Smart tourism is positioned as the future of tourism, encouraging destinations to prioritise efficiency and sustainability to improve the tourist experience. So, what changes has smart tourism had on the tourism landscape? Let’s take a look.
Virtual Experiences
The development in new technologies has allowed many platforms to offer virtual alternatives to traditionally in-person experiences. Perhaps one of the best examples of this is online casinos, which provide both live and on-demand casino games through online portals. This isn’t just limited to traditional casino games, though. Games such as Plinko Go at https://casino.betfair.com/game/plinko-go-arx use the gameplay of game show-style peg games. The online game has the same rules and gameplay as the traditional game, except it is played through an interactive online platform, providing a unique and immersive virtual experience.
The same logic, then, can be applied to a multitude of different experiences in the tourism industry. This may be particularly important for places that need to strike the right balance between increased tourism and conservation of the environment, or if historical importance prevents the attraction from adapting to become accessible.
With this in mind, increasing numbers of tourist experiences have digital alternatives to the in-person attraction, such as 360-degree virtual tours, live-streamed events, gamified information pages, and online exhibitions, allowing tourists to have local experiences without physically needing to be in that location.
Enhanced Translation Services
As access to travel increases, so too does the demand for translation. Previously, tourists would have to learn the local language well in advance, manually look up phrases, or input words into a translation app. However, there are many technologies transforming translation. The first of these is Google Lens, which can be explored at https://lens.google/intl/en-GB/howlensworks, and can be accessed through Google Search or via a downloadable application. This allows tourists to translate words through their camera, for instant translations of things like road signs and directions.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also quickly developing to support real-time spoken translation. Just one example of this is the Live Translate feature on new Samsung Galaxy devices, which you can learn more about at https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-ai. These systems use speech recognition and natural language processing for streamlined translation. If tourists prefer a more human approach, tailored tourist apps often have recommendations for reputable, local translators, too.
Improved Connectivity
Previously, tourists may have been limited in their connectivity whilst overseas. And, as you can see, most smart tourism technologies require a strong and stable internet connection. However, thanks to the widespread implementation of 5G, improved WiFi, and the phenomena of the e-sim, getting internet connectivity abroad is easier than ever before.
With reliable internet, tourists can quickly access anything they need, whether it’s Google Maps, mobile payment applications, or technology-assisted experiences such as augmented reality (AR) and QR code-supported self-guided tours. 5G data is also used in airports and shopping centres to track average footfall and capacity, which is then leveraged to provide tourists with busyness trends to help in planning the day around large crowds.
Overall, smart tourism technology has a wide range of potential applications, which are already disrupting and improving the tourist experience. As for what the future might hold for the next generation of smart tourism technologies, we’ll just have to jet off, and wait and see.