mobile app in travel and tourism

How Mobile Apps are Transforming the Travel and Tourism Industry

Booking hotels, flights, and local activities are becoming easier, more comfortable, and more exciting thanks to mobile apps, which are transforming the travel and tourism industry.

The travel and tourism industry is a massive global industry that encompasses all aspects of travel, including transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, and recreation. It is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in the world and has a significant impact on the global economy. With the advent of technology, the travel and tourism industry has seen massive growth and transformation, making travel easier and more accessible. 

This blog aims to explore the impact of mobile apps on the travel and tourism industry and how they are transforming the way we travel. We will look at the benefits of using mobile apps for travel, the challenges faced by the industry in adopting mobile apps, and some real-life examples of how mobile apps are changing the travel and tourism industry. So buckle up and join us on a journey to discover the wonders of mobile apps in the travel and tourism industry.

Table of Contents

Here is why travel apps have become so popular, the rise of travel apps.

Smartphones and tablets have revolutionized travel and contributed to the popularity of travel apps. With more affordable options for these devices becoming available, people are increasingly turning to travel apps to meet all their travel needs. Gone are the days of calling brick-and-mortar travel agencies, flipping through guidebooks, or using a compass to navigate a new place. Instead, travelers can now access the latest information and services through their mobile devices, no matter where they are.

Improving the Travel Experience 

Travel apps have become an indispensable tool for many travelers, offering a convenient way to book online tickets and hotels, find local attractions, and even share their travel experiences with others. With these apps, travelers can research their destination, get recommendations on local food and activities, and access information about buildings and monuments in a fun and engaging way. Some travel apps, such as Wikitude, even use augmented reality to overlay information and images onto the user’s camera view, providing an immersive experience.

The Marketing Power Of Apps

Apps have become a powerful marketing tool for travel companies looking to stand out in a competitive market. By embracing the SoLoMo trend of utilizing social, local, and mobile platforms, companies can increase their visibility and reach, leading to a higher return on investment (ROI). Apps like Groupon and Foursquare show how businesses can leverage social media to reach new audiences and build brand loyalty. With the ability to reach millions of users with a single click, travel companies can stay ahead of the curve and keep their competitive edge.

Expanding The Customer Base And Foster Loyalty

Travel companies can use apps to attract new customers by offering special promotions and discounts, such as first-time user discounts, seasonal deals, and cost-effective holiday packages. Offering loyalty programs and discounts on future bookings to repeat customers will keep them coming back and increase overall revenue. By providing a convenient and user-friendly platform, travel companies can use apps to reach new customers and nurture loyalty and ensure repeat business.

24/7 Direct Connection to Users Worldwide

Mobile apps provide a direct and constant channel for travel companies to connect with their users, even before, during, and after their travels. By analyzing user behavior and preferences through the app, companies can gain valuable insights into their customer’s needs and preferences and offer tailored holiday packages that meet their specific budgets and requirements. This information can also inform future marketing campaigns and help companies build a closer relationship with their customers. TripAdvisor is an excellent example of this approach, providing travelers with trusted information and feedback.

Streamlining Transactions & Reducing Costs

The use of mobile apps can streamline transactions and reduce paperwork, making the process of traveling more efficient and convenient. By storing electronic versions of travel documents, invoices, receipts, and tickets, businesses, and customers can reduce their reliance on paper and cut down on time and resources spent on administrative tasks. This saves time and money and provides peace of mind knowing that all important travel information is accessible from your phone or tablet.

Mobile Apps Bring The Travel World Right To Your Fingertips

Having a travel app on your phone means you have the world of travel at your fingertips. No more lugging around heavy guidebooks and maps. You can get maps, directions, and even last-minute route changes to unfamiliar destinations with geolocation-enabled services such as Google Maps and GPS. The latest and greatest invention in travel technology is wearable apps like the Triposo travel belt . Using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, you can link your smartphone to this handy device to find all the tourist attractions you should not miss. Not only that, some travel apps even offer a real-time view of the destinations you are browsing and the accommodations available there. Through Airbnb’s videos and pictures, you can review rentals and homestays anywhere in the world using its booking site.

Why Are Mobile Apps The Go-to Option For Travel?

• Fly High And Rest Easy: Mobile apps allow you to check and book flight tickets and hotels with a few taps. No more waiting in long lines or navigating through confusing websites!
• Trip Planner Extraordinaire: With travel apps, you can arrange accommodations, plan out activities and sightseeing tours, and even book travel packages across multiple destinations, all from your fingertips.
• Never Get Lost In The Sauce: These apps come equipped with tools that help you find nearby restaurants, hospitals, banks, and other essential services, ensuring a smooth and stress-free trip.
• One-stop Shop: From organizing your itinerary to booking activities and hotels, mobile apps have covered you. No more jumping from website to website; everything is just a tap away.
• Convenience On The Go: Whether you’re commuting, on a layover, or just lounging at home, mobile apps make it possible to plan and book your next trip with ease.

Examples of Mobile Apps Transforming the Travel and Tourism Industry 

Booking & accommodation apps.

This app has revolutionized the way we book accommodations while traveling. With a vast network of properties ranging from apartments to entire homes, Airbnb offers travelers the option to stay in unique and comfortable spaces. It allows travelers to choose their accommodations and location based on their preferences and budget.

Booking.com

This app has made it easy to find and book the perfect hotel, resort, or vacation rental. With a wide range of properties, Booking.com allows travelers to compare prices and select the best deal. From luxury to budget-friendly, Booking.com caters to all kinds of travelers, making it a go-to app for accommodation needs.

Transportation and Navigation Apps

This app has changed the way we travel from one place to another. With the touch of a button, travelers can book a ride from the comfort of their homes or hotel. Uber has become the go-to mode of transportation for millions of people worldwide, making it a must-have app for anyone traveling.

Google Maps

This app has revolutionized the way we navigate new places. With its accurate turn-by-turn directions and real-time traffic updates, Google Maps has made it easy for travelers to reach their destination without getting lost. It’s a lifesaver for those new to a city or country, providing them with the information they need to get around quickly.

Travel Planning and Experience Apps

Tripadvisor .

This app has made it easier for travelers to plan and experience their trips. With its vast database of travel information and user reviews, TripAdvisor provides travelers with the insights they need to make informed decisions about their travel plans. From finding the best restaurants to the must-visit tourist attractions, TripAdvisor has everything travelers need to make their trip memorable.

This app is a game-changer for budget-conscious travelers. Hopper uses sophisticated algorithms to predict the prices of flights and helps travelers find the best deals. With Hopper, travelers can save money on their trips and experience more for less. Hopper makes travel more affordable and convenient, from planning to booking.

Challenges Faced By The Travel & Tourism Industry In Adopting Mobile Apps 

Data privacy and security concerns.

One of the major challenges the travel and tourism industry faces in adopting mobile apps is the concern for data privacy and security. With the increasing number of hackers and cyber attacks, it becomes imperative for travel companies to ensure that their customer’s sensitive information is protected. Companies must take proper measures to prevent unauthorized access, data theft, and cyber-attacks.

Integration with Traditional Systems

Another challenge is integrating mobile apps with traditional systems. Many travel and tourism companies still rely on legacy systems that may not be compatible with modern technology. This makes it difficult for them to adopt mobile apps smoothly, and there can be technical glitches in integrating the two systems.

Competition From Established Players

The travel and tourism industry is highly competitive, and established players have been in the market for a long time. These established players have a vast customer base and already have their own mobile apps offering various services. It is difficult for new entrants to compete with established players, as they already have a solid online presence. To overcome this challenge, new entrants need to find unique ways to differentiate themselves from the established players and provide customers with value-added services that the established players do not offer.

Get Your Travel App Idea Rolling with ultroNeous

After covid-19 pandemic, people are eager to return to the road domestically and internationally. However, how people use travel services has changed dramatically, with a growing number of bookings and plans being made online. Everything is done through the digital medium, from ordering tickets and cabs to booking hotels and exchanging currency.

For businesses providing services to the tourism industry, having a strong web presence and a mobile app is no longer a luxury but a necessity. This is where ultroNeous comes in, understanding the needs of travelers who want to stay connected to their habits and routines while on the road. Contact us, and we will be the perfect partner for you to develop a travel app that meets your customers’ needs and maximize your profits. 🚀

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Category: Travel

Date: December 18, 2023

11 Must Have Mobile App Features for Travel and Tourism Industry

Today, mobile applications play an important role in every industry, and travel is no exception.

According to a recent study by eMarketer, travel-based mobile applications are the 7th most downloadable category and 60% of smartphone users prefer using travel applications for planning their leisure tours.

So, travel mobile applications must have a better UI/UX design with certain important features. We have researched and compiled some essential features for a travel application. Let’s take a look at them.

1. Travel Itinerary Generator

Travel itinerary generator is one of the most demanding features in the travel industry . This feature helps users to create a complete travel plan by just adding the location they want to visit.

With this feature, admin can add existing tourist attractions or even add custom landmarks to generate a tour plan for users accordingly. Adding such a complex algorithm feature may sound difficult. Therefore, you need to get the help of professional travel app developers.

Site : Travel Itinerary

2. Geo-Tracking Services

The integration of GPS based location service is one of the important features of travel application development. Tracking services can lock the current location of users and quickly fetch the nearest results. By including this feature you can offer all kinds of services a tourist can avail on a trip.

Additional Information in this Video

GPS Driving Route by VirtualMaze – https://youtu.be/jasXM6Z5dOM

Site : Virtual Maze

3. Weather or Climate Forecasting

Most of the tourists’ book flights and may end up in a plan change due to climate changes. To prevent such situations travel mobile applications with real-time climate forecasting feature can alert the travelers. While creating a travel itinerary, tourists can see the upcoming weather predictions and plan their trip accordingly.

4. In-App Language Translator

An in-app language translator is one of the tricky features to implement in your travel application. In most of the cases, tourist people are not familiar with the regional language of places that they would like to visit. Including this feature can enhance user-experience and let travelers scan texts for visual translation, translate voice, and text messages as well.

5. Currency Rate Converter

Currency converter is one of the essential travel application features. Tourist people suffer a lot while exchanging their currencies. Including this feature can help tourists to know the currency exchange rates. It can also track the current and past variations in currency rates.

Currency Converter App – https://youtu.be/UYbXTgXF6XE

6. World Clock Time Converter

Including a world clock time converter in your travel application is important because of the crossing time zones. This feature can clear a lot of confusion among tourists and will not let them search for any other time converting applications. Users may find this feature very useful as it calculates the correct clock times for different time zones across the world.

World Clock – Time Converter – https://youtu.be/I1jCd5rlgwk

7. Location-Based Emergency Services

Location-based emergency service is an important feature that can allow users to contact emergency services irrespective of time and place. The application developer should include the phone number and services based on the categorization of location. This will allow users to get a nearby service.

8. App Service Integration

Vehicle services are one of the essential parts of tourist applications. Every user requires transport service while moving from their destination to hotels or famous tourist places they wish to. If you hire a professional travel app development company they will definitely integrate cab services as it is the base of any travel application.

9. Integrated Social Feed/ Messaging Service

Social media integration plays a major role in application development. Real-time social media integrations will let tourists interact with their friends and followings by sharing their experiences. This will spread as a word of mouth among users and their friends.

10. Trip Reviews from Other Travelers

An application with a review system can gain a viral fan following on offering the best services. By including this feature you can allow users to review a place and share their experience with other travelers. It creates awareness and helps to improve the services of hotels, cafes, and many other businesses.

11. Washroom Finder

Finding restrooms in case of emergency is the basic requirement of travelers. Many travelers might have faced this situation and suffered through it. While developing a travel application, this feature might be a key offering to travelers.

Drive Conversions and Boost your Business with Expert Travel Website Development.

Bottom line.

The mobile application industry offers lots of applications, but building an application that actually holds a high potential for revenue generation and monetizing is challenging.

In our blog, we have provided all the necessary information you need to know. Leverage the expertise of an experienced mobile application development agency, to tap into unexplored opportunities.

If you would like to get assistance from a professional application development agency, you can reach us . At ColorWhistle , we have dedicated developers who have built many successful applications.

Which is your favorite feature? Do share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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How Mobile Apps are transforming Travel Industry in 2024

Ever since the inception of the Internet, businesses all around the world have been transforming. This has become possible by leaving traditional ways behind and adopting the digital era. Similarly, everyone is aware that mobile apps are transforming travel industry during 2024.

Meanwhile, smartphones came into existence, and people have started embracing on-demand applications. There has been a sudden change in most of the industries across the globe. Travel industry is no exception from this revolution, and due to ever-growing demand for better services, companies need to adapt.

Nowadays, multi-billion-dollar travel companies are ruling the industry. However, even small businesses aren’t far behind them and starting to invest in on-demand applications. Speaking of 2024, more and more travel agencies are realizing that they are the future.

Today we are going to discuss with you the ways mobile apps are transforming travel industry amid 2024. We are bringing to you this content to explain the importance of mobile applications and development for travel and tourism.

On-demand Apps Trends triggering Innovation for Travel

Take notice that on-demand travel planning apps are one of the topmost downloaded on-demand apps. Firstly, we focus on how the mobile apps changed the way we do travel today. This also involves taking care of pre-tour tasks such as booking a cab or planning a tour.

Customer is King

Choice of youth, personalized experience, social media relationships, 4g & 5g connectivity.

