Online, on your way

 

19-10-2015
By: Denise Berkeveld
Source:  Trendrapport toerisme, recreatie en vrije tijd 2014

 

The recent years the use of the Internet has grown enormously. More people above the age of 75 are making us of the Internet as well and in the travel industry the Internet became really important.

 

Nowadays, almost every Dutch person has access to the Internet, at home via a wired connection or elsewhere via a smartphone or tablet. According to the “Trendrapport toerisme, recreatie en vrije tijd 2014” the frequency with which people use the Internet is at a high level: 88 percent is using the Internet actually daily. Most others are not surfing daily, but at least once a week.

 

More than half of the internet users is making use of the services of the online travel industry. A lot of people are orientating for their trip online; for example they are reading reviews. Around 87% of the travelers is using internet for orientation on a trip according to the Dutch Trend report: “Trendrapport toerisme, recreatie en vrije tijd 2014”. Moreover, it is also more common to book a trip on the Internet instead of at a travel agency. Besides, people are using the Internet also during traveling, to search information about the travel destination or to share information and pictures on social media. 70% of the travelers are updating their Facebook status during travelling says the “Trendrapport toerisme, recreatie en vrije tijd 2014”. Another interesting phenomena are “braggies” (selfies that are utilized to brag about places that someone has visited). People are probably posting those to make others jealous.

 

People are so used to the Internet and to have this medium everywhere. Information must be directly available on the internet and travelers are expecting Wifi for free (e.g. at the accommodation, during transportation etcetera). For example when you are travelling with the train, it is already normal that there is internet for free available.

 

But also the use of mobile devices (e.g. smartphones and tablets) is growing in the Netherlands. More people are having a smartphone (8.5 million , 67 %) than a PC / desktop ( 65 %) now. Also more people are spending more time on using their smartphone as their PC. Besides more than half of the Dutch people (53%) are having a tablet (Trendrapport toerisme, recreatie en vrije tijd, 2014). Tourist are using mobile devices most of the time for orientation. I am also only using my smartphone to orientate for a trip and I will book the trip on my laptop. Also the older generation is getting used to use mobile devices. I am also noticing this, because my grandmother (70 years old) is using a tablet as well.

 

As you can see in the information above the impact of technology is having a significant impact on travelers and according to the “Trendrapport toerisme, recreatie en vrije tijd, 2014” the use of internet is probably even more growing. In 2018 the global mobile data traffic will be even eleven times greater than today. I think we just have to see how this medium will develop and maybe we all would like to be more offline in the future again.