5 technological innovations that are transforming world tourism.

A Pew Research survey of 915 policymakers, scientists, and experts predicted that our daily lives could be increasingly influenced by algorithms and that we will begin using tools to control things remotely by 2025.

“Everyone is looking forward to the new technologies being applied in the travel industry, as this makes them feel more confident on their travels right now,” said Steve Shur, President of the Travel Technology Association. “However, some changes will continue to exist in the future, even after the pandemic ends.”

Here are five technological innovations that emerged during the pandemic and have brought about major changes in the global travel industry, according to National Geographic.

1. Virtual reality and augmented reality

As the pandemic brought travel to a standstill in many parts of the world, museums and tourist destinations turned to augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to open exhibitions and create immersive online tours.

Some applications that offer this experience include Xplore Petra, launched in June 2020, which allows users to "tour" Jordan's iconic archaeological site by projecting the entire site as a miniature version on a screen. Another example is Lights over Lapland, an Arctic tourism company that launched a virtual reality experience allowing users to witness the Northern Lights firsthand using a computer screen and VR headset.

Virtual reality and augmented reality can enhance trips by adding depth to the experience, such as simulating the climb of the Matterhorn from the Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne, or immersing yourself in the "Garden of Earthly Delights" within a 500-year-old painting by Hieronymus Bosch at the Hunt Museum in Limerick, Ireland.

The Paris Museum of Natural History also has an AR exhibition, creating a digital "encounter" between visitors and extinct animals. The National Museum of Singapore has an installation called "The Story of the Forest," where visitors can explore virtual landscapes in nearly 70 nature paintings from the museum's collection.

And many other museums and destinations around the world have adopted virtual reality to "survive" the difficult period brought about by the pandemic. Of course, virtual reality and augmented reality will not replace tourism, but this technology will contribute to making travel experiences more amazing and useful than traditional trips in the past.

2. Crowd control

To aid in enforcing social distancing, many airports and museums have experimented with or implemented crowd control technologies, including the use of robots in public spaces.

Singapore has deployed surveillance robots at airport gates that identify the level of crowding and sound an alarm whenever people move too close together. Similar methods and equipment could be implemented to prevent overcrowding and local disruptions when large numbers of tourists arrive at popular destinations.

In Venice (Italy), tourists' movements are tracked using cameras specifically designed for surveillance, and once the pandemic ends, the city plans to utilize these cameras to manage tourist numbers and take timely action if the city becomes overcrowded.

Amsterdam (Netherlands), which is also struggling with mass tourism, has been tracking visitors through the Amsterdam City Card – a fixed-price card for entry to museums and use of public transport within the city.

3. Cleaning with UV-C

For over 20 years, UV-C disinfection and virus killing technology was primarily used in hospitals. Now, indoor public spaces such as airports, gyms, and movie theaters are also using UV-C to prevent the spread of viruses.

UV-C has germicidal properties that combat Covid-19 and other harmful substances both in the air and on surfaces. Depending on the installation location, the UV-C will be connected to the HVAC system.(Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems)They are placed on escalator handrails, or inside robots equipped with light beams for disinfection as they move around airports and on airplanes.

If installed and operated correctly, UV-C systems can kill all types of bacteria and germs, even seasonal flu viruses can be eliminated before they spread to other places.

4. QR code at the restaurant

During the pandemic, many restaurants, eateries, and nightclubs provided QR codes to customers so they could access menus, order food, and pay their bills without needing to touch or interact directly with others. This was considered extremely convenient and likely to be sustainable in the long term, especially given the increasing staffing shortages at similar establishments towards the end of the pandemic.

However, such convenience can come at the cost of privacy, as QR codes also have the potential to collect a large amount of information from users. While some QR codes only collect information about food orders, many others exploit data such as dining history, age, and gender of regular customers, allowing restaurants to use this information to send discount coupons or event invitations, or even sell the information to third parties. Worse still, some malicious actors may exploit QR codes to attack and compromise customers' credit cards.

To avoid such incidents, Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the ACLU, says the best approach is to use your phone to view restaurant menus online or install a protective app like Kaspersky QR Scanner, which will alert users if the QR code they scan is unsafe.

5. Tracking and communication tools

Previously, to identify and track individuals potentially exposed to infectious diseases such as Zika and HIV, public health teams used traditional methods such as making phone calls to gather personal information about the individual's contact history, while also providing counseling, screening, and treatment services.

Now, the pandemic is driving the deployment of new or more advanced technologies to track the spread of the virus and provide more information about epidemiological history. Apple and Google have also added tracking and contact tracing apps to the App Store and Google Play, which will alert users if they have been in close contact with someone infected.

Several similar technologies have also been launched recently, such as auto-text, heat maps, or even surveillance cameras with facial recognition capabilities, all of which can help track infectious diseases not just Covid-19.

If you're traveling or going anywhere during a pandemic, this is an extremely safe way to protect yourself. However, this means you'll be more dependent on your smartphone and almost unable to leave it behind, even on vacation.

Khanh Ha