential vacationers a sneak peek at holiday spots. This travel trend can help users avoid being disappointed when choosing a hotel.
In this travel tech trend, users can enjoy 360-degree virtual tours of the property’s villas on the website. This allows tourists to view the layout and amenities of rooms before making a reservation. Smartphones, tablets, and desktops can all be used to see these excursions.
#6. Big data
Because the travel industry is so large, it necessitates the collection of a large amount of client data. However, the information acquired is utilized to study the customer’s needs in order to increase personalization and attract new customers. For example, an airline firm can use big data technology to compare internal data such as seat occupancy rates with contextual information like holidays to estimate customer flow and demand.
#7. Wearable technology
Wearable technology is quickly becoming one of the most important innovations and travel tech trends of the time. Notwithstanding a slow start, travel and tourism organizations are gradually incorporating this technology into their operations to provide clients with a more personalized and integrated experience. The Walt Disney Company, for example, has implemented a wearable, customizable, RFID-enabled MagicBand that connects to the theme park infrastructure to cut wait times and track guests’ whereabouts and activities.
To sum up!
The travel industry’s operations will be dramatically reshaped in the near future as new technologies emerge. Aside from that, businesses must collaborate closely with regulatory authorities to develop a better set of standards and norms that will make the entire travel experience easy and secure. Technology advances in the travel business have transformed the industry in a positive way, providing audiences with a unique and unforgettable experience. It also ensures that the travel industry has a healthy and prosperous future. So, if you want to get started with travel app development, contact the best mobile app development company.
Read more: Travel Planner Mobile App Development Cost and Key Features