Travel confidence boosted by technology

As 2020 comes to an end, leaders in governments and key industries are working to determine how people can safely return to work, particularly in travel and tourism where jobs in hospitality, airlines, cruises, travel agencies, car rentals, rideshares, events, attractions and so much more, accounted for one in 10 jobs in the world pre-Covid.

To gain more insight into how the travel industry and governments can work to rebuild traveller confidence, Amadeus, a travel technology company, commissioned research to learn more about travellers’ top concerns, and what types of technology would help travellers feel safe and comfortable enough to travel.

Mobile apps and biometrics could boost travellers’ confidence

Informed by over 6,000 travellers across France, Germany, India, Singapore, UK and the US, the study found that technology plays a crucial role in supporting recovery, as over four in five (84 per cent) said technology would increase their confidence to travel in the next 12 months by addressing concerns around mixing with crowds, social distancing and physical touchpoints.

When asked about which technologies or technology experiences that would increase confidence to travel in the next year or make them more likely to travel, survey results showed:

• 42 per cent of respondents say mobile applications that provide on-trip notifications to inform about localised outbreaks and changes to government guidance would help boost their confidence to travel

• 34 per cent of travellers who have concerns about travelling in light of Covid say biometrics (i.e. facial or voice recognition) that enable check-in, pass-through security and boarding without the need for physical checks would make them more likely to travel
   
• 33 per cent of travellers agree they would like one universal digital traveller identification (such as CommonPass) on their phone that includes all necessary documentation and immunity status, which they only had to show once.

A source of optimism for the travel industry

Christophe Bousquet, Chief Technology Officer at Amadeus, commented: “This research provides a source of optimism for the industry, as many of the travellers’ concerns can be addressed by technology available now, at every stage of a traveller’s experience. Whether it is new mobile applications, biometrics or contactless solutions, we need to explore together as an industry, and with governments, how best to accelerate adoption if we are to encourage global travel, which is a major driver of global prosperity.”

Stefan Ropers, President of Strategic Growth Businesses at Amadeus, added: “From finding suitable destinations to going through airports and paying for travel services, today’s travellers want reassurance that their journey will be stress free, prioritising safety and hygiene, as well as experiences that meet their needs. This requires building a better experience by connecting the travel ecosystem, for example, via digital identity management, linking every step of the traveller journey.”