More travellers using mobile devices – study
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
TripAdvisor has announced the results of its mobile device travel survey, with the key finding being that 38 percent of people have used their mobile devices to plan a trip and 60 percent of respondents said they have downloaded travel apps on their mobile.
While the main reason to bring a mobile phone on trips remains making calls (cited by 47 percent), 19 percent said communicating online through services like chat and email was the most important function. Thirty-eight percent said they often use their mobile devices for tasks other than calls when travelling. These include taking/sharing photos (65 percent), surfing online (54 percent), navigation (52 percent), checking the news (48 percent) and playing games (36 percent).
When asked what parts of the travel planning process they conduct on their mobile, the majority 52 percent researched restaurants. Forty-six percent read about destinations, while 45 percent read traveller reviews, 42 percent booked or researched accommodation, and 34 percent booked or researched flights.
While travelling, 62 percent of travellers said they use their mobile devices to research restaurants. Fifty-one percent check their flight status and 46 percent research attractions. Twenty-eight percent have checked in to a restaurant, hotel or attraction using their mobile device while on a trip.
Other findings include the fact that 23 percent have reviewed a hotel, restaurant, or attraction they’ve visited using a mobile device while on a trip, and that 38 percent post status updates to social networking sites to keep friends updated on their travels.
The greatest frustration with mobile devices when travelling, not surprisingly, is sporadic connectivity, according to 35 percent, while 25 percent identified small screens as their biggest mobile device gripe. Fifty nine percent of travellers have used the GPS capabilities of their mobile devices.
“Smartphone adoption around the world is skyrocketing, and is fundamentally changing the way people get travel advice,” said Mike Putnam, Director of Mobile Product for TripAdvisor. “Whether it is finding the perfect museum or restaurant, booking a hotel or flight, or sharing advice, it is clear that travelers around the world now rely on their smartphones and other mobile devices to plan and have better trips.”
The TripAdvisor survey was carried out in the USA, and largely relates to domestic American travellers. Forty-seven percent of respondents however, said they have used their mobile devices internationally.
Comments are closed.