Tourism in 2022. How did you imagine it? We bet, nothing like what we’ve experienced the past two years.
Many things have changed and that is precisely what has been discussed lately.
Doinn has been present at two key events recently: The travel innovation summit and FITUR.
We tell you a little about the events:
The travel innovation summit is a private event organized by a group of investors: Top Seed Lab.
With TOP characters in the world of tourism: Viajes el corte Inglés, Mélia, UNWTO and many others.
Discussing tourism trends and separating them from simple passing occurrences. Was the main subject of the event.
The themes that will really arise in the different tourism subsectors.
In the case of FITUR, surely you already know about this great event.
FITUR is a world-class event that has positioned itself as a tool for tourism. Its mission is to contribute to the recovery of tourism and grow the sector.
That’s exactly why we thought it important to write and discuss with you the trends, learnings and many interesting facts happening in tourism today.
It is important to highlight that these topics have been commented on in both events, which is why they’ve been selected for this article.
Sure there are many more things happening in this world but without a doubt, the topics that we deal with today here will continue to give something to talk about.
Let’s begin!
The digital transformation has no turning back
If there is something in which both events agree, it is that digitization in tourism will not go anywhere.
The pandemic has pushed all industries towards digital.
Terms like: smart tourism, smart travel, smart cities, are just a few that are constantly being heard.
And as a consequence of the pandemic, there was a great explosion of tourism towards the digital world.
And we are not just talking about using social networks or creating a website.
If not how new disruptive business models are transforming tourism for the future.
Below 3 examples of new businesses that are digital, disruptive, and innovative:
- Can you imagine a completely digital luxury hotel? It is CitizenM’s proposal, you make the reservation online, check-in/check-out kiosks, and without seeing a person. Approaching a more modern and young traveler.
- Borders are still closed in half the world. But in Atlanta with illuminarium you can visit amazing places in the world in its immersive experience.
- Automation in hotels. Some hotels already turn off lights and regulate temperatures through devices and even welcoming robots read everything in this article.
If these 3 examples show us anything, it is that traditional tourism models will have to work to incorporate new verticals.
Because tourism has changed forever.
The opportunity of rural tourism
Another reality that was a consequence of the pandemic.
The main reason is almost obvious, after lockdowns we all want to reconnect with nature and be away from our noisy cities.
The problem?
These rural areas were not ready for change.
But it happened. And as a global phenomenon: the United States, China, France, Spain, and many more.
They have seen the numbers in their rural areas grow and now the job is to improve the user experience.
These are some of the actions for rural areas:
- “Make my move” is an online platform where communities offer work and a rural area to live for nomads.
- “A nomadic island” is Madeira’s proposal offering travelers a free community workspace, Wi-Fi, and exclusive events every day at the John dos Passos centre.
The digital nomads are here to stay
If you remember, a few months ago we told you exactly this in our article about digital nomads.
According to this study, there are 4.8 million people who consider themselves nomads in the world.
And surely the figure will continue to increase, which is why many countries are preparing to offer advantages to this type of traveler.
Because not everyone wants to go to an island in Thailand 😉
In fact, rural tourism in some areas is preparing to also become a destination for teleworking and not just ecotourism.
These are some of the things that are happening in relation to digital nomads:
- Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb said on Twitter that he would live in Airbnb this year to try the “nomad” experience first hand.
- Do you want a discount on your long stays? Use stayforlong and get a property that suits your needs.
- Can you imagine 99% of public services online 24/7? This is possible in Tallinn, Estonia. It was named one of the best cities for remote work and with a very fast and cheap visa process.
New technologies in tourism
Smart cities are already here and they are not new.
But what can we expect from the future?
Based on the lectures and discussions of some of the experts at these events.
We tell you some very interesting ones:
Tourism and the metaverse
Although the video of Iceland seems funny to us, the reality is that we are increasingly moving towards a world in virtual reality.
And perhaps the day will come when the metaverse will also come to our decisions about the vacations or properties that we are going to rent.
This is the case of the animal life reserve in Singapore that offers virtual reality experiences with animals.
Blockchain and tourism
In essence, the blockchain is a block within an information chain.
This chain has the peculiarity that it cannot be altered.
To modify any data registered in the chain, it must be modified in all the devices of the chain, so it becomes an unbeatable system.
This means that it is not only viable for cryptocurrencies which is what we listen to the most.
In fact, there is a home-sharing platform Beenest. Based on the blockchain.
Their technology is used to put guests in touch with hosts so they can organize and pay for stays.
What is different?
There is no middleman who charges large commissions in the process.
But it keeps payment, reputation, and arbitration protocols in place, giving users greater security.
To better understand, watch this video:
Although we don’t have a magic ball, we know that some of these trends will continue with us in 2022.
And at Doinn we strive to share the latest developments and news with you, we hope you have enjoyed this article as much as we have.
See you next time 😉