Five Technological Innovations Transforming the Tourism Industry

Tourism and travel has been an integral part of human culture and tradition for thousands of years. The travel experience has not been static though. As mankind makes advances in all spheres of life, the tourism industry has had to evolve to stay on top of ever changing expectations.

Today’s generation is the most tech savvy in history and expects their travel experience to leverage technology. The following are some of the most defining tech-based innovations that are changing how people experience travel.

1.   Sharing Economy
Perhaps the most disruptive development in travel has been the sharing economy. The one brand that best represents this revolution is Airbnb. Valued at US$31 billion, the startup serves as a broker between travelers and a wide range of short-term accommodation providers. Other players in this space include Couchsurfing, Wimdu, Vayable, Knox and Feastly.

The shared economy has considerably reduced costs and made the traveler’s experience more authentic. It has proved effective at pulling people away from notorious tourist traps and allowing them to better immerse themselves in the host community.

As would be expected of anything that introduces a new way of doing things, there are still a number of regulatory concerns around the shared economy model. What is not in doubt though is that it’s here to stay. Airbnb alone has more than 150 million users.

2.   Luggage Tracking
Whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, one of your biggest worries will always be the possibility of losing your luggage. It can make the difference between having a fun productive time and getting bogged down in frustration and helplessness you would want to quickly forget.

Fortunately, new ideas on the luggage tracking front are minimizing the likelihood of misplacement and loss. It was only a matter of time before someone came up with smart suitcases that took advantage of the ubiquity of smartphones.

Some airports and airlines are embedding RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips on traditional bar-code luggage tags to improve tracking capability. The chips store detailed travel information and need only be in close proximity to radio scanners for the bag’s progress to be tracked and recorded. Travelers can then use their airline’s app to monitor luggage.

3.   In-Flight Connectivity
You can access the internet from nearly anywhere. It therefore didn’t even make sense in the first place that in-flight internet was frowned upon. Times have changed with in-flight Wi-Fi now a reality.

Access to the web when flying has made it possible for people to keep in constant communication with family, friends, work colleagues and business associates. While it is not free, it has created a choice that wasn’t widely available just a few years ago.

Recognizing that the benefits of Wi-Fi will not be fully realized if there’s no power source to keep laptops, tablets and smartphones charged, many airlines have installed electrical outlets. That means a passenger can browse the web throughout the flight and still arrive at their destination with their device fully charged.

4.   Do It Yourself
Today, it is possible to travel with little to no conversation with airport staff. Thanks to the automation of various processes, navigating airports is much easier than before. You can book your flight online, access the boarding pass on your phone, check in unassisted and use automated clearance gates.

Such automation will have greatest appeal among technophiles. There’s still a significant portion of tourists that prefer the old ways. That’s why airports retain gate and security staff to ensure all travelers have a seamless experience.

5.   Online Guides
Lonely Planet guidebooks used to be one of a tourist’s most treasured possessions. Those days are long gone thanks to a plethora of travel portals and crowdsourcing websites. These sites provide fresh reviews and advice on tours, restaurants and hotels.

There are a number of established players in this space such as Priceline, Expedia and TripAdvisor. Newer sites are defining a narrower niche. HotelTonight is focused on facilitating last minute hotel booking. AnyRoad allows tourists to directly connect with New York’s most reputable tour guides.

The above innovations have almost become the new normal. It’s hard to imagine they were virtually unheard of ten years ago. As tourist preferences become ever more sophisticated, we can expect more ideas that seem fringe now will make their way into the mainstream of travel.

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