How Technology Has Changed Travel
Technology continues to change every facet of modern living, including the way we travel, both locally and internationally, from airports and roads to our vacation destinations. According to a survey conducted by Google Travel Study, about 74 percent of travelers have planned their itineraries via the internet, with about 13 percent visiting travel agencies in person to make plans.
Technology has made planning for trips more comfortable and easier. Today, you are likely not to leave the comfort of your home to seek specific information about a travel destination. All it takes is to dedicate a few hours to browsing the internet, and the necessary information is right before you. When you need professional advice to make specific decisions, you can always contact and interact with travel agents online and ask questions.
Consequently, booking accommodations, flights, and rental cars has been substantially made easier by technology. One can easily find flight and accommodation options that are well aligned with the pocketbook in minutes. The mass adoption of mobile check-ins and e-tickets implies that travelers are not obligated to print their hotel reservations and plane tickets. This, in turn, reduces the burdens and bureaucracies of documentation.
Technology has also played a significant role in destination navigation. Before the advent of destination navigation technology, figuring out your destination in a strange country or city was an uphill task. Travelers often get lost in the process of asking for directions from passersby or strangers. Today, technologies like Google Maps help people easily navigate from the airport to their destinations while allowing family and friends to track one’s location remotely.
Technology is equally helping people to bridge communication barriers while they travel. In the past, it was an arduous task to communicate in the language of the locals. Some even had to take language classes or get language interpreters before traveling. However, with the introduction of language translating gadgets and apps, travelers can now easily translate hundreds of foreign languages.
For instance, Google Pixel Buds can help give a real-time translation of foreign languages when worn. In addition, Google Translator can be an invaluable tool for translating a foreign language. When traveling to a country or city with a different language, apps like Duolingo and Babble can also assist with interpretation.
Virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa have been significant technology introductions. More specifically, they help people living with disabilities navigate through their devices and have a relatively seamless travel experience. For example, they assist in turning on the radio, making calls remotely, or determining the weather. Additionally IBM has introduced an AI-powered virtual assistant that hotels might use to help customers achieve a personalized experience.
Finally, the Internet of Things (IoT) appears to be the future of modern tourism, integrating sensors to connect buildings, suitcases, cars, trucks, etc. due to the arrival of 5G networks. Travelers can now purchase luggage with devices that allow them to follow or track their suitcases’ movement in airports or other public spaces. According to the Hotel Technology Institute of Spain, IoT will be responsible for a large-scale personalization of customers’ experiences in the next few years. In this vein, the Virgin Hotel chain has introduced a smartphone app that gives guests the ability to control the television or room temperature.
