By Dr. Vikas Katoch, The Founder & CEO, Adotrip.com
Everybody in the world is smitten by AI, and the travel industry is no exception. It has revolutionised travel, providing instant and personalised assistance. With access to predictive analytics for demand forecasting and pricing optimisation, travel companies are setting their focus on customer personalisation, satisfaction and convenience, using AI. The travel industry is embracing AI in streamlining operations, automating tasks, improving efficiency, and delivering exceptional experiences. In short, AI has become an indispensable tool for modern travellers and companies alike.
AI algorithms analyse various factors such as accommodation options, transportation choices, and activities that fall within the specified budget filters applied by users. AI can suggest cost-effective solutions and help travellers make informed decisions that are aligned with their financial preferences simply by leveraging pricing data and optimization techniques. One fair example of this can be found in-flight booking where AI-based searches (used by travel companies) use algorithms which provide detailed and minute price comparisons which is otherwise a daunting task for consumers.
AI can also help in curating trips where numerous factors are taken into consideration to provide an exceptional experience. Traveller preferences, budget constraints, desired duration, and demographic information, all play a role in crafting a personalised itinerary. But it doesn’t stop there. AI goes beyond and analyses historical weather data, ensuring that suggested destinations or activities are suitable for the traveller’s desired timeframe. Additionally, AI pays attention to feedback and ratings, continuously refining its recommendations.
People can create their itineraries with prompts like a 5-day trip to Kerala on a 15K budget or a 10-day Europe itinerary including Paris and Amsterdam. The prompts are quite generic and as simple as they may sound. For instance, Circuit Planner on Adotrip offers a highly responsive and personalised experience. By selecting up to 12 destinations and specifying the duration of the trip, users can quickly create customised itineraries. With a simple click on the create tab, tailored recommendations are generated in just 3 seconds.
There is no doubt that precision in auto-generated itineraries has maximised satisfaction and convenience for every traveller. However, local travel assistants also play a crucial role in enhancing AI-generated itineraries with their expertise. Generating itineraries becomes handy with tools, where industry experts add their valuable insights and firsthand knowledge of each destination. Their expertise enriches the itinerary with personalised and immersive experiences, ensuring that the traveller gets a comprehensive and memorable travel experience. By combining the power of AI-generated itineraries with the insights of local travel assistants, travellers can enjoy a well-rounded and authentic travel experience.
Another great advantage of AI can be seen in enhanced security with risk identification and fraud detection, including facial recognition systems at airports. Ensuring safety is of utmost importance to both travellers and travel agencies or platforms. AI algorithms are leveraged to meticulously analyse a wide range of data sources, such as travel advisories, local safety information, and historical data on crime rates and natural disasters. Adotrip.com too considers these factors and offers recommendations for secure destinations, reliable accommodations, and valuable insights regarding potential risks or precautions that should be taken during the journey.
The use of AI in the travel industry has witnessed significant growth, with a notable adoption rate among both business and leisure travellers. If we go by the data of Adotrip.com, almost 40% of consumers have looked for AI-generated itineraries.
This includes itineraries suggesting the best destination options, flight and hotel bookings, things to do during their stay, customised travel plans, and recommendations based on their budget. We have seen a rise amongst women travellers, looking for AI-generated itineraries; out of the 40% of consumers, 8-12% of single women looked for AI-generated itineraries. People from the age group of 45-65 years have also opted for the same, to ease out their end-to-end travel process. This is the beginning of AI’s contribution towards the travel industry; AI will completely transform travel experiences for consumers in the times to come.