Let’s deliberate in detail over the manners innovative on-demand mobile apps are transforming travel & tourism industry world over.

Nowadays, travelers are more than ever aware of the better traveling services they can get by simply searching the Internet. Thanks to increasing choice of options, consumers are no longer dependent upon their area travel agent to plan their tour. Now the customer is the new king and better services are the new core of the travel industry.

In addition to this, word of mouth very much buzzes in the travel sector. Thanks to social media, users are first checking the reviews of influencers and then making the booking. So, travel companies need to check the pulse of customers, and then offer services accordingly.

More and more youngsters and middle age customers are embracing on-demand mobile apps. It can be said that mobile app technology has become more like a fulcrum in the lives of millennials.

They are constantly dependent on using new apps for various reasons such as social media, online shopping, and travel booking. The customer group that is hitting their mid-30s by 2024 will form a panoply in the travel business world.

Travel companies focus on targeting customers using customized services; special promotions such as discounted offers, deals, and coupons. All of these perks are offered on websites and mobile apps. Thanks to on-demand applications, travel companies gather customer data that allows them to tailor their services based on customer behavior.

These days, many travel companies are investing in machine learning powered applications like chatbot to provide automated personalized customer service. These personalized services perform integrated tasks for tourism businesses, and also provide pleasure elements for travelers. As a result, this is helping vacation leisure companies offer better services and get ahead of their competition.

No one can deny the fact that the social media phenomenon is growing so fast and impacting the business world. Being optimistic, we can say that social networking will continue to impact more and more offline social relationships with businesses. Likewise, travel industry is going to boom with social media and community networks.

There is another use case of social networking when it comes to travel. People like to share their traveling experiences with friends, family and the world. Apart from general social media services, several travel networking apps have come to the fore.

Similarly, travel-goers also like to share their photos and videos through a special purpose travel social app . This also helps them in preserving the memories of their travel experiences.

If the growing innovation in mobile apps wasn’t enough to shake the travel industry, 4G technology did the deed. Since its inception, many tech giants predicted that 4G will be the mainstream technology by 2024. They forecast that 4G will lead to almost never-ending new users of mobile communications worldwide.

These predictions were perfect and 4G did change the broadband cellular networks and world. Today in 2024 daily new users are coming on the ultra-speed mobile networks. Progress in the internet bandwidth has opened door to many possibilities.

Move forward to 5G and we are set for an information revolution thanks to high-speed internet connectivity. So, these new users are expecting and asking for better services from every industry including the travel industry. 4G and 5G has brought many business growth opportunities globally.

Creating lasting impression on Travelers with Mobile Apps

Talking of 2024, mobile apps are transforming travel and tourism industry for the greater good of travel-aholics. Given below are the benefits of travel apps for both tourists and businesses.

Know your Customers

Enhanced communication, going paperless, seamless interconnection, increasing payment options.

We now discuss these advantages of travel mobile apps for sightseers and holiday vacation businesses both.

Travel industries are using advanced AI and machine learning to gather data about their users’ preferences. Once they have enough data according to the user, they can show tours that compel the user to make bookings. Moreover, other futuristic technologies like IoT , IoE , AR & VR are revolutionizing the travel experience amidst 2024.

The real challenge that travel companies face is to get their customers speak about their experience. Travel agencies use social media integration to encourage them to talk and continue their conversations before, during, and after. This helps travelers even after the trip is over, their bags are unpacked and they are back to routine life.

These conversations encourage new users to pursue their passion and the same traveling experience. Mobile apps facilitate travel operators to announce new offers, deals, packages, discounts directly to their users. Furthermore, chat apps enable the customers to stay in touch with the travel service providers in case of any inconvenience.

Another benefit of mobile apps for travel companies is that they provide real-time user feedback. Travel applications have become the unseen yet direct channels that foster customer relations. Additionally, travel apps allow the tour operators to potentially expand their customer base.

Remember the time when you had to carry a separate bag for the documentations, book proof, and your identification documents. Well, this is not the case anymore. Today, customers can carry all of these things inside their travel app.

Also, you can bundle more items in the travel app like the map, travel expense calculator and even cash. These conveniences enable users to enjoy their tour to its fullest. So, your business travels and corporate voyages are converting into official retreats.

If you own travel business, then consider this. Have you ever asked your customer after their tour has ended to inquire about their experience? These small things show that you care about your consumers.

As well as if they had any inconvenience during their travel then they can come to you. It is always better to increase the “white noise” that wheels the travel companies’ business.

Moreover, this after service support helps you establish long lasting relationships with users. They will like to become repeat customers, and so you again get chance to make them travel through your company.

Over the years, online payment gateways have slowly changed the way we make payments. Nowadays, people are carrying way less cash with themselves. Physical wallets are getting replaced by credit/debit cards and digital wallets.

In addition to this, new emerging security techniques are making mobile payments more and more secure. Now you can use 3D scan, fingerprints, as well as OTP to make payment and reduce the risk of fraud. Services like Apple Pay and Google Pay are available in tens of countries and are a great step toward this.

Integrated payment gateways in mobile apps and websites are allowing customers to make more seamless payments. Even in many developing countries mobile wallets have become daily use thing and have substituted the physical wallets and purses. Visa Contactless, Mastercard Contactless and ExpressPay by American Express are also a few of the main payment gateways in USA.

Now coming back to the topic, the travel industry saw this trend and found an opportunity in this. They are utilizing this cashless trend to facilitate travelers using digital wallet or credit card. They provide more discounts, offers, and coupons to customers doing digital payments.

Cashless digital payments are another step towards gathering traveler data for businesses’ purposes. This is termed as the “digital breadcrumbs” by Amadeus. The record of “who, when and where” will augment the process of customer profiling and communication.

This data will fuel the next decade and we will see the rise of a “knowledge economy”. The customers will be archiving more data, that will be used by travel businesses. So, this data will permit travel companies to use these “digital breadcrumbs” to maintain their competitive edge.

We are living on the edge of a change that will impact the whole travel industry. Those of us who will adapt to this change will come out as the leading travel companies and those who do not will be left behind. The travel world is going to be all-digital, cashless, and highly personal.

Mobile applications have become as well as will remain a ubiquitous travel companion in the near future. On a practical basis, mobile apps are helping travelers to find their surroundings, and experience their tour to its fullest.

There is no way that mobile applications will fad anytime soon. Rather they are the future of the travel business. However, there is bad news for businesses that do not adapt, they may go out of the business. Or at least they may receive heavy losses in running travel operations.

In contrast, the good news is that businesses that embrace this new technology, will surely emerge as prominent travel companies. Thanks to on-demand travel applications, they will remain ahead of the competitors during 2024 and in future. Thus, it is not too late for you to invest in the travel mobile apps.

Are you looking to create a hi-tech travel app to aid tourists? Here at Techliance, we provide innovative travel solutions in the form of mobile apps and responsive websites for tourism companies. We have partnered with leading travel and tours operators in United States to help them become successful in the industry.

Contact us today to build on-demand tourism EPR solutions, interactive leisure websites and travel apps now. Empower users by turning travel mobile booking just a tap away.

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The power of the visitor mobile app for tourism organisations

In an era where digital transformation is reshaping every sector, the tourism industry stands at the forefront of adopting innovative technologies to enhance the visitor experience and operational efficiencies. Visitor mobile apps have emerged as a pivotal tool in this digital revolution, offering an array of benefits to both tourism bodies and their attraction members. In this blog we delve into the multifaceted advantages of deploying visitor mobile apps to showcase their transformative potential in the tourism sector. Introduction to Visitor Mobile Apps in Tourism Visitor mobile apps serve as digital gateways that connect tourists with both attractions and destinations, offering a seamless integration of information, services, and experiences. These apps represent more than just digital brochures; they are interactive platforms that engage users with personalised content, real-time updates, and a suite of features designed to enhance every aspect of the travel experience. From interactive navigational maps and augmented trails and tours to instant booking capabilities and social sharing functions, visitor mobile apps encapsulate the essence of modern tourism. Enhancing Visitor Experience through Personalisation and Interactivity The cornerstone of a successful visitor mobile app lies in its ability to significantly elevate the visitor experience. With the integration of AI and machine learning technologies, apps can offer personalised recommendations, tailoring suggestions to individual preferences based on their behaviour and interests. Interactive features such as augmented tours and gamified experiences add an extra layer of engagement, transforming the way visitors explore and interact with attractions and destinations. A survey by Google underscores the importance of digital tools in trip planning, with 74% of travellers relying on the internet, highlighting the indispensable role of mobile apps in today's travel landscape. Boosting Attraction Visibility and Accessibility Well designed, interactive apps play a crucial role in increasing the visibility and accessibility of attractions. By aggregating diverse attractions within a single platform, these apps ensure that both prominent landmarks and hidden gems gain exposure to a wider audience. The fact that destinations featured in travel apps can experience a 20-30% increase in visibility, illustrates the powerful impact of mobile apps on attracting new visitors. This enhanced visibility is particularly beneficial for lesser-known attractions seeking to break into the market and captivate the attention of tourists. Facilitating Real-Time Communication and Updates In an age where information consumption is instantaneous, and personalisation is paramount, the ability of tourism destination mobile app to facilitate real-time communication is invaluable. Immediate notifications about changes in opening hours, ticket availability, or unexpected closures ensure that visitors remain informed and can adjust their plans accordingly. This level of responsiveness not only improves the visitor experience but also fosters trust and reliability in the tourism destination's brand. Leveraging Data-Driven Insights for Strategic Decision-Making One of the most compelling advantages of tourism apps is their capacity to generate data-driven insights. Through the analysis of user interactions, preferences, and feedback, tourism bodies can glean valuable information on trends, visitor satisfaction, and areas for improvement. This data informs strategic decisions, from marketing tactics to attraction development, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively. Exploiting Enhanced Marketing Opportunities The direct marketing channels afforded by a mobile app offers a significant advantage. With push notifications achieving a 90% open rate, attractions can engage visitors with timely and relevant offers, events, and promotions. This targeted approach not only increases the likelihood of conversion but also enhances the overall visitor experience by providing value-added information. Advancing Sustainability through Digitalization The shift towards digitalisation, facilitated by mobile app technology plays a critical role in promoting sustainability within the tourism industry. By reducing the reliance on physical brochures and maps, apps contribute to environmental conservation efforts, aligning with the growing trend towards eco-friendly and responsible tourism. The global movement towards sustainability underscores the importance of adopting digital solutions that support environmental preservation. Optimising Operational Efficiencies Operational efficiencies gained using a mobile app linked to back-office attraction management software cannot be overstated. Automated processes for ticketing, reservations, and customer inquiries not only streamline operations but also enhance the quality of service provided to visitors. The reduction in enquiries and the improved handling of visitor communications contribute to a more pleasant and efficient tourism experience, reflecting positively on the destination. Fostering Community Engagement and Social Sharing A dedicated tourism and destination app serves as a platform for community engagement, enabling users to share their experiences, reviews, and photos. This social sharing aspect not only enriches the content of the app but also acts as a form of authentic promotion, leveraging the power of word-of-mouth in the digital age. The emphasis on user-generated content highlights the shift towards more interactive and participatory forms of tourism marketing. Securing Competitive Advantage in the Digital Era In the competitive landscape of the tourism industry, adopting a tourism destination mobile app provides a distinct advantage. As digital presence becomes increasingly crucial for attracting tech-savvy travellers, destinations equipped with comprehensive mobile apps position themselves as leaders in innovation and customer service. This competitive edge is vital for standing out in a crowded market and attracting a global audience. Future Perspectives: The Evolving Role of Mobile Apps in Tourism Looking ahead, the role of specialised software and mobile apps in tourism is set to expand further. Further advancements in technology promise to introduce new features and capabilities, enhancing the interactivity and personalisation of visitor experiences. The continuous evolution of mobile apps will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of the tourism industry, offering endless possibilities for innovation and engagement. Conclusion Destination and tourism mobile apps represent a transformative force in the tourism industry, offering a comprehensive suite of benefits that enhance the visitor experience, increase attraction visibility, improve operational efficiencies, and provide valuable insights. The advantages of deploying visitor mobile apps are clear, from enhancing visitor engagement to promoting sustainability and securing a competitive advantage. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the importance of mobile apps in the tourism sector will only grow, making it imperative for tourism bodies and destinations to embrace this technology and harness its potential for the future of travel.

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Factors Influencing Tourism Mobile App Development (Updated August 2020)

11 oct 2017.

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 shook the economies around the world by disrupting people’s lives in unimaginable ways. Simultaneously, while the ongoing battle against the virus continues, the societies & industries are looking to rebuild and reemerge from this crisis.  Among others, the travel, tourism and hospitality sector are probably the worst affected by the pandemic outbreak’s impact. And, it will be possibly a complex and lengthy road ahead of recovery for the travel industry.

Technology will be a crucial component to restore confidence and enable a new era of safe, seamless, and touchless travel in a post-COVID-19 world. In the past, we have experienced that the impact of digital transformation is evident in all industries and sectors, and the tourism industry is no exception where technology has disrupted the old order of things and completely reinvented the ways to explore traveling.

As part of the current change wave, we could witness automation with technologies taking the front seat as part of the optimization process. Even Gartner predicts that the combination of hyper-automated technologies with redesigned operational processes would enable the lowering of operational costs by 30% for the organizations.

