Travel technology has been reshaping the tourism industry by cutting costs, boosting operational effectiveness, and enhancing services and customer satisfaction.
Technology has ingrained itself into every aspect of our lives, fundamentally altering the way we work, shop, eat, and spend our free time. We can order food, buy home appliances, book supper, and much more with just a few quick taps on our smartphones. Even the travel sector has been impacted by ongoing technology advancements. Today, we can organise our entire trip, and book hotel rooms, flights, sightseeing tours, and other activities, all from a mobile device.
Technology has completely changed the way we travel, making our journeys more enjoyable and practical. What we currently refer to as travel technology is this significant transformation of the tourism sector. Let’s examine some of these statistics about the travel business and see how you may use them to your advantage.
Travel technology: What is it?
Simply put, travel technology is the use of technology to plan travel. It aids travel agencies in arranging a variety of travel-related services for their customers, such as booking hotel rooms, rental cars, and other flights and accommodations. Because of the computerised reservation systems (CRSs) provided by their hotel and airline partners, they can handle all travel-related duties swiftly. Each reservation system stores and provides access to the most recent information, allowing each travel agent to speed up communications with all required parties.
Travel technology enables customers to make internet reservations without using a travel agent, as well as automating payments and back-office duties for travel firms. The tourist industry is using travel technology with the aid of startups and tech-driven businesses. This has received warm approval.
What shifts have technology made in the tourism sector?
Travel automation is now possible thanks to technology, which makes it easier and more fun for both travellers and travel companies to organise trips. You may quickly and easily organise a trip and arrange for lodging, transportation, flights, and much more. Your mobile device is the ideal travelling companion, allowing you to carry your itinerary in the palm of your hand.
With technology like augmented reality, you can stay connected wherever you are, overcome language difficulties, and even streamline your packing process. You may create a unique experience for each journey that will be remembered forever.
The travel industry has undergone a change. The following are the top seven technological advancements for the travel sector:
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR):
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have also entered the travel sector because of all the opportunities they may offer. More companies are utilising technology to give consumers a virtual tour of a cruise ship stateroom or take them temporarily to the Great Wall of China. Alternatively, you can paddle across the Grand Canyon and take in its sights and sounds while doing so.
Mobile technology:
This is without a doubt the main character of the new ways of mobility. Today, we use our cell phones for a variety of purposes, including as a map, travel agency, top restaurant locator, and tour guide. It stands by our side during the entire purchasing procedure.
Internet of Things (IoT):
The Internet of Things is anticipated to have a significant impact on the tourism industry (IoT). They include Internet-connected sensors in a wide range of objects, including cars, luggage, structures, and more.
Blockchain technology:
Thanks to a technology called blockchain, the world as we know it is about to change. Despite mostly having to do with money, it also appears to have an impact on travel. Although there hasn’t been much testing, it may be helpful for locating travellers at the airport, assuring accuracy in visitor ratings, and enabling safe and straightforward payments.
Virtual assistants:
We are all familiar with the virtual assistants Alexa and Siri, who can respond to simple questions of ours. Hotels are now using this because virtual assistants explicitly designed for this environment have been introduced.
Businesses can use and adapt this open technology to their specific needs. Watson won’t be the name of the virtual assistant if this is done; the name will be decided by the hotel.
5G technology:
The power of travel technology increases with the help of 5G networks. They ensure far faster download and upload speeds, more excellent coverage, and more dependable connections. Beyond 20 times quicker content downloads than before, 5G gives us access to new technological advancements that 4G previously prevented. Smart device connections will be more effective as a result, and we’ll be able to start utilising the Internet of Things to its full potential (IoT). Thanks to technology, travellers will truly take the lead in their experiences; this is referred to as immersive tourism. In addition, augmented reality (AR) and 360-degree video will be employed and made more accessible.
Technology has aided in cost-cutting, boosting operational effectiveness, and enhancing services and customer satisfaction. A better reservation, guest service, and communication system will benefit both customers and businesses. The tourist and hospitality sectors have benefited from technological labour substitutions for costly human labour. In addition to lowering labour expenses, this helps to minimise customer service problems. The use of technology in the hospitality and tourist sectors has sped up business processes and made travel considerably more pleasant and effective. Technology benefits not only big chain hotels but also bed and breakfasts and other smaller businesses.
Also Read: Travelling and its impact on mental health
(Purbasha Palit is a student of Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University.)
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the author’s and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Partnersincrave.com. Unless otherwise noted, the author is writing in his/her personal capacity. They are not intended and should not be thought to represent official ideas, attitudes, or policies of any agency or institution.)
