Agoda, an online travel booking platform, has revealed what travellers expect to become the ‘norm’ over the next decade, following a global survey carried out by YouGov Singapore.
The top three expected developments to become standard practice are single apps for all travel needs, passport free travel, and mobile app check-in. This is particularly true among respondents in SE Asia, of whom half listed these as the expected standard over the next decade. Only a third of UK and US respondents expect this to be the new norm, with both countries also less optimistic on the likelihood of passport-free travel, with only 20% expecting this to be the norm. China (44%) and Australia (41%) – along with SE Asian countries – were more positive over this development.
The study also found that exploring more of their own country was cited by 40% of respondents, with international travel anticipated at 35%, and more than 25% wishing to make more eco-friendly choices going forward. UK, South Korea and Australia were the only countries omitting a domestic destination on their wish lists, with New York being the top desire for British travellers.
Kyoto rated the top most-anticipated destination overall, being popular with respondents all around the world, followed by Bangkok and Bali.
Timothy Hughes, Vice President of Corporate Development at Agoda, said: ‘It is a technology golden age for travellers, as technology is developed to simplify the way anyone, anywhere can search, book and pay for flights, hotels or holiday accommodation. The 2000s was defined by the mouse and the computer, putting online travel booking just a click away. The 2010s, was defined by the smart phone and app, and put a travel agent in the pocket of every phone owner, and the 2020s will be defined by the power of data and Machine Learning (AI). This will enable companies like Agoda to provide personalized, more relevant recommendations to make booking travel even easier. Asian travellers, in particular, are enthused by, and expectant of, technology developments that enhance and simplify their travel experience. Asian based companies are now leading the world in technology adoption and development to achieve this. I expect to see Asia press ahead with that lead in the 2020s – especially in areas such as video and augmented reality, improved mobile services with more chat and voice solutions, and payments to help bring the ‘unbanked’ online’.
The study took information from over 16,000 respondents earlier this month.
