Technological advances have changed the way we travel, and these new developments promise an even more interactive and exciting experience.

Do you want to know what it has in store for us in the not-too-distant future? Today, nobody doubts technology’s importance in tourism especially in Pakistan and how it has influenced and continues to shape, the way we travel: from the vacation destination we choose, all the way to what we do once we're there and even in the time after we've come back from our adventure. It is so prevalent, that according to a Google Travel study, 74% of travelers plan their trips on the Internet, while only 13% still use travel agencies to prepare them. Mobile Technology This is undoubtedly the main character in the new ways of travel.

The cell phone has become our tour guide, travel agency, best restaurant locator, map, and more. It's by our side during the entire purchase journey. In fact, according to Guestkor, 45% of users use their smartphone for everything having to do with their vacations. This is why there’s a need to adapt corporate services and communications to these devices. KLM, for example, has already created an information service for passengers using Facebook Messenger. This system, once someone has made a reservation, sends the user information regarding their ticket through Facebook Messenger as well as their boarding pass or updates about the status of their flight.

This way, the user has all the pertinent information about their trip in the palm of their hand using an app that they already use, eliminating the need to download anything else. Augmented Reality Augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) have also entered the travel world, and the truth is that it’s a trend due to all the possibilities they can offer. More and more companies use it to show users a cabin on a cruise ship or transport them, for a few seconds, to the Great Wall of China. Internet of Things (IoT) The Internet of Things (IoT) promises to bring significant updates to the tourism industry.

They include integrating sensors connected to the Internet inside items like cars, suitcases, buildings, and more. Virtual Assistants We’re all familiar with Siri and Alexa, the virtual assistants that meet all our needs: what’s the weather like today in my city, turn the radio on, open my email, and more. Hotels are now starting to enlist this “help” thanks to the arrival of virtual assistants specially-designed for this environment. IBM recently launched Watson Assistant, an AI-powered virtual assistant that creates an interactive and personalized experience for consumers.

This is the open technology that firms can employ and adapt to their needs. This way, the virtual assistant won't be called Watson but instead, have the name that the hotel chooses. Big Data There has been a lot of recent talk about Big Data, but they have yet to show all the opportunities it offers for the travel industry. Nonetheless, many industry players are already using it. Blockchain Blockchain is a technology poised to transform the world as we know it. Although it’s mainly associated with finance, it also appears that it can impact travel.

While there has not been that much experimentation with it, it is possible that it will be useful in identifying passengers at the airport, guaranteeing transparency in tourists' opinions, and easy and secure payments.