Travel agencies and physical bookings are now almost outdated and will have a different outlook going forward. So much that a survey by eMarketer shows that travel-based mobile apps are the 7th most downloaded category and that 60% of smartphone users prefer travel apps for planning their leisure tours.

Mobile Apps for Travel and Tourism Industry

Tourism Mobile apps help users for planning travel, accommodation bookings, ticket bookings, cab booking, route mapping, and more. However, these are just the basic uses of tourism mobile apps, and more tourist services can be delivered like:

• Navigation – GPS services, route planning, and maps
• Social – Travel updates, reviews, picture galleries, free communication, etc.
• Mobile Marketing – Contests, discounts, and offer alerts
• Security – Medical, Emergency calling & Information about local & international health agencies
• E-commerce – Ticket booking, overseas banking, reservations, shopping

In fact, the tourism industry is using apps to reach the next level of user engagement and market penetration. Several new trends and tech factors will shape the future of tourism mobile application. For example, cab aggregation has captured the tourists’ imagination. Ridesharing is a prevalent phenomenon. Tourists are also opting for cashless options as a safer means to travel. As an experienced travel software development company , we can help you develop robust travel solutions.

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Here are some of the innovations and trends that will influence travel mobile app development in the new era:

Limited human intervention.

While in the past introduced to reduce manpower costs it will enable departments of travel & tourism apps development to seamlessly manage front desk assistance, issue-resolution with customer support, and other facets of services management with AI and chatbots . It is along with pre-trip health and safety advice, real-time monitoring of travel disruptions, and automated safety check-ins with real-time assistance.

Climate or weather recommendations

Real-time weather forecasting with recommendations assists travelers plan better with what to pack and things to watch out for along with suggestions on timely travel bookings.

Single place for all type of travel booking

One of the most enticing features of the travel & tourism industry apps is that you can easily book your dream destination with one click by just sitting at home. The entire booking process for all arrangements can be done under a single roof, which is a prime reason for holiday lovers to cling to the mobile apps. It includes booking tickets, hotel reservations, booking cabs, choosing destinations, exploring local places and more.

Real-time tracking

Real-time travel tracking apps are increasingly becoming the norm. Most private modes of transport already offer this service as people can track the motion of their cars, buses etc. Fortunately, this service only gets better as in the future all transport will depend on live tracking. Public transport agencies have started using IoT technology and GPS devices to provide live information about buses, trains etc. Developing a travel-time tracker app is an excellent idea to benefit from this wave.

Integration with cab booking applications

While mobile apps enable users to book flights seamlessly, train and hotel booking on-the-go, the integration with a cab booking agency allows the user to get live updates on the exact location and estimated arrival time of the cab as part of the destination. It further includes prerequisite information about car’s registration number, driver contact information and more along with the rating of drivers to ensure safe travel.

Cashless travel

Theft and the hassle of cash is a big security concern for tourists visiting new countries and regions for the first time. The benefit of a digital economy is that now there are several apps that let you travel cashless and facilitate all kinds of payment with a click or a tap.

Visual tours to promote and entice travelers

With the use of Augmented Reality (AR) in practice, we could expect guided virtual tours of museums, theme parks, theatres, and recreational centers. Clubbed with machine learning it could even help to target people who wish to explore new places but are not able to do so in the current scenario, or who would have visited these places a long time ago.

Social travel planning

This combines new-age technologies with user recommendations. These apps help users view the suggestions and favorites from friends and family, expert tips and consumer reviews – all combined to make informed decisions about their travel and tourism choices – including destinations, vendors, bookings, etc. A review by Adweek shows that social amplification is an important factor for mobile travelers with more than 80 percent preferring recent reviews before they take a call. With the integration of social networks (APIs) and vendor reviews, tourism companies can offer applications that offer enough social proof to prospective travelers.

Localization

Geo-targeted recommendations are very popular across many sectors and the tourism industry is no different. Travel apps can enhance the user experience by offering localized suggestions and deals/offers to travelers – based on their location and preferences. For instance, Booking . com makes great use of mobile location insights and offers value to its users at the same time optimizing the efficiency of planning and user experience. The use of APIs to auto-fill user profiles, purchase history and location information – you can deliver the next level of mobile travel experience.

Tailor-made travel apps for your needs

With big data and machine learning, tourism apps are bound to be smarter and cleverer. More sophisticated travel apps will now be custom-made for your travel routes, time, budget and means of transport. Using your travel history, preferences, and feedback, these apps will be able to recommend and plan better trips for you.

Flexibility combined with technology could be the future for the travel app industry that will offer a high potential for monetization and revenue generation. It is along with the introduction of newer policies & practices to optimize and enhance the customer experience. Leverage the expertise of an experienced mobile application development company to make the most of this opportunity.

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The Impact of Travel and Tourism on Mobile Apps & IoT

Table of contents:.

How is the Travel and Tourism Industry Changing Users’ Needs

Non-Travel Apps 

IoT Devices

The travel industry, once characterised by physical travel agencies and paper itineraries, has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. As we tend to travel more than ever, we are witnessing a revolution that has fundamentally changed the way we plan, experience and remember our trips. This evolution impacts the rapid development of mobile applications and the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, creating an era where travel merges seamlessly with digital innovation.

In other words, the increase in our travel frequency, regardless of the nature of our trips, is reshaping the way applications are designed, utilised, and evolved. Travel trends, like workation, digital nomad lifestyle and digitalisation, are driving the development of apps, whether they are designed specifically for travel purposes or not. As a result, apps must swiftly adapt to meet this changing current market demand.

In this article, I’ll delve into the profound revolution that the travel industry has made in the field of app development. I’ll explore the influence of travel trends on non-travel applications, as well as the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.

Let’s begin and navigate the ever-evolving intersection of travel and mobile technology.

How is the travel and tourism industry changing users’ needs

In a time when global mobility is at its peak, the travel industry has played a pivotal role in reshaping mobile applications. Our preferences and requirements as travellers have undergone a profound evolution, with a strong desire to explore the world extensively and effortlessly.

There are a few trends we observe that are shaping our experiences. We travel more than before, partially because we can combine leisure and work in an unprecedented manner. The time when we preferred work-life balance is slowly gone. Nowadays, it’s rather a work-life combination, and we’re more and more willing to merge those areas flexibly and make borders fluid.

While travelling, we aim for luxurious and authentic experiences focused on learning more about the world around us, no matter whether this is wildlife or exotic cultures. We’re more aware of the environment and planet, so we aim to reduce our impact on Earth by changing our habits and making informed choices. You can read more about how pro-sustainability orientation is affecting the choices we make and how those are redefining the digital solutions we use in my article about sustainable travel trends and the future of the tourism industry .

We live in the era of instant access to everything we need or desire. We’re focused on ourselves and our experiences, at least in Western culture. It’s reflected in a ubiquitous I . From branding to products, we want them to be exactly as we want at this particular moment. We don’t want to seek. We want to be offered with the right items exactly when we need them.

Instead of buying a product for its utility, we invest in experiences and memories. A dishwasher is no longer a tool to wash dishes but an investment that allows us to save time and spend it the way we want. A car is no longer just a means of transportation but a symbol of status or a means to collect memories. Travel is no longer about reaching a destination but about discovering, enjoying and experiencing.

We don’t want to have any distractions in our journey to fulfilment. We want to cope with necessary tasks immediately and without even thinking about it. That’s a huge shift if we realise that sometimes 1 minute is enough to hop into a taxi since it was booked.

Let’s now discuss how these changes influence apps, both non-travel and IoT devices. However, if you want to delve deeper into the transformative trends shaping travel planning apps and their features, I highly encourage you to read Gabriela’s article. It delves into the key factors and functionalities that contribute to the success of travel apps in the dynamic travel planning landscape.

Non-Travel Apps

The rapid evolution we’re witnessing extends way beyond the realm of travel, including non-travel applications that significantly influence our overall travel experience. Despite not being explicitly designed for travellers, these applications make noteworthy contributions to enhancing our journey. Moreover, they show how even seemingly unimportant in the travel and tourism industry applications can offer unbeatable and unforgettable features that come in handy while travelling or commuting.

Streaming Apps

Imagine embarking on a lengthy flight without access to your favourite music or TV series. It’d be hard and boring. Travelling often prompts a desire to unwind and fill each step of the journey with pleasure. Fortunately, numerous apps cater to precisely that.

Take Spotify, BookBeat, or Audible as examples – each striving to streamline and enrich your experience by offering access to music, podcasts, or audiobooks. What make s these apps great when it comes to travelling is their common feature: the ability to download content for offline use. Forget about the days of silent flights or boring road trips. Now, you can simply download your preferred content while being connected to the internet and then enjoy it while embarking on the journey. The same trend is observed in movie streaming apps like Netflix.

The essence of mobility is enhanced by the ability to switch between various devices (and device types) seamlessly. For example, apps like Netflix offer a travel-friendly feature that allows you to cast content onto a bigger screen (or simply other available devices, including gaming consoles) using the same Wi-Fi network. This not only enhances the travel experience but also eliminates the need to share passwords or leave your account credentials elsewhere. When you’re on the move, this feature truly helps, highlighting the strong correlation between technology and travel.

Another mobility trend is about sharing experiences. No matter whether people are alone at home or travelling together, they can listen to the same music at the same time using the Spotify jam feature. They don’t need to ask each other what they are listening to currently and switch the song, and there’s no need for sharing earphones and listening with one ear. They can listen to music like they were in the same room but in a mobile way so they can feel like in a movie while sightseeing.

Translation & Education Apps

In the past, the language barrier was a serious problem for many people wanting to travel abroad. However, in today’s world, this shouldn’t be a major concern. Apps like Google Translate have revolutionised our ability to communicate fluently in different languages. We can now enter any text in a given language and instantly translate it into the language we need. The application even has the ability to read the translated text aloud, which frees us from worries about pronunciation.

Moreover, translation applications, initially developed to help with language learning, have expanded their functions. From recording and translating speech to the use of AI tools – they are constantly evolving. Modern dictionaries now offer live translation options by scanning through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) using the device’s camera. This proves to be exceptionally useful in a country with an unfamiliar alphabet. Technological advances have indeed made the world more connected and accessible, greatly improving our travel experiences.

It’s also more and more common for apps to offer on-the-go translations of descriptions and messages. Vinted is a great example of allowing people from different countries to connect over items and converse, not necessarily in English! Now, once you visit a particular country you can even pick your item up and setting up a meeting spot won’t be a problem anymore.

Additionally, educational apps like Duolingo , Busuu, Pimsleur or Mondly have redefined the way we approach language learning . Unlike traditional textbooks, which often present formal and rigid language structures, these apps immerse us in real, practical use of the language. This way, our travel experiences are not so surprising and stressful, as such apps use phrases and expressions commonly used in specific countries. By including these everyday phrases, idioms and vocabulary, such apps prepare us for authentic interactions and situations we may encounter while travelling.

Most of those apps have introduced travel-oriented lessons focusing on phrases and conversations one might encounter while exploring a new country. These bite-sized lessons are perfect for tourists looking to pick up basic local language essentials quickly. They offer conversational lessons crafted around real-life situations, like ordering food or asking for directions, which are incredibly handy for travellers.

Apps like Memrise, Pimsleur or Busuu take it a step further by using native-speaker videos to teach language through real-life words and phrases. This method not only helps with listening comprehension but also with cultural immersion, as learners see and hear people speaking in everyday contexts they’re likely to encounter on their travels.

The mentioned apps also have a speech recognition tool built-in to help learners improve their pronunciation, which is crucial when trying to communicate in a new place.

These apps, by focusing on travel-specific content, not only facilitate language learning in a practical context but also greatly enhance the travel experience by breaking down language barriers and making trips more enjoyable and immersive.

Communication Apps

For people going on a business trip or deciding to go on workation, staying up to date with colleagues and maintaining smooth communication is crucial. Take Slack – the communication tool for professionals around the world. Particularly useful for coordinating across time zones, Slack provides real-time awareness of a colleague’s local time while initiating a conversation.

This simple but extremely effective feature improves communication and ensures that messages are sent at the right time, taking into account the recipient’s working hours. As the dynamics of work and travel continue to evolve, tools like Slack provide an example of how technology can bridge the gap and facilitate communication and collaboration in a globally connected workspace.

Calendar apps are adapting to the lifestyles of travellers by introducing features that make planning and staying organized across time zones effortless. Google Calendar offers a “world clock” feature, allowing users to see the time in multiple cities alongside their events, and Microsoft Outlook has incorporated a “time zone override” function that allows users to view and schedule appointments in their preferred time zone, regardless of their current location.

However, it’s not only about time zone changes. WhatsApp, for example, has become a go-to app for international travellers due to its ability to work on minimal data and Wi-Fi connections, making it highly reliable for sending messages or making calls across borders ( LifeWire ).

Similarly, WeChat is not only a communication app but also a platform offering various travel services for its users, particularly those travelling in or to China. From booking flights to making payments, its functionality is tailored to assist travellers in navigating the logistical aspects of their trips ( FlyScoot , AlternativeAirlines ).

Apps like Viber have included features such as “ Viber Out ” which allow users to make low-cost calls to any phone number around the world, proving useful when internet connectivity is spotty or while contacting those without smartphones.

