Latest News
HomeRegional NewsAfricaTechnology continues to grow in importance
WTM Industry Report shows no let-up in consumer demand for tech innovation

Technology continues to grow in importance

REPORT – WTM 2010: The booking of holidays on mobile phones and other new technologies will be the biggest consumer trend to impact on the travel and tourism industry, reveals a survey of senior executives within the sector by leading exhibition World Travel Market.

Nearly two-thirds (65.3%) of the 1,200 senior industry executives polled expect “booking holidays using new technologies” to be a major consumer trend over the next five years, by far the largest response.

Other anticipated trends include an increase in domestic tourism (43.9%), all-inclusive holidays (39.2%) and environmentally aware holidays (33.2%). Multiple responses were possible for this question.

Around three-quarters of respondents from Africa and Middle East & North Africa see consumer demand for new technologies as a major consumer trend, the strongest regional response.

The expected consumer demand for technology is front-of-mind for the industry. Nearly a quarter (24.8%) see technological advances as the biggest single opportunity over the next five years. Mobile communications, a separate response, is specified by one-in-ten (8.8%) as the biggest single opportunity.

Another exclusive piece of research, commissioned by WTM in association with Euromonitor International, identified mobile as a key travel trend within Europe. It suggested that the take-up and use of smartphones in Europe could see manufacturers and developers take over from search engines as the industry’s most important technology players.

World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, is an accepted bellweather for the industry. Its “Travel and Online Technology” section is one of the fastest-growing areas of the event, with the space devoted to it this year the largest ever. WTM has also expanded its technology-related seminar programme, introduced a presentation theatre and added a technology session to its Speed Networking line-up.

World Travel Market Chairman Fiona Jeffery said: “Technology has advanced dramatically over the past decade, but World Travel Market research shows the travel industry and its customers expect this development to continue.

“There is no sign of the travel technology market maturing. Developers will continue to innovate, and travel companies need to understand what technologies work best for their target market.”

Co-Founder & Managing Director - Travel Media Applications | Website | + Posts

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

29/03/2024
28/03/2024
27/03/2024
26/03/2024
25/03/2024
22/03/2024