Fast forward: the future of travel tech

Fast forward: the future of travel tech

In her article, Anita Isalska conducted a series of interviews with travel technology experts to understand where the travel industry will be in the near future, and what changes are to be expected.

The author explains how wearable technology is not suited for travellers yet, as its design is easy to recognise and travellers are often victims of thieves. However, wearable kits are becoming more discreet and there will be many options for travellers to choose from. In fact, this technology will also greatly help the traveller during the trip, especially with language barriers, as more devices will be able to directly translate any language, therefore allowing an easier conversation.

Bryan Young of G Adventures (one of Isalska’s interviewees) believes that trip planning will go live and that instead of searching for a destination for hours, travellers will be able to directly ask a local or someone who has visited the destination for his/her opinion.

Isalska then explains how drone technology is improving, and we will see more and more people travelling with a drone, as they are becoming smaller and more affordable. According to her research, we will see a replacement of selfie-sticks (which are already forbidden in touristic places such as Rome and Milano) by swarms of drones. It will be interesting to see how legislations will adapt with this trend, since drones may represent a threat for some countries, considering that in places like Paris, aviation is forbidden over the city.

The author discusses the fact that airline companies are testing new features to improve user experience, and some companies have already removed bulky back-seat screens and replaced them with streaming services directly available through the customer’s portable computer, tablet or smartphone. The superior screen quality of those devices means that back-seat screens won’t be missed. Furthermore, we will also witness an airport modernisation that will come with its pros and cons. Isalka explains how airports will be equipped with quiet intrusive systems, such as cameras that will be able to track travellers through the airport and will be linked to security scanners, allowing the traveller to walk through them without having to stop or remove clothes. Other changes will be more welcomed, like the ability to track ones luggage at all times during the journey. Eco-tourism also represents an important part of the IT development in tourism, as there are more and more apps that allow travellers to choose more sustainable services. For example, UNEP is an app that allows the traveller to calculate the level of emission his trip will produce, therefore allowing him to choose between the most sustainable options. Another important app is Maps.Me that allow travellers to download map that they can use offline, therefore drastically reducing paper consumption.

We found this article very relevant with our Digital Marketing course, as it clearly demonstrate how technology will become of crucial importance in the tourism industry, and how companies are adapting their offerings based on the evolving trends. Furthermore, we find it important for companies to understand the fast changing demand and how they can satisfy the needs and wants of their customers.

Although this article covers many aspect of the future of IT in the tourism industry, we believe that the author does not go too deep into every subject, and we would have preferred to have fewer aspects but that the remaining ones would be analysed more in details. However, this remains an important article to read for anyone wishing to have a better understanding of the future of IT in the travel industry.

Nicolo Farina & Lucas Daigle

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/fast-forward-the-future-of-travel-tech/40625c8c-8a11-5710-a052-1479d276e556