These apps have recognised the nuances of communication while travelling and have become adept at providing features that cater specifically to the needs of the traveller. By incorporating these functionalities, they not only assist in professional commitments but also enhance the overall travel experience by ensuring trips are well-organized and stress-free.

For gaming enthusiasts, carrying a PS4 or PC while on vacation may not be the most attractive idea, and spending your entire trip in your hotel room gaming may also not be the ideal choice. However, for those looking for a great mix of fun and exploration, there are apps and games tailored to such travel experiences.

Let’s take Pokémon GO as an example – offering travel-oriented features, this game not only entertain s travellers but also encourage s physical activity while hiking in new locations. Pokémon GO, with its augmented reality gameplay, encourages players to go outside and find Pokémon in the real world. This way, travellers can immerse themselves in the world of games while enjoying the beauty and life of the places they visit!

Similarly, games like Geocaching offer an interactive experience that takes players on a real-world treasure hunt, perfectly blending the thrill of gaming with the joy of discovering new places. With a simple app, travellers can find hidden caches in almost every corner of the globe, adding an element of adventure to their journeys.

Another example is Ingress , where players join factions and battle for control of virtual territories at real locations, motivating gamers to visit new places and engage with their surroundings in a competitive format.

For those who prefer a more relaxed gaming experience during their travels, many mobile games now offer offline modes and allow for gameplay without the need for constant internet connectivity, ideal for long flights or remote destinations.

Moreover, in today’s market, we are witnessing a growing number of solutions that enhance our gaming experience while prioritising mobility. Take, for example, GeForce NOW , a cloud-based game streaming service that provides real-time gameplay directly from the cloud to a range of devices, including laptops, iPhones, iPads, and more. This means you no longer have to carry your entire gaming setup with you, you can travel with ease and enjoy online gaming with friends.

Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Apps

For most people accustomed to working at a desk, travelling usually translates into an increase in physical activity. Even on an all-inclusive holiday, it is quite likely that we will explore nearby areas, go for walks and take part in various activities. During these adventures, it turns out how important applications are that track steps, measure distance travelled, estimate calories burned and motivate people to be active.

Apps like MyFitnessPal allow you to log meals from international dining with a vast database of foods.

On the other hand, Strava has become invaluable for those on the move, offering features like location-based activity tracking, which helps travellers find popular running routes in new cities. Strava capitalizes on the social aspect of travel by allowing users to share their workouts and compete with friends or locals while also discovering the most scenic paths recommended by fellow travellers. This transforms the solitary act of exercise into a social experience that enhances one’s travel itinerary.

For those who frequent various global destinations, apps like Nike Training Club provide a range of workouts that can be done in the privacy of a hotel room, with minimal to no equipment, ensuring that travellers can stay fit on their own terms. The app’s adaptability to different spaces and its wide variety of workout intensities make it ideal for any schedule or location.

These apps not only help you maintain an active lifestyle but also play an instrumental role in building a sense of community and support. Strava, a perfect example of this mix, provides an amazing feature that allows us to share our live location with friends while running or cycling. In addition to the pleasant aspect of tracking friends’ activities, this function serves as a travel companion, ensuring safety by informing loved ones about our whereabouts. Basically, such apps enable us to prioritise our fitness and mental well-being, seamlessly combining travel and health.

Dating Apps

In today’s digital world, the search for love or simply intriguing meetings has taken on a new dimension thanks to dating apps. The revolutionary aspect of these applications is the ability to change our current location to anywhere in the world. We don’t have to limit ourselves as this feature makes it possible to meet new connections across the globe.

Dating apps have swiftly pivoted to become an essential tool for travellers seeking companionship on the road, evolving to accommodate the transient nature of their lifestyles. Recognising this shift, Tinder introduced the ‘Passport’ feature, which allows users to change their location and swipe in any city worldwide, opening up the possibility to connect with locals or fellow travellers before they even arrive at their destination.

Bumble extends its reach by allowing users to not only date but also make new friends or gain professional connections through its Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz modes. This versatility is particularly attractive to those travelling solo who are looking for a gym buddy, a dining companion, or even networking opportunities away from home. It takes from the opportunity that borders are no longer limiting people in terms of love, friendship and work.

These adaptations in dating apps reflect a broader trend of technology responding to the changing patterns of human interaction. They not only make travel more socially enriching but also help forge a world that feels smaller, more connected, and infinitely more accessible for those seeking love, friendship, or just a glimpse into the local way of life.

Mobile Payment Apps

Mobile payment apps are revolutionising financial transactions for travellers, ensuring seamless and secure access to their funds across the globe. Apps like PayPal have long facilitated international payments, but now they’re enhancing their platforms to cater to on-the-go users, allowing travellers to pay for services or split bills without the hassle of currency exchange.

Meanwhile, the likes of Wise (formerly TransferWise) focus on reducing high bank fees for currency conversion, offering real exchange rates and low-cost, transparent fees, which is particularly beneficial for longer-term travellers and digital nomads managing their finances abroad. Similarly, Revolut allows travellers to exchange money into various currencies at interbank rates, pay with a contactless card, and withdraw funds worldwide, effectively making borderless banking a reality.

Google Pay and Apple Pay have also expanded their functionalities for travellers, providing contactless payments and integrating transit passes in major cities around the world, so you can hop onto a subway or bus without needing a physical ticket or exact change. They’re partnering with more services and retailers internationally, ensuring that wherever you are, your payment is just a tap away on your smartphone.

These mobile payment solutions not only offer convenience but also an added layer of security, reducing the need to carry cash or expose credit card details in unfamiliar places. By adapting to the mobility and financial needs of travellers, these apps are essential tools in the modern adventurer’s arsenal, making the journey as smooth as the destination itself.

The paradigm shift also includes the latest developments in IoT (Internet of Things) devices. We travel more and more often, which has resulted in changes in their functionalities. From smart suitcases with built-in chargers and location trackers to wearable devices that monitor our health and fitness on the move, IoT has changed the way we travel, making trips more convenient and enjoyable.

Moreover, IoT has impacted various sectors of the travel industry, including hotels and transportation, by improving services and creating more personalised and efficient travel experiences. Let’s talk about it!

Users can now manage their entire smart home remotely, receiving shopping lists from their refrigerators or recommendations on what to cook based on the contents of their fridge. Yes, you’ve read correctly – the Family Hub® Samsung Fridges allow you to see what’s inside them on your phone, wherever you are. Internet users, of course, quickly caught on to the emerging trends and today, photos “sent by the fridge” even have a name – shelfies!

Fancy or not, it’s a great opportunity for people who travel for a long time. They can schedule a food delivery from their favourite online grocery when they’re going back home from a trip to make sure everything will arrive just on time.

Other innovations , such as mobile-controlled smart intercoms (such as Touchcom) and similar systems , emphasise mobility and remote management, allowing users to grant access to their homes remotely. The IoT devices are rapidly ad a pting to the changing habits in the travel industry – everything now is adjusted to our mobility and love of travelling.

It’s also the case when it comes to monitoring systems. There are cameras that can be connected to any network and accessible via any mobile app all over the world. Those devices allow us to monitor houses when households are away and receive notifications in the case of any movement. Such a solution, hand in hand with cloud-stored recordings, allows people to feel safe and react immediately in the case of any unexpected situation like robbery.

Devices are rapidly evolving in response to growing travel trends. These days we have wireless in-ear headphones that can actively track and eliminate countless external sounds, even the subtlest ones like the rustle of wind. This innovation makes it possible to listen to music and unwind while travelling comfortably (you can check Samsung Galaxy Buds solutions , I’m a fan of them ).

At the same time, the new technology allows us to stay in touch and connect with other people even better thanks to conversation discovery and automatic switching between audio and voice. Nowadays, earphones (like Samsung Galaxy Buds, again) can decrease the audio volume when they “hear” that someone is talking to us and switch to ambient sound without the need to touch them or change any settings.

Whether it’s quickly changing applications or seamlessly connecting our devices, the advancement in IoT ensures we are prepared for this mobility. These examples show how IoT integration makes our travel experiences smoother, enhancing both productivity and leisure on the go.

Smart hotel rooms

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and applications is the future. Today, smart hotels and accommodations ha ve beg u n to leverage IoT devices to deliver customised and delightful guest experiences.

From the moment a guest enters a room, IoT-enabled thermostats and lighting systems adapt to their preferences, providing an immediate sense of familiarity and comfort. They can seamlessly stream their favourite shows or set the atmosphere in a room with just a few taps on their smartphone. This level of automation and personalisation embodies the adaptability of the travel industry, making every stay individual and convenient.

As travellers desire smoother and more enjoyable journeys, the harmonious combination of IoT and applications in the travel sector demonstrates the industry’s commitment to meet growing needs.

As travel has become an integral part of our lifestyle, our needs and desires as travellers are shifting dramatically. We crave for more exploration, seeking seamless, convenient, and personalised travel experiences. The travel industry is fully aware of these changing expectations, prompting a revolutionary transformation in travel-specific but also non-travel applications and IoT devices.

Non-travel applications have adjusted to our needs, incorporating features that enhance our travel experiences in general. Furthermore, IoT devices have stepped into the realm of travel, taking into account our increased mobility and prioritising our comfort and convenience.

The fundamental shift is clear: apps and IoT devices are now aligning with our needs, enabling us to travel more easily and explore the world in a way that resonates with our evolving expectations.

Katarzyna Sobczak-Rosochacka

Marketing is about research and communication. As a social scientist and marketer with many years of experience, Kasia combines knowledge and crafting to help design the app and plan and execute marketing strategies for TeaCode and our clients.

Even the best app can fail if no one uses it. How do we reach them with our messages in a world saturated with communication? That's why she helps clients spread the news about their apps worldwide.

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Tourism Gazette

The pulse of the tourism industry

Mobile Apps in Transforming Travel Experiences

T he proliferation of smartphones and mobile apps has greatly impacted the tourism industry. Travelers today are using apps for everything from booking flights and hotels to navigating new destinations. Mobile technology is creating more customized, efficient, and engaging travel experiences.

One of the biggest shifts powered by mobile apps is the ease of travel planning and bookings. Apps from sites like Expedia, Priceline and Kayak allow travelers to find, compare, and book flights, hotels, rental cars and more all in one place. Travelers can quickly evaluate options by price, ratings, amenities and view photos. Apps also facilitate easier price tracking, sending alerts to users on airfare changes.

Mobile boarding passes and check-in via airline apps are speeding up airport processes. Once at a destination, apps provide ready access to maps, translations, restaurant bookings like through OpenTable, and local attraction information. Tour companies are creating apps that guide visitors through self-navigation city tours with prompts for taking photos at key spots.

Sharing travel experiences is also easier thanks to mobile apps. The rise of social media photography has coincided with improved phone cameras and apps like Instagram. Apps like Polarsteps track routes to automatically generate a visual trip itinerary. Photo editing and post-processing apps from Snapseed to Photoshop Express enable travelers to get their images social media ready.

Looking ahead, augmented and virtual reality apps have enormous potential for travel. Apps can already overlay rich content at historical sites or simulate walking tours. As the technology improves, apps may someday provide incredibly immersive virtual travel experiences potentially replacing guide books and physical tours.

While travel still requires in-person experiences, mobile apps enable travelers to maximize efficiency, customization, and connection throughout the journey. As travelers rely more on apps for their needs, tourism businesses will need strong mobile integration to reach, assist, and excite visitors.

Mobile apps are transforming travel by putting personalized experiences and deeper engagement with destinations in the hands of tourists. While apps may simplify logistics like booking travel and accommodation, their real potential shines in enhancing the overall travel journey before, during, and after a trip. As augmented and virtual reality apps advance, they promise to provide even more immersive experiences that can educate and excite travelers about destinations near and far. With the travel industry’s growing mobile app integration, tourists can expect their trips to become more streamlined, informative, interactive and enjoyable than ever. The future of travel is a customized experience powered by the innovations of mobile technology.

Emmanuel Omogunwa

E-Tourism expert, IT entrepreneur, and AI evangelist.

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How Mobile Apps Are Transforming The Travel And Tourism Industry

Today, we will be looking at how travel and tourism apps are revolutionizing the travel and tourism industry. 

Last Updated On : 17 July, 2023

Table of Contents

• Why are mobile apps preferred over the Web for Travel? 

1. Easy and fast booking

2. simple and streamlined transactions, 3. real photos and videos of destinations, 4. use of modern technologies, 5. portable solution, takeaway .

According to  Statista , travel apps hold the seventh position in the most popular Apple app store categories in March 2021. Moreover, according to studies, more than 60% of mobile users make use of travel apps regularly to plan trips.  

Thanks to  travel and tourism app development , travelers no longer need to rely on travel agents to arrange trips for them Now, all it takes is a few clicks to get your flight booked.

To serve customers better, the  travel app industry  is constantly coming up with new and more convenient methods to allow users to make bookings and payments comfortably. 

 According to a survey by  Travelport , the majority of mobile users prefer to use apps for travel arrangements rather than the mobile web page. The increase in demand for mobile apps for the tourism industry has also improved the relationship between the mobile app industry and the travel and tourism sector.

Curious to know more about how technology is changing the travel and tourism industry? Read down below to find out all about it.

Why are mobile apps preferred over the Web for Travel?  

