Emma stood at the airport, her boarding pass nonexistent—just a quick facial scan granted her access. Her AI-powered travel assistant had booked the entire trip, from flights to hotel stays, based on her preferences. Meanwhile, her luggage was tracked in real time via blockchain, ensuring a seamless journey. Across the world, millions were experiencing the same ease, with travel tech innovations. From AI-driven itineraries to biometric security and contactless payments, technology is transforming travel into an effortless experience. The days of long lines and endless paperwork are fading, replaced by a smarter, faster, and more personalized journey.
“AI-Powered Chatbots Are Transforming Customer Service in the Travel Industry” – Forbes,
“Indian Railways to Travel implement IoT Solutions for Smart Ticketing and Operations” – The Economic Times,
“Blockchain-Based Passport Control Trials Show Promising Results in the EU” – Bloomberg
This week, The People Weekly explores the evolving landscape of travel technology, uncovering how AI, IoT, and big data are redefining the way we explore the world. An initiative by PeopleLogic, “The People Weekly” is designed to deliver exclusive insights and updates on the latest industry trends and news to its readers
Evolution and Growth of Travel Tech
The travel industry has always evolved with technological advancements. From the introduction of online booking systems in the late 1990s to AI-driven itinerary planners today, travel tech has continually reshaped how people plan and experience journeys. Key developments include:
The Emergence of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Expedia and MakeMyTrip
Online travel agencies have transformed trip planning by offering a one-stop solution for flights, hotels, and activities. Platforms like Expedia and MakeMyTrip provide price comparisons, exclusive deals, and personalized recommendations, enhancing convenience and affordability for travelers while driving digital transformation in the travel industry.
The Rise of Mobile Apps and AI-Based Customer Support
Mobile apps have made travel seamless, offering instant bookings, itinerary management, and real-time assistance. AI-driven chatbots provide 24/7 customer support, handling queries, cancellations, and recommendations efficiently. This automation improves user experience, reduces costs for travel companies, and enables a more personalized approach to trip planning.
Integration of IoT for Smart Transportation and Luggage Tracking
The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming travel with smart transportation systems and real-time luggage tracking. IoT-enabled sensors optimize traffic, enhance vehicle connectivity, and reduce delays. Airlines and hotels use IoT to monitor baggage, improving security and ensuring a stress-free travel experience with minimal disruptions.
Contactless Payments and Biometric Check-Ins in Airports and Hotels
The travel industry is embracing contactless technology for faster, safer experiences. Digital wallets and NFC payments minimize cash handling, while biometric check-ins using facial recognition or fingerprints enhance security and efficiency at airports and hotels. These innovations streamline processes, reducing queues and improving overall traveler convenience.
Travel Tech Market Size: Present and Future (Global & Indian)
Global Market Size
The global travel technology market size was estimated at USD 10.45 billion in 2024 and is expected to rise to USD 20.12 billion by 2033, experiencing a CAGR of 7.55%The demand for automated solutions, AI-driven personalization, and data analytics is fueling this growth.
Indian Market Size
India’s travel tech industry is fast emerging as a global contender. With approximately 1,500 recognized startups as of 2024, India’s ecosystem is diverse, including online travel agencies (OTAs), mobility solutions, travel experience platforms, and hospitality tech.
Factors driving this explosive growth include:
Increased internet penetration and smartphone usage.
A growing middle class with rising disposable incomes.
Enhanced domestic and international connectivity.
The cultural and geographic diversity of India, making it an attractive destination for both domestic and international travelers.
Companies such as MakeMyTrip, OYO, EaseMyTrip, and Rategain have pioneered innovation in this space, achieving unicorn status and drawing significant foreign and domestic investment.
