Once upon a time, if you wanted to travel somewhere, you had to make calls, write letters, and physically visit the travel agency of your choice. These days, thanks to technological advancements like laptops, smartphones, and tablets, researching and booking travel options from your own home has never been easier. As technology continues to transform the way we work and live our daily lives, many experts agree that it will continue to have an impact on the travel industry as well. In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at some of these advancements and how they\u2019re changing the way people travel both locally and internationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Impact of Technology on the Travel Industry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The digital revolution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Technology has changed the way people go about their everyday lives. This can be seen in how consumers search for, research, and book travel itineraries<\/a>. Back in 2001, 72% of leisure travellers did not use a travel agent or another service to make their booking. But by 2008, almost 40% of leisure travellers were using a third party to either help them with planning, or making their booking \u0336 with 10% making use of an online-only booking service like Expedia or Travelocity. The Internet is a major factor in this trend, as it\u2019s made it possible for customers to get information from all over the world without ever leaving home. And it\u2019s only continuing to grow: In 2013, 42% of leisure travellers said they used some sort of third party company to help plan their trips whether they are looking for Philippine long stay packages<\/a> or short-term tours around France, while 11% booked all aspects of their trip via these companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Customer loyalty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s no secret that millennial travellers are a huge force in today’s travel market<\/a>. These digital natives desire personalised, seamless experiences and constant connectivity. They want to make all decisions from their mobile device or laptop, which has opened up opportunities for innovative new technology like chatbots. Chatbots provide instant customer service 24\/7, which eliminates the problem many hotels have with staff not being available at certain hours due to off-peak times and limited staffing. This enhances customer loyalty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Customization<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Technology has played a pivotal role in the travel industry<\/a> for decades. From early advancements like talking devices and jets to help humans travel farther, to more recent innovations like Google Maps and Uber, travelling has never been easier. While technology has made it much easier to get from point A to point B, it\u2019s also changed how people do so. There are so many customisations available whether you are booking a car rental or a bus that it is making life much simpler for all travellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n