This question holds several layers, considering that a  mobile application for travel doesn’t have a generic concept definition. There are several different types of apps for adventure travel that help make traveling more convenient for you. These include tourist-friendly apps that: 

• Let you check and book flight tickets and hotel  
• Allow you to arrange accommodations and organize your trip 
• Allow you to plan different activities (sightseeing tours etc.) 
• Allow you to book travel packages across different destinations 
• Help you locate nearby restaurants, hospitals, banks, and more. 

Though all of the uses of travel companion apps offer diverse approaches to handling travel and tourism requirements, they all provide pretty much the same benefit: comfort. Let’s look at some of the advantages of custom travel and tourism app development that make users prefer these apps over their online counterparts. 

You might be interested in reading this: Why should the travel and tourism business shift to mobile apps?

Benefits of travel apps for the travel and tourism industry 

Travel and tourism app development services  have helped change the whole landscape of the travel and tourism industry.

Let’s look at some of the ways technology development in travel and tourism is helping to shape the future of tourism.

As per the findings of  Travelport , 39% of users find it easier and quicker to access information and make travel arrangements using mobile applications.  

Not only do tourism software applications allow you to book flights and hotels just with a few clicks, but they also prove to be of great help to people who need to make arrangements for last-minute plans.

For instance, if you need to book a flight for the same day, or the next, it would be much more convenient for you to pull out your phone, open a flight booking app, and get your flight booked within minutes.

Before mobile apps for the tourism industry became a thing, people had to locate agents and wait in long queues to get information regarding flights. Thanks to digitalization in the tourism industry, now the whole traveling process is much more stress-free, enjoyable, and convenient.

Mobile apps have made it possible to save softcopies of all essential documents related to traveling on your mobile phone. This includes documents related to flights, reservations, transactions, and more.

Travel and tourism digital transformation has not only helped reduce paperwork but also made the whole process much more straightforward and seamless. 

Digital innovation in the travel industry has eliminated the need for travelers to carry original documents with them, or worry about them getting lost somewhere.

It is also possible to make payments for your trip online. This means travelers also don’t need to carry heavy amounts of cash with them while traveling. 

According to  stats , 80% of travelers spend up to 4 weeks reading other traveler reviews and researching a destination.

You can naturally expect someone who’s booking a flight for a holiday to look up the videos of the place in advance. Also, as per a Google survey, 66% of people stated that look at the videos of a destination before landing there.

Travel mobile apps provide access to pictures and videos of different destinations, allowing users to know more about the place they plan to visit. This allows users to choose the travel destination according to their liking, and make arrangements accordingly. 

Almost every other app that is being designed these days is making some sort of use of disruptive technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. With the help of these technologies, travel companies are able to provide users with recommendations. 

The more the user uses the app, the more the data is generated. This data is used by algorithms to understand the tastes and preferences of the user and come up with recommendations that the user might be interested to check out.  

This has boosted the travel and tourism industry immensely. Also, these recommendations are very beneficial for the users as well. For instance, you might want to go on a vacation, but your budget is limited.

Under these circumstances, the precisely functioning algorithms of the app can provide assistance in finding holiday plans that suit your budget. 

Travel mobile apps can provide all the details and data you need regarding your trip from the beginning till the end. As long as you are using travel apps, you don’t need to carry guidebooks or maps separately.

Digital tourism platforms also connect to the GPS directly, which makes it much easier for users to find their way through the city. 

Other than tracking places and locations, tourism board apps also let users save important information regarding the trip such as essential dates, must-visit places, reminders, and more. Based on the user's location, some apps also notify users about discounted deals nearby. 

Explore our smart technology insights on IoT   to build better customer experiences.

All of this information is just the tip of the iceberg. Digital innovations in tourism apps have had a huge impact on the industry as a whole. In the coming years, we can expect traditional travel methods to be completely transformed through advanced technology. Stay tuned for more! 

Looking to hire a reliable mobile application development company ? Get in touch with InvoZone today for the best travel and tourism app development services.

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How Travel Mobile Apps Are Changing the Tourism Industry?

Last Updated on: January 4, 2023 |

by Rajeev Sharma | Sep 19, 2022 | Mobile

Table of content

Why are mobile apps preferred for travel, travel mobile app: case studies, how are travel mobile apps benefiting tourists, categories of a travel mobile app, features to include in travel mobile app, kickstart your travel mobile app idea with markovate, travel mobile app: frequently asked questions, facts regarding travel mobile app.

Tourism is a billion-dollar industry, with many thriving economies depending upon it. People spend around 130% more each year , which depicts the widespread craze for travel and the growing need for catering for tourists. Travel mobile apps have made bookings and all travel-related matters easier.

The travel mobile app industry is thus slowly transforming the tourism industry. The digital revolution is here, and gone are the days when people made manual bookings or had any language barrier in another country. Instead, tourists have started to rely on mobile apps for any problem they might face when traveling, be it a cultural difference, complete isolation from their homeplace, or any other. There were slightly over one billion travel mobile app users in 2019, with approximately 1.5 billion people taking trips worldwide and more than 65% using a smartphone to book.

According to statistics , more than 60% of users use travel mobile apps to plan their trips. This is because there are so many logistical requirements and required planning, and these apps assist in making the journey easier. People can make hotel bookings, book flight or train tickets, and document their travel journey. The comfort and ease of these mobile apps for travel and tourism have entirely redefined the travel experience. There are apps for translation to help people communicate in a foreign place without needing a physical translator. In addition, there are apps for finding out about nearby places for exploration and their reviews. People can also look for restaurants and markets or entertainment areas with travel apps . In the most recent quarter, Booking Holdings ‘ revenue surged 29% year over year to $6.1 billion, while its net income rose by 117% to $1.7 billion.

A travel mobile app lacks a generic concept definition, so this question holds several layers. People may make traveling more convenient by using one of the many various adventure travel applications. Apps that cater to tourists:

Allow to check and reserve hotel and airfare tickets

Provides better personalization

Enabling people to plan their travel and book accommodation

Enabling to schedule various tasks (sightseeing tours etc.)

It allows one to book vacation packages at multiple locations

Assist in finding nearby eateries, medical facilities, banking, and more

Although each application for travel companion apps has a unique way of addressing travel and tourism needs, they all essentially offer the same advantage & comfort.

Further Read: Travel App Ideas: Companies Can Steal To Shape Their Business

A revolution in mobile technology has resulted from the development of high-tech mobile applications. The tourism sector will particularly benefit from this growth. Mobile devices make internet connectivity and online service booking possible by eliminating administrative positions and concentrating on marketing.

Using a mobile, anyone can reserve travel packages and other travel-related services. To compete with the rivals now is the right time for businesses to release a mobile app. Consider an app that informs travelers when they arrive at their location.

1. Airbnb – Best Travel App For Homestay

Homeowners who want to rent out their properties can connect with visitors looking for local lodging via Airbnb . It is active in more than 81,000 cities across 191 countries.

However, there is a danger that a visitor could cause harm. Hosts can utilize Airbnb to commercialize their homes. Finding inexpensive lodging could be helpful for tourists. If businesses are planning to create a similar app, they might also provide car rental services.

2. HotelTonight — Last-Minute Hotel Deals At Great Hotels

Through HotelTonight , people might find fantastic last-minute discounts on available hotel rooms. The process of booking a room is swift and straightforward.

Utilize a map, a city search, or an attraction search to find reviews and photos submitted by other guests. Furthermore, there is always customer service available.

1. Reduces Paperwork & Resource Cost

The manual work has dramatically been reduced in the past years, and loads of paperwork needed for applications and bookings have become negligible. In addition, soft copies of documents can be stored on the device. Thus, manual labor and unnecessary costs have been cut down in the travel process.

2. Convenient & Easy-To-Use

Travel apps are incredibly convenient and easy to use, with complicated processes translated with a few clicks. People can use them anytime, anywhere they want, thus providing tourists with a hassle-free experience.

3. Great User Experience

Travel apps are highly functional, and multiple feature integrations help tourists do almost anything they want. Whether searching for local tourist spots, adventure activities, good hotels, or formulating a map for a road trip, there are travel apps for almost everything.

4. A Single Place For All Bookings

Long trips to different locations might become very cumbersome in terms of bookings and a lengthy process if a tourist does it manually. Most travel apps have features to make all their bookings under one roof, be it flights, hotels, cabs, or buses, which makes these very handy for making all the travel arrangements.

5. IoT-Based Decisions

IoT-based solutions for tourism apps, including geolocation, are frequently used by travel app developers. Users can easily navigate a new location with the aid of this function.

Since there are various areas in which tourists might need help, the travel apps have been categorized according to their functionality:

1. Accommodation Booking

These travel mobile apps include those which help people to book accommodation for staying at a particular place. People can book fancy hotels and hostels which suit their budget and requirements. There are thousands of options to choose from, along with features such as reviews, facilities, cost, and distance from local tourist sites. So instead of following the exhausting process of calling up and enquiring about each place of stay, people can directly browse and book their room.

2. Transport Booking

This category covers the essential apps that help people book flights, trains, or travel cabs. One can compare prices, see the available dates and pay directly to secure their seat without needing currency conversion. Transport booking apps are beneficial, as they reduce users’ dependency on travel agencies or localities for movement. In addition, people can make their bookings conveniently and at their own pace.

3. Navigation

Navigation apps help people travel throughout the city they are visiting. It would help if they had guidance from a trustworthy source to travel around an unfamiliar place. Navigation apps tell people about the local tourist sites, unique experiences found nearby, or just good places to eat or shop so that they know where to go and which place helps them fulfill their trip’s purpose. GPS services and maps are included in this.

Social apps help people to document the whole journey with their family and friends. They can make videos and collages and share their memories with their close ones. These apps help people communicate freely, as well as help them to keep in touch with their people back home.

This area used to be entirely manual until a few years ago. Now, apps have been developed which help people in currency conversion to transfer money directly for bookings or overseas banking. As a result, one does not need to worry about carrying massive amounts of hard cash, which is challenging to do while traveling.

1. In-App Translator

This feature helps to give mobile travel apps the edge they need. However, in most cases, the tourists are unaware of the regional language, which can make the communication gap huge. This might affect their travel and journey.

It can be implemented by scanning, speech-to-text, or maybe scanning a location and getting their description through voice.

2. Currency Converter

The currency used worldwide is different, and its rate keeps on fluctuating. A currency converter helps people know the conversion concerning the cash they have, which they can use to make transactions, withdraw money, etc.

3. Geolocation Services

Geolocation services help track the location, which can be used to fetch accurate results. For instance, this feature is necessary to browse good eating joints nearby or book a cab service.

4. Trip Reviews

Since there is a high chance that the destination people are traveling to is entirely unknown, trip reviews by multiple users help them get a real insight into how a thing or place is. People can make a fair judgment, as the people giving the reviews share their good or bad experiences.

5. Payment Integration

This feature is crucial for any travel mobile app, as they don’t have to carry around a considerable amount of cash to pay for their services otherwise. One can use a payment gateway and only book the service through the app. This increases the security and portability of money.

People are eager to resume their domestic and international travel after the restrictions on tourism and travel have been loosened. However, there has been a significant change in how users use the services. Travel bookings and planning are becoming increasingly popular online.

Everything is done online, including ordering tickets, cabs, hotels, and currency exchanges. The availability of travel-related services via an app is thus no longer a choice but a must if businesses supply services to the tourism industry. The web presence of a business will allow customers to contact them.

Markovate empathizes with tourists who travel worldwide and might need services that help them keep in touch with their habits and lifestyle. An example of a product delivered by Markovate is the Trapeze app. It is an efficient, flexible, and productive application that brings about ease in transit and fulfills the needs of riders to access last-mile mobility solutions .

Travelling can deteriorate the tourist’s health by quite a large amount, and this app ensures that people can work out in their style anywhere they go without breaking their routine . Hence, Markovate can be the perfect fit if businesses want a travel app development company that understands business needs and helps them maximize their profits with any travel-related service app.

1. How do mobile travel apps help?

Travel apps help to bridge the communication gap, make bookings more accessible, and allow travel to places independently. From booking flights, train and bus tickets, to even renting cars and hotels, these travel apps are loaded with features that can help users travel better and more conveniently.

2. How much does it cost to develop a travel app?

The cost of developing a travel application depends on the features and technology stack we discussed earlier.

But these still aren’t enough to give you a good idea of how much you’ll need to set aside for the price of developing a travel booking app. Still, there are a few essential considerations that should be taken into account. The elements influencing the cost of developing mobile travel applications:

Backend Architecture Choice

Technology Incorporation  

Travel Booking App Design and Development

3. Why does your travel business need a mobile app?

Mobile Apps for travel and tourism are necessary for any travel business as they help to reach customers in any place in the world, market the service you provide, and act as an efficient medium for building trust between the business and the tourist.

I’m Rajeev Sharma, Co-Founder and CEO of Markovate, an innovative digital product development firm with a focus on AI and Machine Learning. With over a decade in the field, I’ve led key projects for major players like AT&T and IBM, specializing in mobile app development, UX design, and end-to-end product creation. Armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and Scrum Alliance certifications, I continue to drive technological excellence in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

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14 Travel App Trends and Insights for 2024

Alexander Ragin

December 27, 2023

Mobile app trends for 2024

Just like in previous years, the travel industry will certainly be heavily influenced by travel apps in 2024 . Nowadays, travel businesses have to focus on quality and value as much as quantity of services and products, which means creating personalized experiences and offering seamless travel services, sustainable initiatives, and cutting-edge technologies. It’s all about redefining the way travelers plan, embark on, and cherish their journeys.

