Tourism is one of the areas hardest hit by COVID-19. And that’s why this industry needs innovation the most to recover and attract customers.
Data from the Statista website reports that in 2020 the market size of the global tourism sector has decreased compared to the previous year, reaching 1.54 trillion US dollars.
Technology and travel are a great combination. Already, most of us plan our trips and trips using the Internet, social networks, and applications. A new generation of young people has significantly influenced the trend of connecting travel and technology.
The market is changing for them and is trying to provide more and more opportunities to use technology with travel. This article will look at what advances technology and digital media have made in tourism today.
1. Mobile technologies
It is the factor that most influenced the change in tourism. The mobile phone has become our leading assistant and part of our life. He is there when you need to select and confirm your accommodation reservation, get a code to scan tickets at the airport, choose the best restaurant on your trip, and so on.
Most travel and tourism companies are adapting their services and capabilities to better interact with their customers.
2. Augmented and virtual reality
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) is a good way for travel companies to show a visualization of the vacation to their client. With these technologies, it’s easy to imagine yourself onboard a cruise ship, see the view from your hotel room, or see all of the interactions at the resort.
Today you can “teleport” to the most remote corners of the world without getting up from the couch.
3. Blockchain technology
Today it is known that blockchain technology can significantly help in tourism and flights if it is used to uniquely identify tourists, as well as to make secure payments. This area in connection with tourism is still little studied. Still, it is already apparent that the prospect of such a collaboration is very beneficial to all participants in the process.
4. 5G technology
5g technology will undoubtedly have a good impact on travel: it promises much faster downloads, more comprehensive coverage, and more stable connections. It means that the link between smart devices will become more efficient, and we can genuinely enjoy the Internet of Things (IoT). In turn, this technology is essential for immersive tourism and the connection of virtual reality and tourism.
Forbes notes that the use 5G to help ensure security, quality control, customer follow-up, and after-sales service.
5. Virtual assistants
Virtual assistants have long been a part of our daily routine. Your smartphone or smart home system has artificial intelligence ready to answer your questions and help as much as possible.
The tourism industry has recognized the need for such assistants and has turned to virtual assistants that create interactive and personalized experiences for consumers. Moreover, the trend is so comprehensive that every hotel or travel business is trying to hire a dedicated development team, such as https://mlsdev.com/services/dedicated-development-team virtual assistant unique requirements.
To sum things up
In tourism today, more than ever, it is imperative to aim for a unique experience of serving customers and providing them with new, attractive options. In this regard, nothing will do more for you than combining the latest technologies and your tourism business.
The future is filled with different technologies that can make our work easier to focus on more important things, like how we can maximize our profits. The travel industry is going through tough times. Future technologies are coming to the rescue today to improve the user experience, attract new customers, and take the travel business to the next level.
Author’s bio: Anastasiia Lastovetska is a technology writer at MLSDev, a software development company that builds web & mobile app solutions from scratch. She researches the area of technology to create great content about app development, UX/UI design, tech & business consulting.