5 Ways Technology Will Change Travel in the Next Decade
Last week, I wrote about the ways in which technology has changed the way we travel in the past 10 years. If you missed Part 1, head over there now. Today, we’re looking ahead to the next decade in travel tech.
Language won’t be a barrier anymore
Once, travellers were worried about visiting destinations where they didn’t speak the language. Today, DuoLingo allows you to learn the basics of just about any language in a matter of minutes. You can learn by topic or simulate conversation scenarios using a chatbot. Tools like Verbling allow people to teach each other languages via video chat. Not to worry if you didn’t have time to brush up on your skills either. With Google Translate’s Word Lens, you can simply point your phone at a sign or a menu and Voilà! It is magically translated into your language instantly.
Tourists will interact more with locals
In an age when much of our communication happens online, more and more companies are working to facilitate face-to-face human experiences for travellers. SpottedByLocals allows city locals to sell tourists experiences, from street art tours to cooking classes. Airbnb has also made a natural transition into this space, offering experiences led by locals.
Remote working will make it easier to travel more
Jobs are becoming more flexible every day, with a good internet connection being the only requirement for most workers. Remote working is becoming an ever more viable and popular option, allowing people to travel more frequently. Many people even choose to work remotely full-time, and services like NomadList make it easy for them to make informed decisions about where they go.
It will become easier to find authentic experiences
A few years ago we may have had to rely on our gut or an outdated guidebook to find the best place to eat. Now, it’s becoming easier to find better, more authentic places to go. Although there’s a long way to go until tourist traps no longer make money, informed travellers are steering away from them. Here at KOMPAS, we’re working hard to drive people off the beaten track, towards authentic and unique experiences.
Machine learning will create effortlessly personalised experiences
If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed by thousands of reviews, foreign language websites and scribbled down notes, you know how difficult travel planning can be. At KOMPAS, we use machine learning to recommend places that you will enjoy. Using the app, you can create an itinerary customized to your budget, timeframe and mood in a matter of seconds. We’re working hard on fine-tuning our algorithms so that our recommendations are always perfectly relevant to you.
These are just a few of the ways that travel is set to change in the coming years. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments. By the way, if you want to get involved in the future of travel, KOMPAS is currently crowdfunding. Check out our campaign at www.seedrs.com/KOMPAS and help us create the world’s best travel app.
Discover hidden places to go in London and 5 other cities with our free app. Download KOMPAS at www.GetKompas.com
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Originally published at KOMPAS Blog.
