DIGITAL TRENDS IN TOURISM
With the importance of Digital Marketing in the modern age, tourism is an industry that has benefited greatly from ad spaces across social media platforms. However, there are great deal of Digital Trends beyond this that tourism has taken advantage of. Here are just a few.
Mobile Integration
The interconnected nature of modern living has permitted a great many advantages to those wishing to go travelling both abroad and within their own country. Mobile Phones offer a myriad of tools travellers might utilise. Google Maps for instance provides not only easily accessible routes to potential destinations, but even provides location information far more readily. Opening and closing times for businesses alongside with reviews, up-to-date information on where traffic is most and least congested, as well search options for specific needs (ie. where the closest shops and restaurants are).
The opportunity to call locations or book hotels online at the touch of a button means modern travelling is exponentially more accessible than it was pre-mobile phone. In addition, the interconnectedness to the world it provides creates a far safer and specialised travelling experience, leading to more tourism today than ever before.
Recognition Technology
Technology is used within tourist destinations (be they hotels, spa resorts or entertainment facilities) to create a safer and streamlined environment for tourists. Examples of this can be found in keycards for hotel rooms, credit card machines capable of providing access to a country’s currency, waterproof digital bracelets containing access codes to lockers at a beach, and more.
Internet of Things
The Internet of Things refers to an ease-of-access lifestyle in which all manners of everyday appliances are programmed to operate under your instruction. These can be found in hotel rooms where the light switches, automated curtains and heating arrangements are easily accessible and operable via mobile phone applications, providing an optimised and luxurious travel experience.
Online Personalisation
By creating personal profiles through online applications the travelling experience is able to not only cater to individual needs more effectively, but offers important feedback on individuals and business that is readily accessible. Relevant and insightful feedback has become akin to a form of currency through clout.
Resorts are additionally capable of providing personalised experiences for their occupants through profiling, and in return an online profile is capable of showcasing travel adventures to said resort, spurring others who may view said profile to vacation where they have, or at least encourage an individual to travel themselves.
