How will mobile technologies impact the travel industry?
The increasing dependency of people on mobile devices has shaped various industries, including the travel and leisure sectors. Travel Industry Wire featured a recent study by Expedia that explained how travellers consider their smartphones to be their ‘most indispensable’ travel companion. The research tied the result to how mobile devices improve the quality of travel.
“We have found that travelers are using mobile devices at every stage of the travel process, from researching and booking trips to capturing and sharing the travel experience,” said Aman Bhutani, president for Brand Expedia Group.
So how can mobile technology further enhance the travel industry in the near future?
Increased digital travel booking
Most airlines and even hotels have their own smartphone applications to cater to the growing demand of mobile users. eMarketer foresees a growth of 51.8% of digital travel booking coming from mobile devices alone in 2016, which is 43.8% higher than last year. Hotels, airlines, and online travel sites will be required to optimize their websites for mobile bookings to provide clients simpler and easier paths to purchasing trips via their smartphones.
Currently, only mobile devices with advanced features are able to maximize some of these travel tools for smartphones, given the limitation of some apps. However, mobile technologies (such as NFC) that was once only available on expensive handsets are now available for more affordable smartphones. As featured by O2, even premium devices that come with the most advanced features for booking flights and online payments are now included in the January sales, giving all types of travellers a chance to own one to help with the convenience of mobile travel booking. Thus, an expected increase in digital travel booking via handsets is expected in the first two quarters of 2016.
More connected travellers
Travellers are aware how important their handsets are to them, especially those who regularly venture out on business trips. It is expected that there will be an increase in the number of ‘connected travellers’ as more airlines include on-board Wi-Fi services to their packages. Most business travellers are taking advantage of this opportunity to continuously work while on the go. While the casual traveller tends to maximise their time by connecting to social media or news websites while in the air. However, the availability of the Internet on most airlines is still limited as it relies on ‘Wi-Fi services that use air-to-ground towers similar to cellphones.’
Cloud passport
Biometric passports are already being used in Australia, which stores personal details of travellers to make each flying experience effortless and quicker. Although, Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop wants to take it further by introducing virtual passports that are powered by cloud-stored data. Just like an electronic passport, it contains personal information about traveller, including their biometric data and a digital photo, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. They aim to cut down on the number of missing or stolen passports. With a clear end goal, analysts say the virtual passports have “the potential to go global.”
As new technologies are set to be launched on mobile devices, such as iris scanning and virtual reality technologies, the travel industry is also expected to see a positive impact. How do you think mobile tech will shape the future of the travel industry?
Exclusively written for NBTWorld
by TechnoGlobal