Travel Tech Growth and Economic Impact
With the rise of automation, travel tech is creating new job roles. According to McKinsey, AI-driven automation is expected to generate 25% more jobs in the travel industry by 2030. As per WTTC(World Travel & Tourism Council), in 2023 “the Travel & Tourism sector contributed 9.1% to the global GDP; an increase of 23.2% from 2022 and only 4.1% below the 2019 level. In 2023, there were 27 million new jobs, representing a 9.1% increase compared to 2022, and only 1.4% below the 2019 level.” Thus, travel tech facilitates increased travel and tourism, which contributes significantly to global GDP. Moreover, The growth of travel tech necessitates investments in infrastructure, such as improved internet connectivity, digital payment systems, and transportation networks. These investments contribute to overall economic development and modernization.
AI-Powered Travel Consultants
AI-powered travel consultants are transforming trip planning by providing personalized recommendations, real-time assistance, and itinerary optimization. With the assistance from virtual assistants who leverage machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) to understand traveler preferences and suggest the best flights, hotels, and activities, AI consultants enhance customer support, handling queries, cancellations, and changes efficiently. Travel agencies and airlines are adopting AI-powered assistants to reduce response times, improve customer satisfaction, and automate repetitive tasks, making travel planning more seamless and efficient.
Data Analysts for Personalized Tourism
Data analysts play a crucial role in shaping personalized travel experiences by analyzing vast amounts of customer data. They use predictive analytics to understand traveler preferences, optimize pricing strategies, and suggest tailored recommendations. Airlines, hotels, and travel platforms rely on data-driven insights to enhance loyalty programs, forecast demand, and provide targeted promotions. With big data analytics, travel companies can refine their marketing strategies, improve customer engagement, and offer hyper-personalized experiences that cater to individual preferences, ensuring higher customer retention and satisfaction.
Cybersecurity Experts for Secure Travel Transactions
As digital transactions in travel continue to rise, cybersecurity experts are essential in ensuring secure payments and protecting sensitive traveler information. They implement blockchain technology, encryption protocols, and multi-factor authentication to prevent fraud, data breaches, and unauthorized access. These professionals monitor and mitigate cyber threats, securing digital identity verification processes at airports, hotels, and payment gateways.
IoT Specialists for Smart Transport Systems
IoT specialists are driving the future of smart travel by integrating connected devices into transportation systems. They develop IoT-enabled luggage tracking solutions, real-time vehicle monitoring, and automated infrastructure management. In aviation, IoT sensors optimize predictive maintenance for aircraft, reducing downtime and enhancing safety. In public transport, IoT-based systems improve route planning, streamline ticketing, and enhance crowd management. Hotels use IoT for smart room automation, energy efficiency, and personalized guest experiences.
Hiring Trends in Travel Tech
LinkedIn’s latest study highlights a skills gap in the travel tech industry—with demand for AI and data-driven travel professionals exceeding supply. Some of the key hiring trends in this space include . Some of the trends in this space are increased hiring of remote workers in various travel tech roles, increased hiring of professionals who can design and implement automation systems, demand for data scientists and AI/ML specialists, demand for sustainability professionals, increasing demand for mobile app developers and UX/UI designers.Some of the major roles for which travel tech companies are actively hiring are,
Tech talent like software developers, AI/ML experts, cybersecurity professionals etc
UX/UI designers, Digital marketers, content creators etc
Customer centric roles like Customer Experience Managers, Community Managers etc
Sustainability Experts like Sustainability Consultants, CSR experts etc
Specialized and Emerging Roles like Remote Work Travel Coordinators, VR/AR Experience Developers
Conclusion
The rapid evolution of travel technology is not just reshaping user experiences but also redefining operational efficiency and decision-making in the industry. AI-driven automation, IoT-enabled smart infrastructure, and blockchain-secured transactions are driving unprecedented efficiency, while AR/VR enhances engagement. As travel tech scales, so does the need for skilled talent, making workforce intelligence and strategic hiring more critical than ever. At Peoplelogic, we see this transformation as a pivotal moment for organizations to leverage data-driven insights, optimize workforce productivity, and adapt to the digital-first travel era. The future belongs to agile, tech-driven travel ecosystems ready to embrace change.