For the travel app industry in particular, the focus is now on building apps that stand out in the competitive app landscape, and seeking creative ways to optimize user journeys with user-centric innovations. As a travel company looking to develop travel app, new trends and emerging technologies should definitely be at the top of your research list.

Let Zoftify help you out. We’ve put together a list of 14 global travel app trends that you can jump on to create the best travel app in 2024.

When it comes to tourism app trends, we’re going to list the ones that we believe will have the biggest impact on tourism businesses and the industry as a whole. But as with all trends, they come and go — look what happened to blockchain technology, "smart contracts", and NFTs — so make sure to keep an ear to the ground so you’re always up to date with what’s happening in the travel app space.

Now, let's learn about our first contender in the travel mobile app trends to watch in 2024!

Personalization

Modern travelers are already accustomed to tailored experiences, so personalization is absolutely expected from any travel company. Coincidentally, travel apps are unparalleled when it comes to providing customers with personalized experiences.

That’s because travel apps learn everything about user preferences and collect valuable behavioral and demographic data. Using the data collected, apps can upsell services and highlight personalized offers for leisure and business travel, like deals on flight options, car rentals, local attractions, or travel experiences that the user is bound to love. In fact, users are much more likely to make purchases when they get relevant suggestions. These tailored suggestions can be promoted through push notifications.

Personalization is key. It allows an online travel agency to increase its revenue and customer loyalty, because users are more likely to keep your travel app on their phone if they can see that it provides personal value to them. Luckily, travel apps make personalization possible, way beyond the capabilities of a website.

Of course, personalization isn't a new thing, but it’s certainly a priority in the travel industry now and will continue to be in the future. Keeping personalization at the forefront when developing your travel app is a smart move.

Mobile payments

Mobile payments are definitely one of the top mobile travel trends. In fact, it’s safe to say that they are a standard in the travel apps industry and will remain essential in 2024. From the moment COVID-19 emerged and up to this day, quick and convenient mobile payments remain one of the best features of any travel app, as they simplify the whole booking process and increase profits for app owners.

If you’re thinking of developing any type of booking app in 2024, there’s absolutely no way you can do without mobile payment gateways. Whether travelers wish to book flights, hotel rooms, or whole business trips, mobile payments are still the optimal choice as they provide a seamless experience.

With mobile payments and mobile wallets, users can pay from anywhere, anytime, using pre-stored card details, in just a couple of taps on the screen. Now, this level of convenience is something customers expect , so it's a new standard you have to meet.

Depending on your travel policies, we recommend enabling Stripe, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. While it can be a bit tricky to implement the required safety features for taking mobile payments, an experienced development company like Zoftify will know how to build travel apps with mobile payment gateways set up properly and securely, in accordance with the guidelines of the Google Play and Apple App Store.

Want to learn more about current trends for mobile apps?

Reach out to our team and we'll share our expertise.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence was big news in 2023, especially in the second half, with almost every industry in the world feeling its presence. Numerous startups appeared seemingly out of nowhere, each one exploring the possibilities of big data and machine learning and finding a new use for AI technology. The travel industry was no exception — we saw AI trip planners, advanced chatbots, and dynamic pricing tools for hotels popping up everywhere.

There are plenty of signs that this technology remains on the rise, with companies discovering new applications for AI and developing it further as we write this. For what it's worth, you should certainly hop on the AI train just like everyone else , so you don’t miss out on the opportunities it can provide for your business and your customers.

Whether AI tools will become standard features in mobile apps or not is a bit trickier to say at the moment, but you should definitely keep an eye on AI in the news and watch how your competitors are leveraging its power.

Covering the full user journey

In recent years, travel apps have grown to become more like travel companions , assisting travelers at every step of their journey — from getting inspired, to making a booking, and all the way to returning back home. The fact that apps are always in travelers' pockets only encourages that.

Travel apps are no longer just storefronts for showcasing destinations. When customers download an app, they get access to tour guides, customer support specialists, review platforms, and more, just like having 24/7 access to their very own travel agents. The point is, whenever travelers open an app, they can find something useful to them.

The purpose of travel apps has expanded over the last few years, so it’s very likely that this ‘all-rounder’ approach will be the expectation of any travel apps created in 2024.

Seamless booking flows

The best travel apps on the market today have seamless booking flows supported by robust booking engines. Going into 2024, new apps can ensure a smooth booking process from start to finish by implementing APIs, payment gateways, and more. Enabling travelers to book everything they need in a few taps is expected nowadays , so make sure your app meets that benchmark.

When developing an app, conduct thorough user research and testing to make sure your booking process isn’t overly complicated, and identify any blockers preventing customers from reaching the checkout.

We’re seeing chatbots featuring in more and more mobile apps nowadays, especially thanks to recent advances in natural language recognition. Chatbots in apps are often positioned as the first line of customer support , and for good reason. 24/7 availability and quick response times makes them extremely convenient, helping travelers who need urgent assistance outside of general business working hours.

It is reasonable to assume that chatbots for mobile apps are only going to get better and smarter in 2024. While extremely popular, they’re not yet an industry standard, as machine learning has a long way to go. But if you’re thinking of investing in a travel app in the future, there’s a high chance you’ll end up incorporating a chatbot or AI customer service feature in some capacity.

Super apps are apps that consolidate the features of multiple apps into one. The incredible success of Hopper — an app that combines not just travel, but financial services as well — proves that super apps are the next big thing .

Obviously, super apps require a lot of investment and maintenance, so we're not expecting them to appear on app stores in the hundreds, but we're convinced that we'll see the super app strategy being utilized much more in 2024. They have the potential to provide users with unparalleled convenience.

Social interactions

Humans are social beings, and after years of COVID-19 and lockdowns, many of us have a renewed desire to connect with others. Travel apps make social interactions easy thanks to social media integrations, personal profiles, and in-app messengers. And with solo travel on the rise, it’s never been easier for travelers to meet others on their journeys and share their experiences with those at home, all on the go.

New social interactions can be just as rewarding for travelers as discovering new destinations, and when combined, the experience can be extremely satisfying.

This is more of a behavioral shift than a technological trend, so it’s hard to say how important socialization capabilities will be for travel apps in the future. But for 2024, we think customers will continue to love this new way of traveling and see their travel apps with the same importance as their social media apps.

Subscriptions

In recent years, some large travel businesses have adopted a subscription model for their travel apps, giving users access to unique features for a fee. This model offers a stable revenue flow for an online travel agency while providing a valuable experience for subscribers. While you have to be careful and fine-tune subscriptions for optimum results, the premise of this business model is fantastic, which is why plenty of online travel agencies are trying it out.

When done correctly, subscription models for travel apps can even feel fairer than some other profit-generating business practices — especially ads, which, sadly, are often really annoying. If you opt for a tiered subscription model with a premium level, you can make users feel like VIPs, and they’ll reward you with their loyalty .

Subscription models for travel apps are surely going to play their part in 2024, so if you were considering trying this strategy for yourself, now is a good time — just make sure that your offer is truly worth it to users.

Loyalty programs, points, and awards

Keeping customers and increasing retention rates is becoming increasingly important as the market becomes even more competitive for new travel apps. That’s why loyalty programs are also becoming more widely used. By offering discounts, extra miles for flights, or level-ups for each room booking, you can keep users engaged with your mobile app. By rewarding their spending, users will not only stick around for the benefits, but they will be excited about them too — there’s an element of gamification in it.

There are lots of ways of introducing reward systems into mobile apps. Giving customers the chance to earn points for using your travel app, plus levels for unlocking new perks, is a simple and very popular system — think of the unwavering Genius program for hotels and rentals from Booking Holdings.

Given how much they can boost revenue and engagement, it is easy to assume we’ll see loyalty and reward programmes appearing in more travel apps in 2024. If your business is thinking about starting one, we think that’s a sensible move.

User-generated content

Another huge trend we’re witnessing is the rise of user-generated content. Traditional marketing efforts and advertisements are not nearly as effective in building trust in a travel business as user reviews and ratings now are. Customers want more data from unbiased sources to help them make informed decisions. They’re much more likely to trust what their friends tell them on Facebook messenger or share on Instagram than anything you could write on your landing page.

To get ahead of this trend and to build confidence in your app, provide customers with an open reviews page that allows travelers to share their honest opinions about your services — if you do everything right, their feedback will be mostly positive.

Another way to utilize user-generated content to your benefit is to get your app on social media and allow travelers to tag you in their posts. You could also hop on the latest trends on TikTok and try to go viral on the internet — plenty of mobile apps have done it, like Duolingo.

This mobile travel app trend is here to stay, so make sure to explore ways for your online travel agency to generate user-led content and use that to your advantage in 2024.

Sustainability

We’re in a climate emergency, and travel companies are among those on the radar for their environmental impact. Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, but a standard, and companies are being held accountable for the impact that their business practices have on the world. Becoming sustainable isn't just a gesture of goodwill or a reputation boost — it is a necessity , something that is expected from companies of all sizes and across all niches.

Luckily, the travel industry is slowly adapting and finding new solutions and technologies to help reduce and track its carbon footprint, environmental impact, water consumption, and effect on local communities.

Mobile apps have a part to play in a more sustainable future for travel. Digital check-ins and ticketing can save paper, while in-app content and search filters can promote the transportation options with the lowest emissions. Some businesses are even developing eco-friendly travel apps, built by providers who use renewable energy.

Considering the climate emergency is on everyone’s lips, sustainability will remain a priority for travel companies in 2024 and years to come . Helping the cause by making responsible business decisions, minimizing your environmental impact, and implementing sustainability reporting metrics is something we can only recommend.

Augmented reality and virtual reality have so much potential , and, when used in travel apps, can offer unique experiences for travelers. While the technology might be expensive and difficult to integrate at the moment, there are many reasons to go for it if you have the budget and development capabilities.

Both AR and VR give apps a great competitive advantage. For example, they allow you to make enticing offers with 360 degree views of destinations, or weave gamifying elements into the user's trip. You can even build a whole app around these features — the only limits are your budget and imagination.

While we don't think that AR or VR will become the new standard for apps in 2024, the technology will still be relevant and continue to mature — it has a lot to offer in general and for travel apps in particular. In fact, we believe that the tourism industry still hasn't fully uncovered its potential for leisure and business travel.

Voice recognition

Voice recognition technology is fairly new, but it has already found its way into some travel apps. The technology is based on machine learning and allows users to access information, search for leisure and business travel options, and receive real-time updates without needing to physically interact with the app, which can be very useful for people with visual impairments.

With voice recognition, travel apps can become more convenient and safer to use, allowing travelers to access essential information without diverting their attention from their surroundings. We also like the idea that an app could recognize at least some general app commands in offline mode — travelers often find themselves in places with little to no internet connection.

While voice search and recognition are not among the prioritized features of travel apps, this technology is still something you should look out for in 2024 . We think it could really enhance the business travel experience for busy, on-the-go users.

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Travel apps in 2024 are going to be heavily influenced by the mobile travel trends we have explored in this article : from personalized offers and sustainability to AI and augmented reality technologies.

Each of these trends and technologies focuses on enhancing the overall travel experience for users. There’s also huge transformation potential for travel apps in providing immersive experiences, evolving to become more environmentally and socially conscious, and reflecting the growing needs of modern travelers. As travel apps continue to evolve, we’re excited to see how they leverage the power of new travel technology, and foster a more connected, responsible, and enriching trip experience for users around the globe.

Online travel agencies and other leisure and business travel providers should keep up to date with the trends we’ve covered here. If you’re looking to embark on app development in 2024 or in the future, remember this list to ensure you provide a rich and valuable experience to your users.

What are the top tourism mobile app trends for 2024?

In 2024, the top travel app trends include increased focus on the personalized approach, seamless booking experiences, integration of AR and VR technologies (e.g. for full 360 hotel room views), mobile payments for enhanced convenience, and a focus on sustainability.

To stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive in the leisure and business travel industry, we suggest that you integrate or implement some of these features and approaches into your travel app. If your budget and travel policies allow, we think mobile payments and personalized offers should be top of your priority list. It’s what travelers expect.

What role does AI play in the travel app market trends?

AI is poised to play a significant role in the future of travel apps by providing personalized recommendations, predictive analysis for pricing and availability, real-time language translation, and virtual customer service to enhance the overall travel experience for users.

Nowadays, lots of online travel agencies are utilizing AI technology in their travel apps to provide a better service to their customers, but the technology is still fairly new. There’s so much untapped potential and many under-utilized applications for it, so watch this space in the coming year.

How can mobile apps support sustainability in the travel industry?

Travel apps can support the sustainability agenda by enabling eco-friendly travel bookings, promoting sustainable transportation options like trains, scooter rentals, and ride-sharing services, and replacing paper processes with digital ticketing and check-ins.

Standards of sustainability are increasing because of growing public awareness around the negative environmental impact that tourism can have, so introducing eco-friendly features in travel apps is a wise decision. In the future, we expect sustainability to play much more of a role in the travel app development process.

However, sustainability starts at the core of a business, not just its app, so think about your business practices and the metrics you can introduce to monitor your company’s impact.

Founder & CEO

Alex loves travel and tech and founded Zoftify to help travel companies use technology more effectively. Before this, he worked in tech consulting, where he led international mobile development teams.

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Please note you do not have access to teaching notes, systematic review of mobile travel apps and their smart features and challenges.

