(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)Virtual check-ins wireless entertainment online room service requests and mobile travel upgrades - these are what the future holds for travel and tourism in the UAE mobile technology experts say.
According to the latest World Travel Market Global Trends Report mobile devices are increasingly key in the travel industry in terms of both customer service and bookings with mobile reservations expected to reach 35 per cent of online travel-related bookings by 2018. Figures from Payfort a Middle East online payment service provider show that 60 per cent of air ticket bookings in the UAE are made online. Today's travellers are tech-savvy consumers who expect hotels and airlines to at minimum match the same level of technology they use in their daily lives said axiom chief executive officer Faisal Al Bannai. And with Dubai's ambitious plan to welcome 20 million visitors by 2020 this demand for mobility will only continue to grow. "Mobile technology is transforming the global tourism landscape and the UAE is no exception. Travellers whether for leisure or business want to be able to easily scan and compare options make bookings and engage with travel agents and hoteliers with the touch of the button" Al Bannai said. "Meeting these expectations means the hospitality and travel industry will need to adopt technologies that deliver mobility and convenience." The UAE is moving quickly to meet the growing appetite for mobility. Dozens of hotels now offer complementary Wi-Fi access giving guests access to quality wireless Internet connections in their private rooms. On a city-wide level visitors can top up their Nol card for the Dubai Metro or request a taxi using the Roads and Transport Authority's convenient mobile applications. Airlines are also looking to reap the benefits of mobile technology. According to a recent survey by global payment processing company WorldPay 71 per cent of global carriers believe the future of airline payments lies in mobile. Over the next two years airlines will extend existing mobile services to offer ancillary purchases such as seat upgrades booking management and inflight purchases via mobile phones. The number of airlines offering on-board mobile payments will increase from five per cent to 36 per cent in the next two years and 18 per cent of airlines plan to accept e-wallets on-board by 2016 according to the survey. In the UAE both Emirates and Etihad Airways offer online check-in services and onboard Wi-Fi access with Emirates recently announcing that it has extended its onboard Wi-Fi service to nearly half its fleet. -
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