With digital vaccine passports designed to ensure the safe recovery of international travel post-pandemic, there is likely to be a closer relationship between technology and travel. Smart cities will undoubtedly play a key role, according to an article in the online magazine Hotel Business.
It cites data and analytics company GlobalData, which expects technology to affect the way individuals travel. Many destinations have been working on a ‘smart concept’ to ensure a seamless visitor experience post-pandemic and monitor tourism more closely through capacity management, writes the article.
Johanna Bonhill-Smith, travel and tourism analyst, GlobalData, said: “Even though the ‘smart city’ concept has been mentioned frequently in the past, the reality is there are only a few destinations actively working towards it. However, with businesses more heavily focusing on incorporating technology to improve the visitor experience through no-touch and ‘contactless’ services alongside smart app engagement, there is clearly greater leverage for DMOs to utilize data in future management.”
She cites as an example Venice, which has accelerated its development with Internet of Things (IoT) and capacity management to build more responsibly post-pandemic. She concludes that: “Technological and smart solutions alone will continue to be important in future travel, but the combination of technology and collaboration are the two prime factors that will lead to more responsible tourism in a post-pandemic environment.”