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights

ISSN : 2514-9792

Article publication date: 29 November 2022

Issue publication date: 1 December 2023

Mobile travel apps (MTA) smart features were identified based on recent travel application (app) trends and a literature review of MTA smart features. Subsequently, the MTA features that could be prioritised to increase user interest in MTA were determined. The MTA smart feature development challenges that should be mitigated were also identified.

Design/methodology/approach

The app identification and selection were based on the one-stop solution characteristics containing the common function of travel apps and eight MTA smart features. A total of 193 Apple apps and 250 Google apps were identified, where 36 apps that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flowchart were selected for evaluation.

The high user ratings for apps from both app stores revealed the acceptance of smart technology in the tourism industry. Geolocation tracking services, travel itinerary generators, and real-time personalisation and recommendation were the three major features available in the included MTA. The challenges of MTA with smart features were highlighted from the tourism organisation, app developer and user perspectives.

Practical implications

The findings can guide tourism organisations and app developers on the smart features that MTA should offer for user engagement. Technological organisations could optimise their technology stack by considering the identified smart features. The findings are valuable for scholars in terms of MTA aesthetics and usability to gain acceptability. The development challenges included significant investment in technology, location accuracy and privacy concerns when implementing MTA smart features.

Originality/value

The previous literature mainly focused on evaluating app quality, assessing app functionality, and user ratings using the Mobile Application Rating Scale, and scoping reviews of MTA articles. Contrastingly, this study is among the first in which MTA smart features were examined from a developer-centric perspective. Moreover, it is suggested that MTA includes integrated smart features for better tourism services and market penetration in the tourism industry.

• Systematic literature review
• Mobile travel apps
• Mobile computing
• Smart tourism
• Emerging technologies

Sia, P.Y.-H. , Saidin, S.S. and Iskandar, Y.H.P. (2023), "Systematic review of mobile travel apps and their smart features and challenges", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights , Vol. 6 No. 5, pp. 2115-2138. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-02-2022-0087

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Mobile Applications for e-Tourism

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• Wolfgang Wörndl 5 &
• Daniel Herzog 5  

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More and more people are using smartphones and other mobile devices as their main means for information access. This is especially true for travelers, and mobile applications supporting them have become very popular in the last years. This chapter first introduces basic concepts and technologies that are important for mobile applications for e-Tourism. After a brief historical overview, we then discuss issues regarding the development of mobile applications, such as determining the context of users with sensors. We also explain basic principles of user modeling and personalization and mobile user interfaces. The second main part of the chapter classifies and outlines existing mobile applications for travel and tourism. We introduce a taxonomy that reflects a traveler’s journey from vacation planning until concluding the trip. This includes applications that assist users in finding destinations; searching for and booking hotels, events, and activities; and identifying other travel-related items. A more specific scenario is the search for POI! s ( POI! s) that a user can visit during a trip. Modern e-Tourism applications allow browsing and filtering relevant POI! s and can combine them to interesting and practical itineraries. In addition, we present applications for social networking, entertainment in e-Tourism, and others that are frequently used by tourists.

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Department of Business Informatics, University of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten, Weingarten, Germany

Wolfram Höpken

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Wörndl, W., Herzog, D. (2020). Mobile Applications for e-Tourism. In: Xiang, Z., Fuchs, M., Gretzel, U., Höpken, W. (eds) Handbook of e-Tourism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05324-6_17-1

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Travel App Revenue and Usage Statistics (2024)

Updated: January 8, 2024

The online travel booking industry was one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with some apps reporting more than 70 percent less traffic and bookings than 2019. 

It took two years for most online travel agencies, hotels, and airlines to see a return to form, although for some the levels of revenue and occupancy are still below 2019 figures. 

One of the ways Booking.com and Expedia have managed to maintain their market share is through the acquisition of competitor websites and apps. Booking owns Priceline.com, KAYAK, and Agoda, while Expedia Group has Orbitz, Travelocity, and Vrbo in its portfolio. 

Another way the duopoly has continued is through an expansion to services offered. Both Booking and Expedia have branched out into flights, car rental, experiences, taxis, and cruises. The model is similar across both platforms, with the OTA receiving a small commission for each booking.

The aim is to be a one-stop destination for a holiday, similar to how a travel agency pre-internet would organise the flight, transport, hotel, and events in a packaged holiday.

Airbnb has started this augmentation as well, with the introduction of Experiences in 2016. It also started to promote long-term stays in 2020, in response to the pandemic halting short-term travel. Transport and co-working services may be next on its list.

Even though Booking, Expedia and Airbnb are the three main platforms, there are others, such as Hopper, TripAdvisor and Trip.com. 

We have collected data and statistics on the online travel booking market. Read on below to find out more.

Key Travel App Statistics

• The travel app market generated $556 billion in revenue last year, a 53.4% increase on the previous year
• Booking generated the most revenue out of all online travel agencies in 2022
• Over 800 million people used a travel app in 2022
• Expedia holds a slight lead in the US market, at 21.5% market share
• Booking was the most downloaded travel app in 2022, with over 80 million downloads

Travel App Report 2024

Want to learn more about the travel app industry? In our Travel App report , we cover financials, usage, downloads, and demographics by age and gender, alongside market share, and benchmarks.

Top Travel Apps

Travel app revenue.

The travel app industry generated $556 billion revenue in 2022, with hotels and accomodation contributing 73% of the total revenue.

Travel app global revenues 2016 to 2022 ($bn)

Travel revenue by app.

Booking Holdings remained the top online travel agency company in terms of revenue in 2022. The big three all experienced over 60% revenue growth last year.

Travel booking app revenues 2017 to 2022 ($bn)

Travel app users.

Just over 800 million people used travel apps in 2022, a big step up from the previous two years but still lower than 2019 figures.

Travel booking app users 2016 to 2022 (bn)

Travel app market share united states.

Expedia has a lead in the US market, however, Booking has been catching up and could be the lead travel app in 2023.

Travel booking app market share in United States 2022 (%)

Travel app downloads.

Booking had the highest annual downloads worldwide, followed by Airbnb.

Travel booking app worldwide downloads 2018 to 2022 (mm)

Source: Apptopia

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Mobile travel trends - statistics & facts

What are the most popular travel apps, mobile travel booking trends, key insights.

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• Mobile internet usage worldwide
• Booking Holdings Inc.
• Expedia Group, Inc.

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Most downloaded travel apps worldwide in 2022, by aggregated number of downloads (in millions)

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps worldwide in 2023 (in millions)

Most downloaded travel apps in the United States in 2022, by aggregated number of downloads (in millions)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps in the U.S. 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps in the United States in 2023 (in millions)

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Distribution of downloads among the leading travel booking apps in the United States from 2019 to 1st half 2022

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Traffic share of travel and hospitality websites worldwide 2022-2023, by device

Share of traffic of travel and hospitality websites worldwide in 2022 and 2023, by device

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Average bounce rate of travel and hospitality websites worldwide in 2022 and 2023, by device

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Mobile travel bookings

• Premium Statistic Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2023
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Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide in 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue share of leading OTAs worldwide 2023

Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue share of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide in 2023

Expected comfort level with selected payment methods for trips in 2033 worldwide 2022

Share of travelers expecting to be comfortable in using selected payment methods for trips in 2033 worldwide as of August 2022

Mobile payments by situation in the U.S. 2023

Mobile payments by situation in the U.S. in 2023

Mobile payments by situation in Canada 2022

Mobile payments by situation in Canada in 2022

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Mobile payments by situation in Mexico in 2022

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Mobile payments by situation in India in 2022

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Mobile payments by situation in China in 2022

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Mobile payments by situation in the UK in 2022

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Share of travelers motivated to engage with selected types of advertising in the United States as of May 2022

Main reasons why U.S. consumers would use travel mobile messaging 2022

Main reasons why consumers would use mobile messaging with a travel company in the United States as of July 2022

Main reasons why U.S. consumers would use travel mobile messaging 2022, by generation

Main reasons why consumers would use mobile messaging with a travel company in the United States as of July 2022, by generation

Share of U.S. consumers interested in travel mobile messaging 2022, by generation

Share of consumers interested in using mobile messaging with a travel company in the United States as of July 2022, by generation

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China’s Outbound Tourism is Changing, Female Travelers Are Leading the Way

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

April 10th, 2024 at 8:01 AM EDT

The evolving demographics of Chinese outbound travel shows a jump in younger female travelers. This shift will have important implications for how businesses approach their marketing strategies and the kind of products on offer.

Peden Doma Bhutia

A notable demographic shift, particularly among young upwardly mobile women, is driving the recent travel rebound in China . These travelers are researching and booking trips online, often spontaneously.

According to the most recent travel sentiment survey conducted by China Trading Desk, 62% of outbound travelers were female. Among them, almost 40% fell within the ages of 18 to 24, and a little over 27% were 25 to 29-year-olds.

According to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, there were 3.6 million outbound trips taken during the Chinese New Year (from February 10-17).

Skift earlier cited a Dragon Trail research that expects China’s outbound tourism to reach 80% of pre-pandemic levels by 2024 end.

The five-day Labor Day holiday that begins from May 1 and the summer travel season are expected to further drive outbound tourism.

Women Power Drives Travel

Subramania Bhatt, founder and CEO of China Trading Desk, emphasized the emergence of a new cohort of digitally-savvy travelers seeking culturally enriching experiences. He highlighted that this demographic is predominantly young, female, and educated, with many opting for solo trips.

“These travelers exhibit a strong interest in independent travel, nature activities, and cultural experiences,” Bhatt told Skift.

He emphasized the need for travel businesses and destinations to better cater to these travelers by prioritizing safety, wellness, and support services.

Businesses should focus on promoting shopping and luxury experiences, along with unique local activities that appeal to the interests of young Chinese women travelers, he said.

Regarding travel preferences, the survey revealed that shopping ranked among the top five consumption items for outbound travel along with accommodation, air tickets and food. Over a quarter of travelers said they research shopping activities before purchasing air tickets, with this percentage rising to just under 70% among those aged 18 to 29.

Challenges of U.S. Travel

Analyzing destination popularity among Chinese travelers, Singapore maintains its lead position, followed by Thailand and South Korea.

During the first quarter of 2024, China contributed the highest number of visitor arrivals to Singapore, with nearly 724,000 entries. This marked a 481% year-on-year jump, reaching 75% of the visitor arrivals in 2019 for the same period.

In February, Singapore and China implemented a 30-day visa-free travel arrangement . Also, from March 1, Thailand and China entered into a mutual visa exemption agreement .

However, travel to the United States from China remains subdued . Bhatt predicts that Chinese travel to the U.S. may start to recover by the fourth quarter of 2024 or early 2025, barring any additional constraints.

“A variety of challenges, notably stringent visa regulations, geopolitical strains, and advisories from the Chinese government are holding back U.S. travel,” he said.

Recent incidents of professionals and students experiencing entry denials or interrogations upon arrival in the U.S. have led to official warnings about potential travel disruptions or cancellations, he said.

“Given the ongoing geopolitical complexities and the U.S. elections in November, prospects for immediate improvement in U.S.-China travel dynamics appear limited,” Bhatt said.

The survey listed government travel restrictions among the top factors influencing travel decisions.

Apps to Plan, Research and Pay

Chinese travelers are also booking trips faster and using digital platforms more. This suggests a trend towards spontaneity and flexibility driven by their digital skills, according to the survey.

They use popular travel apps like CTrip and Qunar, as well as social media platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu (China’s Instagram), to get information and plan trips. These platforms are also often used for organizing shopping excursions.

Bhatt stresses the importance of digital tools in travel and shopping, noting how they shape travel plans.

Friend recommendations strongly influence hotel bookings, followed by digital ads, highlighting the importance of social networks and targeted marketing in the hospitality industry.

For improving shopping experiences, travelers, especially those aged between 18 and 29 prefer using digital wallets and mobile payments. Alipay is the top payment method for outbound travel, with WeChat Pay also widely used among Chinese travelers.

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Tags: alipay , asia monthly , china , china outbound , ctrip , digital payments , politics , singapore , social media , survey , visa waiver , wechat pay , women travelers

Photo credit: Chinese female travelers exhibit a strong interest in independent travel, nature activities, and cultural experiences. Kuan Fang / Unsplash

MTS 2024 17+

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New Arizona mega-resort will rival Vegas and Southern California. What visitors can expect

Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this article gave incorrect information about the cost and capacity of the Vai Amphitheater.

The face of Kurt Cobain, the late lead singer of '90s alternative band Nirvana, stares at guests meandering through the beige-painted hallway of VAI Resort's Amphitheater Tower, bearing words of advice from a poster print on the wall: "Wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are."

When guests unlock the door to their room in the music-centric hotel, they step inside what feels like their own personal Hard Rock Cafe, where the décor includes a guitar above the bed and photos of musicians performing.

By the end of this year, the view from the balcony should look less like a construction site and more like the stage of an outdoor concert venue.

If VAI Resort CEO and Arizona native Grant Fisher's vision comes to pass, people from Phoenix will choose VAI for a weekend getaway instead of Las Vegas.

What will VAI Resort in Glendale have?

VAI Resort, scheduled to open in late 2024 on Cardinals Way across from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, is a new kind of hotel for metro Phoenix. Its 11,000-capacity concert venue is designed to compete with Las Vegas for A-list artist residencies.

