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The growth of the travel industry is explained by the impact of mobile trends that make traveling more flexible and customized. Ordinary travelers have a lot more advantages than ten years ago. Keep reading to learn how mobile technology improved the way we travel
The travel industry has seen tremendous growth over the last decade. The number of international tourists is expected to reach 1.8 billion by the year 2030. This sharp increase in overseas travel is due to the rapid development of technology that now enables more people to move freely and visit places that were barely accessible before.
Today’s travelers are empowered with many tools that open up opportunities to travel to the farthest points on earth. Before going on an adventure, globetrotters dig through tons of information to decide on the best destination. Google says that about 88 percent of travelers are used to planning trips using mobile phones. A mobile phone is the number one device people choose to make inquiries about places they are keen on visiting. Smartphones have managed to integrate with all areas of life and can satisfy any needs that travelers typically have.
Since technology continues to increasingly invade our life, it also affects our decision making process. Below are described the key moments at which you tend to depend on mobile phones while arranging your trips.
I want to get away
Basically, your trip begins once you have got a burning desire to drop everything and leave for some beautiful place where nobody can bother you. At this point, you realize that a short vacation would help you a lot in stopping your stress and lightening your mood. You let yourself be captured with diverse ads from travel agencies that appear on the web now and then. This is a clear indication that your mind and body need a break. Based on Google statistical data, 37 percent of people think about vacations every month, but this figure is expected to increase substantially with regard to the hectic lifestyle that many folks have nowadays.
If you feel really positive about having a vacation soon, it is time to choose a travel destination. It is here where your mobile phone is of great use, especially if you have few travel ideas about where to go best. Though some individuals put their trust in brand commercials or prefer taking advice from friends and family, you should leave it to your phone that knows better what you would like to see next.
There are tons of travel mobile apps designed to help users detect their perfect destinations based on their preferences and expectations. If you are not ready to spend time downloading and testing travel apps, another good alternative is YouTube videos made by both travel-related channels and ordinary travelers. YouTube channels are much easier to navigate, and your search history typically allows identifying ideal recommendations that you would like to take.
One way or another, your smartphone is an effective tool for discovering the most attractive destinations that fall within your budget and fit your tastes.
Time to make a plan
After choosing the travel destination, many people start searching for accommodation and transport tickets. A lot of essential details should be clarified at this stage, such as hotel prices, flight schedules, and some additional costs that may arise while traveling.
What is amazing is that travelers still favor mobile phones over other digital devices that appear less user-friendly in search of information and communication with travel agents and tour operators. Google states that over 39 percent of voyagers book flights online with mobile phones, whereas 49 percent of voyagers employ mobile phones to make a hotel reservation. This affection for mobile phones is the main reason why all travel websites have already built their mobile versions. They aspire to reach out to all of their potential customers.
Let’s book it
Booking is a very exciting moment where travelers finally make their cherished trips come true. Here, however, people tend to use their laptops and computers that are viewed as more secure in committing transactions. In particular, over 46 percent of tourists opt for a desktop computer. Therefore, mobile phones are crucial in making a decision on travel, but everything involved with payment is done with computers or in person.
Can’t wait to travel
There is still time before the journey starts. People usually dream of their upcoming adventure or read about the sights and places of interest they will visit soon. Nevertheless, not many tourists carefully plan their vacations. According to Google statistics, 85 percent of tourists pick sightseeing attractions after arriving at the destination. They fall back on their mobile phones again to get information about the most popular and must-see places. Lots of voyagers fully rely on their mobile assistants and let them choose tourist spots to visit.
Mobile phones have made traveling more flexible and independent. More persons refrain from taking travel agency services and manage their journeys on their own. With a good internet connection and relevant apps, any trekker can easily go up without a guide and still get plenty of enjoyment from their travel experiences.
What app to choose?
The growth of mobile app development companies led to the saturation of the market with diverse travel mobile apps. Now, an average tourist is able to choose among hundreds of apps that are designed for trip planning and comfortable travel.
An ordinary traveler uses two or three mobile apps en route to research restaurants and local cafes and driving directions. There are four common classes of travel apps that many voyagers see as necessary in the journey.
Navigations apps
Navigation apps are a lifeline for those travelers who avoid talking to strangers and can’t stand wasting time during the trip. The Google Maps app is the most user-friendly and versatile when it comes to finding a route unmistakably and in no time. It houses a huge database on the most exciting showplaces, restaurants, and events that would please every traveler. However, if you need something more specific like information on the best driving options and alternate routes to bypass heavy traffic, Waze or Best for Siri would work perfectly for you. Both apps are paid-for, but traveling by car is always more costly in comparison with taking free walking tours around the city. Investing in a useful navigation app that protects you from unexpected road hazards is never a bad idea.
Booking apps
Booking apps cut down the hours you normally spend on finding the right accommodation that fits your budget. If you are only looking into different options, they will notify you of all the current offers that meet your demands. For example, Booking.com is the most popular app that gives access to over 1.5 million lodgings. You can read the previous customers’ reviews before renting a place to stay.
Booking apps are also of great use to travelers that search for low-cost air tickets. The Kiwi.com app, for example, provides amazing cheap flight options and promises to make up for each cancellation or delay you had to tolerate. Another major advantage of booking a flight with your smartphone is enhanced safety backed by encryption and strong authorization strategies that protect your confidential data securely.
Language apps
The knowledge of English is a carte blanche in many parts of the world. But if you are heading for the Orient or Latin America, it won’t be enough to feel at ease. Some countries have been slow in adopting the globalization trends and still value their local culture above all others. Language barriers can substantially degrade the quality of your vacation and travel experience. This is why you should have a good language app installed on your phone. In case you didn’t have time to learn a couple of basic phrases in the language of the country you are traveling to, you can always turn to translation and explain your needs clearly and distinctly.
Currency apps
Dealing with currency abroad may be tough for many travelers. Currency apps are designed to perform this function and recommended to those individuals who have difficulties in currency exchange. They will save you from mistakes and losses that take place because of false calculations.
What is the impact of mobile technology on the travel industry?
Many changes have taken place in the travel industry over the last decade. Today, the mobile phone is something more than just a device to take pictures or record videos while traveling. It is a mini-computer that helps solve lots of troubles that typically arise during the journey. Mobile technology has made travelers more educated and more independent of travel agencies. It takes less time to plan a vacation and more time to enjoy it because mobile phones do all the boring work that voyagers used to go through to reach their destinations.
If you are interested in a travel agency advertisement that popped up while you were hard at work, it is an omen you ought to go for a trip. Put off your work and let yourself take a brilliant vacation next week. Embark on a wonderful adventure and hunt for new enjoyable moments that you will be proud to tell!
About the Author:
Betty Lockwood is a journalist, blogger, mobile apps developer, fintech expert and caring mother. She writes about informational technologies, news in the video gaming world, traveling, yoga, and music events. Betty is also an editor-in-chief of Computools. Follow Betty on Twitter.