The travel industry has changed dramatically, from the rise of air travel overtaking luxury yachts to travel agencies becoming a central part of your travel experience – the industry has reinvented itself. Technology has been a major factor in the travel landscape and those of us lucky enough to be able to afford to travel cannot miss how quickly it has happened. Here are some of the ways our technological revolution has changed the way we travel.
Book everything online
For centuries, it seems the only way to book your trip was through a travel agent in person or over the phone. The rise of the World Wide Web has meant that this entire process has gone completely online. However, since it took a while for the internet to reach the impressive speeds and handling we know and expect from it today, this move wasn't just automatic from the moment we were able to call. Plus, it was a while before people were as comfortable with online payments as they are today, especially for purchases as expensive as plane tickets and accommodation. Only after we've been able to maintain a stable connection and online payments do airlines, hotels, and comparison sites appear, allowing you to book and pay for your entire trip online. .
Personalized experiences
Before the internet age, booking travel and excursions meant booking a tour, through a travel agent or upon arrival in the country. His expertise and helpful advice comes primarily from travel guides printed and marketed to a wide range of tourists. With the Internet allowing for endless and constantly updated content, the focus in travel and tourism has shifted toward personalization. Travelers no longer just want to see the standard site, but to have unique experiences, or at least that seems to be the case. This has sparked a boom in travel blogs, apps, route trackers, and local guide information vlogs aimed at giving potential visitors the information they need to plan their perfect vacation. AirBnb experiences are a good example, AirBnb has taken its hosting model and adapted it for personalized and local experiences in each country. From making pasta in Italy to hiking in Cape Town, this digital platform makes it easy for travelers to find the 'unique' and immersive experience they're looking for.
safer money
This is a big problem, although traveling has always been expensive, it has never been easier to take your money with you and safely. The days of traveler's checks and bank transfers are long gone. Now you can simply log into your banking app and notify them that you are leaving the country. If you wish, they can activate your bank card to work abroad for an additional fee. If that sounds a bit expensive, there are many options, such as currency cards, which come pre-loaded with a fixed amount that can be withdrawn in another country. In the past, if you ran out of money and needed someone at home to help you, it was a real test. Now, transfers between accounts or sending money can be done in several ways, which can be reflected in hours, not days. Postcards can have a romantic vibe, but when they're the only way to contact those back home, it's easy to feel incredibly disconnected from loved ones. Telephones helped a bit, although international calls were always quite expensive. Now, with the rise of smartphones, it's sometimes even cheaper to use your phone in a country other than your home, depending on the price of data. While international roaming is always a no-no for South Africans, buying a foreign SIM card and loading data is straightforward and can often be done before you even leave the airport gates.
The weird and wonderful future
The COVID-19 pandemic has already forced the industry to adapt further, pushing technology into new areas, especially hygiene. This will undoubtedly lead to more changes for travelers in the future. Hotels are already aiming to invite guests with the latest tech gadgets like AI concierge robots and personalized travel experiences. As our lives shift towards apps, you won't need an entire laptop to complete even part of your journey. This is just the tip of the iceberg and we can't wait to see what happens next.