According to a recent Harvard statistics report, tourism is a 1.1 trillion dollar industry, accounting for over 10% of the world’s GDP. Those staggering figures prove that travel is an essential part of the global economy. What’s more, tourism is a major factor for millions of travelers every year.
As travel has such a significant impact on all walks of life, it’s important to stay current on the latest trends in travel technology. Read on about how AI, robotics and IT are changing the face of the travel industry today.
What is Travel Technology?
Travel technology is the use of information technology (IT), artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics to improve and streamline travel operations. Advanced technologies are employed in all aspects of the tourism industries, including the food and hospitality sectors. Ongoing improvements and sophistication in technology are constantly improving how employees, employers, and travelers are touring the world.
The primary focus of travel technology is to help people save time, save money and travel safely no matter what their destination might be. Furthermore, travel technology is geared to enhance customer experiences as well as give employees in the tourism workforce the power of better productivity.
Different Types of Travel Technologies Trending Today
It’s an undeniable fact that innovations in science and technology are changing the way the world lives, works, plays, and travels today. Here are a few latest trends in travel technology that are boosting safety for travelers and workers as well as ensuring more pleasurable travel experiences.
Virtual Reality: More and more, virtual reality (VR) is becoming a hot trend in tourism. VR is utilized in many ways. For instance, a travel agent can showcase exotic destinations to potential clients through a VR tour. This proves to be a great promotional tool for travel agents for their clients as they can sample their ideal trip or vacation without leaving the comfort of their homes. Essentially, it’s like a “try-before-you-buy” tactic that is gaining in popularity in the travel industry.
Robotics: The days when robots were only a concept in science fiction books and movies are over. Today, robotics is revolutionizing how the world travels. For example, airports are now starting to equip luggage handling agents with powered exoskeleton suits. These specialized robotic suits significantly increase the strength of manual workers while lifting boxes and crates that need to be loaded onto conveyors or on airplanes. This advancement in technology increases efficiency for all kinds of airline-related applications as well as reduces airport employee injuries caused by heavy lifting.
Contactless Travel Tech: Contactless payments and self-check-in got their start as a convenience option. However, with pandemic-related concerns, these options are becoming the ‘new norm’ in necessity. Travel tech for contactless payments and check-ins can be used via kiosks in the airport, or an app that is easily downloaded onto a smartphone. Whether for health concerns or for convenience, going contactless has streamlined the process of traveling for globetrotters and travel workers alike.
Recognition Technology: Digital fingerprinting, retinal scans or facial recognition is the new keycard of the modern age. Similar to contactless travel tech, recognition technology allows users access to hotel rooms, airport lounges, and other private areas through data recognition. In other words, recognition technology reduces human interaction in today’s era of virus concerns and the need for convenience. Furthermore, this travel technology has shown to be far more secure than standard keycards that are easier to hack than fortified recognition software.
Tech Wearables for Travel: Wearable technology isn’t a new trend, but the tourist industry is utilizing it to provide more effortless and enjoyable travel experiences. For example, some airlines and travelers are opting to flash their boarding passes from their wearable devices instead of fumbling through their phones for e-tickets or rummaging through carry-on bags for paper boarding passes. Furthermore, popular tourist destinations are starting to employ wearables to broaden travel experiences too. For instance, park-goers can use Disney’s Magic Band that allows them access to certain attractions and provides notifications about entertainment venues and much more.
How Technology Impacts Travel
Convenience and efficiency are just some of the advantages travel technology offers tourists and the travel industry. New technology also improves the overall experience of travel, by alerting tourists of upcoming events and all-access opportunities into deluxe accommodations. Furthermore, technology is essential in saving time and money while traveling. Most importantly, travel technology is pivotal for keeping you and others safe before, during, and after traveling.
