siliconindia | | DECEMBER 20198By Aurvind Lama, Co-Founder & Director, Travelyaari.comHaving completed his B.Tech - Information Technology from Indian Institute of Information Technology, and MBA from the IIM ­ Ahmadabad, Aurvind, in his career spanning over a decade, has worked with multinational coprorates such as Infosys Technologies and Honeywell, prior to founding Travelyaari.ack in the 90s, a vacation to even the closest holiday spot required an excessive amount of planning. From deciding on the place to stay to booking tickets, every aspect of the holiday required one to physically visit one's travel agent and spend long hours consulting with them on the same. Cut to 2018, when everyone, from college students to a bunch of sprightly moms, are making travel plans on the fly! In fact, a report by the World Tourism Organization estimates that by 2030, 8.5 billion people across the globe will take approximately ten billion international trips. Thanks to the advances in technology, the travel industry has gone through a dramatic transformation over the last few years. With easy access to smartphones and high-speed internet, travelling has become a piece of cake for almost everyone and has also paved the way for evolved travel experiences. In the digital age, compact technology has enabled travellers to book their own flights & hotels online, search reviews of a place, and plan their customized itinerary. With the emergence of low-cost carriers and online travel agencies, the number of independent travellers has naturally gone-up in recent times. Whether it's adventure or solo travelling, let's take a look at how compact technology equips travellers to enjoy some of the best experiences that the world has to offer. Choosing the DestinationBefore the internet became a part & parcel of our lives, people turned to holiday brochures, guidebooks and peer recommendations when it came to COMPACT TECHNOLOGY ENABLING A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR TRAVELLERS choosing the destination for their upcoming trip. Today, people are hooked to their smartphones 24x7, checking-out popular travel blogs, surfing through Instagram, and reading reviews on online platforms. Instead of relying on word-of-mouth publicity, the new-age travellers spend a lot of time researching about a place before deciding to go there. From tourist attractions to local culture, they can find all the relevant information on online travel portals to make the best possible choices and get the maximum bang out of their buck. Booking the TransportOnline travel agencies have eliminated the need for standing in long queues or visiting travel agents to book train/flight/bus tickets. Now, all that is required is a smartphone with a decent internet connection to find and book the best deals on train/flight/bus tickets in under just a few minutes. Apart from online-only companies, many travel agencies have embraced the internet by introducing online bookings to cater to the needs of their tech-savvy customers. Take IRCTC (Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation) for example, which launched the IRCTC app (now replaced by the IRCTC Rail Connect app) in 2014. When it comes to short weekend trips, many prefer buses over other modes of transport, which is why several bus companies have tied-up with online platforms like Travelyaari to boost bookings and cater to tourists. Reserving the AccommodationTravellers are no longer at the mercy of local agents to book hotels. Most hotels nowadays give the option of hassle-free, online IN MY OPINIONB
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