In today’s world, the alliance between travel and technology has become inseparable. Technology is transforming the travel industry, making experiences easier to navigate, more efficient, and rewarding. With the digitalization of travel, numerous online platforms have entered the scene, providing full transparency and a wide range of options for booking flights, hotels, and transportation.
Local artist Cheng Peng Sia, 70, finds modern methods of travel planning convenient. He uses apps such as Flexibus and Agoda to make bus and hotel reservations. While traveling in Europe, Cheng was thrilled to find charging ports on local buses, saving him the worry of running out of phone battery. He was able to make all his travel bookings without the aid of a travel agent, although he faced challenges with language barriers.
The digital transformation of the travel industry has also catalyzed the rise of fintech options, allowing travelers to finance their trips through mobile payment apps, travel wallets, and prepaid travel cards. Businessman John Jacob, 55, finds travel cards and money apps convenient for managing finances and handling multiple currencies. He no longer has to carry cash and can easily check his balances from anywhere.
Travellers today crave personalized experiences. Travel apps analyze user preferences and behaviors to suggest tailored destinations, accommodations, activities, and dining options. Expedia and Airbnb are popular apps for finding tickets, accommodations, and activity ideas. ChatGPT, a language model, helps create rough itineraries quickly. Joanne Raj, 29, uses Google Maps, Instagram, and Yelp for navigation, recommendations, and inspiration.
However, some travelers face hiccups during their trips, such as unfavorable accommodations. Homestay and accommodation apps allow travelers to choose according to their required amenities. Travel platforms use advanced modeling and machine learning capabilities to tailor offers based on customers’ booking records and interests. AI also enables customer service teams to provide accurate answers to travel queries.
Furthermore, travel platforms can analyze schedule changes directly from airlines and convey this information to customers promptly. This builds upon the already established capabilities of travel platforms, offering end-to-end flight and hotel booking at users’ fingertips. Travel in the post-pandemic era has picked up, and people are more intentional about preparing for their trips.
Overall, technology has revolutionized the travel industry, providing convenience, personalization, and transparency to travelers worldwide.
