THE CHALLENGE
Travel & Tourism is set to grow considerably over the coming years, with the number of air travellers projected to double from 4.2 billion in 2018 to 8.2 billion by 2037, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Yet, we are already witnessing the strain on infrastructure, processes and systems, all of which are insufficient to meet this forecast demand, even with the implementation of current improvement plans and solutions. These pressures are expected to mount in coming years, making action to continue enabling the secure and seamless movement of legitimate travellers across international borders imperative. Given that Security and Travel Facilitation are top priorities for the global Travel & Tourism private sector, it is essential to consider how to improve the traveller experience while maintaining or even increasing security.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Transformations of the travel experience through technological advances, notably biometrics and the use of digital identity, show strong opportunities to enable a seamless and secure end-to-end traveller journey, while promoting sector-wide growth. Such a solution aligns with the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) consumer research undertaken in five European countries and in the United States, suggesting that, on average, 4 in 5 international and domestic travellers would be willing to share their photographs in advance of travel to speed up their journey. By capturing and uploading biometric and biographic data prior to travel, border and security agencies will be able to authenticate and pre-clear travellers in advance of arrival, thus reducing cumbersome checks and queues at ports and airports. This will in turn enhance security across the whole system, relieve pressure on infrastructure and capacity constraints, improve the traveller experience and ensure that the economic potential of Travel & Tourism to create jobs and drive economic growth can be fully realised.
From a traveller’s perspective, this vision is exemplified by a journey during which the traveller no longer needs to present travel documents and boarding passes multiple times to a variety of stakeholders at different stages of their journey. Rather, travellers will be able to book transportation, check in, proceed through security, cross borders, board their aircraft, collect luggage, rent a car, check in and out of their hotel and other non-air services, and access myriad destination services, simply by confirming their identity and booking data.
THE CHALLENGE
Travel & Tourism is set to grow considerably over the coming years, with the number of air travellers projected to double from 4.2 billion in 2018 to 8.2 billion by 2037, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Yet, we are already witnessing the strain on infrastructure, processes and systems, all of which are insufficient to meet this forecast demand, even with the implementation of current improvement plans and solutions. These pressures are expected to mount in coming years, making action to continue enabling the secure and seamless movement of legitimate travellers across international borders imperative. Given that Security and Travel Facilitation are top priorities for the global Travel & Tourism private sector, it is essential to consider how to improve the traveller experience while maintaining or even increasing security.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Transformations of the travel experience through technological advances, notably biometrics and the use of digital identity, show strong opportunities to enable a seamless and secure end-to-end traveller journey, while promoting sector-wide growth. Such a solution aligns with the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) consumer research undertaken in five European countries and in the United States, suggesting that, on average, 4 in 5 international and domestic travellers would be willing to share their photographs in advance of travel to speed up their journey. By capturing and uploading biometric and biographic data prior to travel, border and security agencies will be able to authenticate and pre-clear travellers in advance of arrival, thus reducing cumbersome checks and queues at ports and airports. This will in turn enhance security across the whole system, relieve pressure on infrastructure and capacity constraints, improve the traveller experience and ensure that the economic potential of Travel & Tourism to create jobs and drive economic growth can be fully realised.
From a traveller’s perspective, this vision is exemplified by a journey during which the traveller no longer needs to present travel documents and boarding passes multiple times to a variety of stakeholders at different stages of their journey. Rather, travellers will be able to book transportation, check in, proceed through security, cross borders, board their aircraft, collect luggage, rent a car, check in and out of their hotel and other non-air services, and access myriad destination services, simply by confirming their identity and booking data.
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