The world is constantly on the move. As per a World Tourism Organisation report, people have been travelling more than ever. Going by this report and many travel guides, it is estimated that almost 8.5 billion people will take close to 2 billion international trips by the year 2030. Travel industry has also been transforming constantly and has enhanced itself in many different aspects, all throughout the world from travelling by car to flying, from sustainability to technology. There are several next-generation technologies, including algorithms, the unseen force shaping our lives that are changing how we travel and how we perceive different mobility and transportation options. While we are travelling faster these days, fortunately we are also able to avail more comfortable and better quality accommodations, with the help of applications and tools that enable us to choose more wisely.
Here are some of the major technological changes that have impacted the travel industry.
Travelling has been made less time-consuming and more environment friendly through technology
If you’re willing to make use of technology, your travel can be entirely eco-friendly. Don’t know what that means? Here’s a beginner’s guide to an eco-friendly vacation. It’s only in the past that the only way you could travel was with a printed airline ticket, a printed hotel reservation and a printed boarding pass. All thanks to the e-tickets, mobile check-ins and online reservations, travel industry is saving huge amounts of paper, freeing people from the clutches of redundant documents. These online bookings and reservations are a huge timesaver as well as you no longer need to stand in a queue to get your ticket.
Technology has helped us break the language barriers
Not too long ago, you couldn’t do without a phrasebook for the language spoken in your destination country. Do you know that as per research 10% of adults don’t travel abroad because of language barriers? All that is rapidly becoming a thing of the past, all thanks to the smartphone applications like iTranslate or Google Translate that make interactions with the locals a breeze. So, if you’ve been contemplating some activities and tours in Italy, but are apprehensive about the language barrier, these apps will come to your rescue! Google’s Translate application even allows you to use the camera of your phone to translate different menus or signs in real time. Then there are other apps that help you learn and master a new language with great ease, without the need of spending a fortune on language classes.
Technology has transformed the way we book flights, rooms, avail hotel services or stay on top of happenings in a city
Many different airlines and hotels are already providing the messaging option to their clients, either through their own applications or through popular messaging apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. However, the real revolution has been brought about by the chat bots. They have evolved as the best travel companion for everyone. In fact, the millennials prefer chat bots over travel agents when planning their vacations. These chat bots enable an individual to interact with either artificial intelligence or an actual human through a chat interface. The AI powering these chat bots answers all the commonly asked questions instantly. And whenever a bot can’t handle a specific question, it transfers the handle to a real human agent immediately.