The Influence of Digital Entertainment On Modern Travel Lifestyles
Digital habits now play a more significant role in how individuals travel. Modern journeys are much more than sightseeing, flights, hotels, and eating out. Modern travellers now stay connected throughout their journeys and use mobile services that range digital wallets and booking apps to online gaming and streaming.
Digital activities are not replacing travel, however the constantly connected mentality of modern online users means they have become such an integral part of our modern lives that they now have been integrated into the travel ecosystem, offering experiences that are flexible and smoother where hotels, airports, and other travel related services are integrating technology to improve the user experience and creating user journeys that are smarter, more convenient, and connected.
Different Types of Digital Entertainment For Travellers
Travellers are increasingly connected during their trips now as many airlines, trains, and other transport services offering wifi for free or at an affordable price which has led to an increase of individuals that are now spending their journeys enjoying different forms of entertainment:
Mobile-friendly platforms mean that travellers can easily access their favourite online gaming platforms and enjoy dynamic online gamingsuch as Online Roulette streamed directly to their mobile devices thirty thousand feet in the air, or sitting on a sun lounger in front of the sea.
Streaming services provide entertainment such as music, videos, and films that can be watched live with an internet connection or downloaded to be watched during flight, train journeys, or during downtime.
Interactive entertainment where users actions directly influence their experience through two way communication such as live polls, group chats, and engaging with online communities is another fun way to pass the time when waiting for a flight to take off, activities to begin, or when chilling on the sun lounger trying to work on a tan.
The Convenience of Smartphones
Smartphones have become essential tools that help modern travelers plan almost every part of their journey. They are easy to transport and convenient and offer instant online access to most services. In a recent survey travellers indicated that being able to remain connected throughout all stages of their journey was top priority and travel providers, hotels, and other travel related providers are integrating services into their offering to ensure that this expectation is met which results in trips that are convenient and more enjoyable.
Smartphones are essential for logistical aspects of trips and travel providers have created mobile-first optimised websites and apps to facilitate access so that travelers can plan ahead and make split moment decisions from their smartphones.
There are several ways that smartphones are convenient when travelling:
It is easy to make last minute plans, find the best deals, the a conveniently located hotel, and other attractions with apps like booking.com and Airbnb or Trip Advisor which means travellers can always choose the option that is best for them and best of all the booking can be made and paid for directly from a smartphone.
Payments are easy with apps that quickly convert currency and even make it possible to use digital wallets in local currency which makes contactless payment easy and also cuts down on currency exchange fees. It also removes the need to carry large amounts of cash which is always risky.
Apps such as Google translate make communicating with the locals much easier which is essential in countries where travellers cannot speak the language. There are even functions where entire menus can be translated or phrases can be typed into a phone and then shown to locals when asking questions that smartphones cannot do on their own.
Getting around without needing to carry local currency, haggle with taxi drivers about price, or worry about being taken to the wrong destination are a thing of the past with easy to use transportation apps such as Uber and Bolt. Public transport schedules can also easily be consulted in real time and tickets can be purchased online.
Communicating is easy with secure free communication services such as WhatsApp which means that travellers can keep in contact with friends, families, as well as companies that are providing them services during their travels.
For individuals who want to explore cities on their own GPS and map services such as Google maps are invaluable when finding one’s way around; They are also helpful to find local restaurants, services, or nearby points of interest. For those that have a hire car, gone are the days of paying for GPS services with the hire company. Waze has travellers covered and will find the shortest most efficient routes to their chosen destination.
Smartphones also serve as entertainment hubs:
Travellers can take photos and videos which can be shared with others on social media platforms or sent to friends and family on WhatsApp.
Travellers can also discover local attractions, read reviews, find recommendations for restaurants, museums, local events, or the best local beach.
Travellers can also create social connections with other travellers that have similar interests, find local events, or even meet up to participate in a group activity such as a hike or find a good belayer or guide for rock climbing.
Smartphones are enhancing modern travel making it much more fluid and also enabling more spontaneity as last minute ideas can be researched and booked effortlessly without needing to plan in advance which creates travel experiences that are richer and seamless.
The Growing Demand for Accessible Entertainment While On The Move
When people travel they want the convenience of being able to remain connected constantly or at least for the majority of the time. Now different travel providers such as trains, airlines, and ferries are now offering wi-fi that is either free or can be accessed for a very reasonable price which means that long journeys are transformed into seamless productive and entertaining digital experiences.
Real time engagement has become an essential part of the travel experience. Now travellers can keep up with their favourite sporting events with live streaming during layovers and when they are in transit such as on flights that offer wi-fi which means that fans will never miss crucial match moments or the world cup final because they are travelling. AI analyses the geographic location of travellers and their actions in real time and sends them personalised recommendations such as group chat planning tools which transform trip planning phases and the trip itself into a fun and engaging communal activity.
Mobile gaming has become very popular among travellers because smartphones are easy to carry around and accessing gaming platforms and apps is easy and convenient through the internet and also there are many versions that can be played offline which translates into uninterrupted gaming without having to worry about expensive roaming data costs. Offline games that will automatically update once devices are connected again which mean that players do not lose their progress. Mobile games are also perfect for combating boredom and unexpected travel delays.
Personalised digital experiences are perfectly adapted to the always on digital engagement patterns of modern consumers. Travel providers such as airlines, hotels, and other big companies use AI, mobile apps, and big data sets to create personalized digital experiences such as personalized offers or control entertainment and other systems in their rooms such as lighting to create experiences that are perfectly aligned with their needs. Other companies will send customers personalized videos before their journey to give a sneak preview of what to expect during their stay. Some businesses also offer wearables which creates seamless ordering of things such as food or drinks at the poolside.
Digital entertainment has transformed how individuals travel and now not only are travellers broadening their horizons and exploring new adventures, they are staying connected and enjoying experiences that are immersive and engaging and most of all entertaining.