The resort, which the Glendale City Council approved in 2020 when it was called Crystal Lagoons, will include sandy beaches with 5 acres of temperature-controlled water.

It will be adjacent to Mattel Adventure Park , which will include a Barbie Beach House and Hot Wheels-themed roller coasters. This aims to make Phoenix competitive with Southern California for beach getaways and family theme park trips.

The resort will also have a spa and wellness center, luxury boutiques and 12 restaurants anchored by a steakhouse that offers stage views.

"VAI is undoubtedly breaking the mold with experiential hospitality, as every aspect is designed to treat guests to incredible entertainment, cuisine and luxury,” Fisher said in a statement.

What makes VAI different from other Phoenix-area hotels?

In addition to the concert venue, man-made beaches and Mattel Adventure Park, VAI will have a 50,000-square-foot, European-inspired "party island" called Konos Island and tethered hot-air balloon rides where passengers can view desert and mountain vistas from 400 feet above ground.

Fisher envisions VAI competing with Las Vegas for vacationers.

"The traditional hotel in Arizona is golf and spa oriented," Fisher, 28, told The Arizona Republic in December 2022. "Why do people leave Arizona? It's to go to these mega entertainment destinations. So, what I really wanted to do was bring that to the heart of Phoenix."

It's rare for a "mega entertainment destination" to be developed outside of Las Vegas, said Emmy Hise, senior director of hospitality analytics with CoStar Group, which owns the global hospitality data company STR.

She said bringing such a concept to reality requires a large amount of land and access to major highways and airports. The VAI location has these attributes.

"I think any time you add something new to a market, especially this type of hotel, people are attracted to it," Hise said. "The fact it’s a little further west from downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale, there’s more land to develop and it can make it a different type of destination."

The rarity of hotels like VAI in the U.S. is not lost on Kim Grace Sabow, president and CEO of the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association. She said Arizona is "witnessing the emergence of a true game changer" for entertainment and luxury hospitality statewide.

"VAI Resort transcends the boundaries of traditional hotels, offering a complete and unparalleled resort destination that sets it apart from the rest," she said.

The only parallels to VAI Resort outside of Las Vegas that Hise could think of were the Gaylord Hotels, large convention-focused resorts with features like water parks, riverboat rides and animal encounters.

Gaylord's flagship hotel, the 2,888-room Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee, offers live music. Kelly Clarkson, Sheryl Crow and Paramore performed there, and it hosted Christmas residencies from country artists like Larry Gatlin and the Oak Ridge Boys, according to Setlist.fm .

How big is the VAI Resort?

VAI is on 60 acres south of State Farm Stadium and will have 1,100 rooms and suites across four towers:

• Amphitheater Tower: 318 rooms.
• Rhythm Tower: 311 rooms.
• Cadence Tower: 299 rooms.
• VAI Villas: 155 rooms.

The resort originally planned 630 rooms when it was known as Crystal Lagoons.

It will be the largest hotel in Arizona, surpassing the 1,003-room Sheraton Phoenix Downtown.

It also will trounce the sizes of the West Valley's and Westgate Entertainment District's top hotels, with more than triple their capacity, Hise said.

The West Valley's largest hotel is the 343-room Bluegreen Vacations Cibola Vista Resort and Spa near Lake Pleasant, about 20 miles northwest of VAI Resort. It will have 23 more rooms than the largest hotel at Westgate, the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa.

How much will it cost to stay at VAI Resort?

Room rates will range from $500 to $900 per night, Fisher said. He didn't specify whether VAI Resort would charge a resort fee.

Reinventing Valley tourism

If Fisher's ambitions to remake Arizona's lodging landscape sound familiar, it's because others have shared them.

They can be traced as far back as the 1913 debut of the San Marcos Hotel in Chandler. The city's founder and namesake, Dr. Alexander J. Chandler, envisioned the hotel as a grand golf resort never before seen in Arizona that could compete with Pasadena, California, for wealthy tourists seeking winter escapes.

Fisher cites a more modern example: casino magnate Steve Wynn's expansion of the Las Vegas Strip in the 1990s.

The Strip had been known for casino and entertainment resorts since the 1940s, when gangster Bugsy Siegel helped open the Flamingo resort. That same decade, the flamboyant entertainer Liberace pioneered the concert residency at another Strip destination, Hotel Last Frontier.

The mega-resorts came after Wynn opened the Mirage in 1989, leading to a major expansion of the Strip where massive resorts designed for several thousand guests were built in the 1990s and 2000s.

The vast majority of the nation's hotels with the most rooms are in Las Vegas and were built during this boom. The largest, the Italian-inspired Venetian Resort, opened in 1999. It has more than 7,000 rooms between the original Venetian hotel and its sister property, Palazzo, which debuted in 2007.

In 1989, the Mirage's opening year, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority recorded 18.1 million tourists in the city. By the end of the 1990s, that number nearly doubled to 33.8 million visitors.

How VAI will compete with Las Vegas for music fans

One of the reasons for that growth is what attracted Fisher to the VAI Resort project: music residencies.

Las Vegas, during its 1990s expansion, had a reputation for residencies dominated by washed-up artists. But Canadian superstar Celine Dion's A New Day (2003-07) and Celine (2011-19) residencies at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace redefined the format. Her residencies collectively sold more than 4.5 million tickets and grossed more than $681 million, making it Vegas' biggest-selling music residency, according to Billboard .

Countless pop, rock, R&B and country superstars followed Dion's lead. Elton John's two Caesars Palace residencies were almost as successful as Dion's. Britney Spears' 2013-17 residency at Planet Hollywood made $138 million. Shania Twain ended a long hiatus from music in 2012 with a Caesars Palace residency. Usher's residency at Park MGM went viral in part for its celebrity serenades ; when the 2024 Super Bowl came to Vegas, he headlined the halftime show .

In developing the $50 million, 11,000-seat VAI Amphitheater, Fisher understands he has little competition among Arizona hotels. Perhaps the closest similar hotel would be Talking Stick Resort in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. But its concert ballroom seats 1,600, less than a quarter of what VAI expects to hold.

He instead sees VAI rivaling venues like Arizona Financial Theatre, the 5,000-seat downtown Phoenix theater where big names like Peso Pluma and Olivia Rodrigo have played to sold-out crowds.

Fisher also sees VAI competing with Vegas hotels where residencies take place. VAI Amphitheater would surpass the capacity of at least four of the biggest residency venues in Vegas:

• Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, which has hosted Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban, lists a capacity of 7,000.
• Dolby Live at Park MGM, which has hosted Usher, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, has a capacity of 5,200.
• Resorts World Theatre, which has hosted Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, holds 5,000 people.
• The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which has hosted Adele, Garth Brooks, Rod Stewart and Jerry Seinfeld, lists a capacity of “4,300+ seats” on its website.

How VAI will compete with Southern California for families

Hise said the current lodging market in the West Valley leans heavily on family-oriented extended stay brands like Hilton's Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites.

She thinks VAI Resort and Mattel Adventure Park, Arizona's first themed indoor/outdoor amusement park, will elevate that landscape.

"I think they're trying, in my opinion, to make it a family-friendly destination that’s easier for people to stay at," Hise said. "Phoenix has a lot of luxury. But (Glendale) is geared toward families with the cluster of resorts (and) the Mattel amusement park. I think it’s aiming for a family-friendly vacation."

When Mattel Adventure Park opens, Glendale will enter a crowded theme-park landscape.

In the West, Southern California dominates. The latest attendance report from Themed Entertainments Association and AECOM found that six of the top 20 most visited theme parks in North America in 2022 are in Southern California:

• No. 2: Disneyland Park in Anaheim, 16.9 million visitors.
• No. 8: Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, 9 million visitors.
• No. 9: Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, 8.4 million visitors.
• No. 11: Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, 3.9 million visitors.
• No. 14: SeaWorld San Diego, 3.5 million visitors.
• No. 16: Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, 2.9 million visitors.

At 9 acres, Mattel Adventure Park would be a fraction of the size of the competing parks. Disney's California Adventure, the smallest Western theme park on the attendance list, is 72 acres.

But the VAI team is betting the Mattel park can prove as successful as Disney's and Universal's parks. Last summer offered a sign: "Barbie" was the highest-grossing movie of 2023 .

And roller coaster fans will be drawn by the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker: the Ultimate Ride coaster, which climbs 84 feet and drops down a double helix track, and the Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer, which will feature a double loop and two corkscrews.

Can VAI Resort live up to its ambitions?

Despite some controversies in the VAI development saga, such as environmental concerns regarding its plans to use 50 million gallons of water for its swimming lagoon , and activist and resident opposition to VAI receiving tax incentives , experts see its anticipated arrival as a positive.

Hise expects VAI will be a hit with Arizona staycationers and out-of-state travelers. As for whether it will fulfill Fisher's vision of remaking Arizona into something on the scale of Las Vegas or Disney's theme parks, Hise thinks it depends on something outside VAI's control.

That's whether Phoenix can attract more transatlantic and transpacific flights.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has two routes between Phoenix and Europe with three airlines. American Airlines and British Airways each fly a Phoenix-London route, while Condor Airlines flies a seasonal route to Frankfurt, Germany. In May, Sky Harbor will get a third route when Air France introduces nonstop service to Paris .

Unlike VAI's competing destinations, the Phoenix airport has no nonstop flights to Asia. Las Vegas has one to Seoul, South Korea. San Diego has one to Tokyo. Los Angeles counts 10 nonstop routes to Asia.

These routes can be crucial in driving the success of a destination. Hise cited the Las Vegas-Seoul route for attracting international tourists to Las Vegas' K-Pop music festival We Bridge in April 2023. A post from the festival organizers on X, formerly Twitter, said more than 15,000 people attended.

While not all of the traffic can be attributed to We Bridge, Korean Airlines' Las Vegas-Seoul route drew 8,516 arriving and departing passengers in April 2023, according to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

Phoenix airport officials are optimistic that Sky Harbor will eventually secure a route to Asia, citing the charter flights between Phoenix and Taipei, Taiwan, that transported Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. workers for training; the company is building a 1,100-acre plant in north Phoenix .

Right now, Fisher is focused on bringing his vision of a transformative entertainment resort to reality, a place that would stand as a point of pride for a city he's called home since he was 3 years old.

Is that staycation deal a bargain? Check the resort fee before you book

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at   [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:   @salerno_phx .

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Last-minute trip from Florida for the total eclipse? Here's the closest large city in the path

The first total solar eclipse of 2024 is Monday, April 8 and it will be the only solar eclipse this year that will have a path of totality stretching across the U.S. And it’s been nicknamed “The Great North American Eclipse.”

Florida isn’t in the path of totality, but depending on where you are in the state, you might be able to see a little over half of the sun being covered by the moon. Although, if you’re up for an impromptu road trip this weekend, the closest big city in the path of totality is a 14-hour drive from Orlando.

Here’s how visible the April 8 total solar eclipse will be from Florida and where the closest big city in the path of totality is.

Can you see the solar eclipse in Florida 2024?

Florida isn’t in the direct path of the total eclipse.

The path of totality of the Great North American Eclipse will start between New Zealand and Mexico in the South Pacific Ocean, pass from Mexico into Oklahoma, and travel northeast (diagonally) across the country. The path of totality will cross the New England region of the U.S. and then a portion of Canada, before ending in the Atlantic Ocean near the French and Spanish coasts.

While we're not in the path of totality, we'll still be able to see a partial eclipse from Florida. From just over half of the sun to over 3/4 of it will be obscured by the moon from our angle, depending on where you are in the state.

Explore these interactive maps: How long will the solar eclipse darkness last in your city?

What major cities are in the path of totality 2024?

A recent study from online fishing and hunting guidebook Captain Experiences mapped the biggest cities with the best view of the total solar eclipse in the path of totality.

“Due to the unique path of the 2024 eclipse, Texas stands out as the state hosting the top four largest cities within the totality path and eight of the top 15,” the study said.

“Notably, among the five largest cities in Texas — Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin — only Houston will not experience the total solar eclipse this year.”

Here’s Captain Experiences’ list of the largest cities in the path of totality:

• San Antonio, Texas
• Dallas, Texas
• Austin, Texas
• Fort Worth, Texas
• Columbus, Ohio
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Arlington, Texas
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Plano, Texas
• Buffalo, New York
• Toledo, Ohio
• Irving, Texas
• Garland, Texas
• Rochester, New York
• Little Rock, Arkansas

Hudson Valley eclipse outlook: New solar eclipse totality map now excludes some NY towns.

Which city in the eclipse path of totality is closest to Florida?

If you want to drive to see the eclipse in its path of totality, it’s a long drive, but it’s possible. And you'd need to make the trip this weekend or pull an all-nighter on Sunday to make it.

Of the biggest cities in the 2024 total solar eclipse path of totality, Little Rock, Arkansas is closest to Florida.

Depending on where you are in Florida, the drive to Little Rock takes around 10 hours (from Tallahassee), to 17 hours (from Miami).

Will Little Rock, Arkansas be in the path of totality 2024?

Yes! Little Rock, Arkansas is in the path of totality for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. The window of totality in Little Rock is anticipated to be 2 minutes and 29 seconds of complete darkness.

According to Time and Date , the eclipse will begin around 12:33 p.m. in Little Rock, reach maximum darkness at around 1:52 p.m. and it will end around 3:11 p.m.