More than one-third of American travelers (37 percent) are using or planning to use artificial intelligence to help plan their vacations this summer, according to new data from Allianz Partners' Global Travel Confidence Index (GTCI).
AI is very quickly becoming a go-to tool for trip planning for many travelers, who are using it for tasks like uncovering the best destination, restaurant and activity recommendations.
According to Allianz's latest research, AI is also assisting with itinerary creation, budget planning and travel research.
'Bleisure' Travel Boom
With the help of emerging technology, more and more Americans are blending work and leisure travel and embracing the digital nomad lifestyle.
According to the GTCI, nearly three in 10 Americans (28 percent) plan to work remotely for a few weeks, while almost a quarter (23 percent) said they aspire to work remotely for several months.
The emergence of digital nomad visa programs is one such example of how the industry is adapting to this new demand.
Female traveler on the beach working on laptop (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock / freebird7977)
The Generations Driving Digital Expectations
Allianz's latest study also found that more Americans covet digital user experiences, especially when it comes to purchasing travel insurance.
Among U.S. travelers who plan to purchase travel insurance, 64 percent say they expect or value 24/7 access to customer support and emergency assistance through a mobile app, while about half (48 percent) seek the ability to view and manage their policy digitally.
A similar 45% are interested in starting claims online and having potential disruptions handled automatically, according to Allianz's research.
The youngest generations are showing the most interest in digital experiences. Gen Z (29%) and Millennials (26%) are significantly more likely than Gen Xers or Baby Boomers to prioritize digital user experiences from travel insurance providers.
In fact, 35 percent of Gen Z travelers value self-service online portals.
"Technology is transforming how people research, plan and manage travel. Today's travelers expect seamless digital experiences at every stage of their journey," Emily Hartman, General Manager at Allianz Partners, said in a statement.
"From AI-powered trip planning to real-time travel assistance, the industry is evolving to meet those expectations, and travel insurance is no exception. Travelers increasingly want protection that is accessible, personalized, and available at their fingertips," Hartman added.
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