As the need to travel has become more of a necessity than a luxury, and more people moving from place to place, the need for digital travel and tourism has become essential to avoid cumbersome travel experiences.
Experts suggest that the use of digital technologies in tourism fosters the creation of new business models, expands market presence and optimises customer interaction, supporting SMEs and other local business models in the long run.
Backed by Oman Vision 2040, which envisions a digital society, digital travel technology can help make everyday operations more effective and efficient. For example, by digitalising processes where possible, time and money can be saved, allowing for more effective resource allocation based on customer needs.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and its partners, the industry is ready to deliver a fully digital air travel experience. This was demonstrated in a proof-of-concept (PoC) involving two passengers using different digital wallets and travel credentials on a round-trip between Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Travel to or from Muscat International Airport, which has introduced biometric identification for passengers, along with many other international gateways, will be different in the coming days. The airport elements of this PoC were conducted in a live environment, building on an initial PoC carried out in a test environment in 2023, applicable to all airports.
"Travelling in the future will be all digital, where one wouldn’t have to carry a passport, resident or identity card for entry into the airport, nor will they need to carry a visa copy or anything else. This is a very environmentally-friendly move," said Ahmed bin Mohammed al Barwani, an airline expert.
In the PoC, two travellers used digital wallets containing their digital passport, company ID and frequent flyer credentials to obtain personalised offers, book a flight, obtain a visa, check their travel documentation, check-in and receive boarding passes.
The travellers used biometric identification to manage airport processes in a live environment without repeatedly showing their travel documents. The successful journey integrated seven verifiable credentials (ePassport copy, live biometric image, visa copy, company ID, frequent flyer membership, order, and boarding pass), two digital wallets, and a trust registry to verify issuers.
"Digital air travel is on the horizon for our region, as evidenced by Oman's modernised immigration and Muscat International Airport's upgraded check-in counters. These advancements, driven by digitalisation, aim to reduce human intervention and create a seamless travel experience for passengers," says Venkat, Business Manager - Products & GSA Affairs at Mezoon Travel LLC.
“A seamless fully digital travel experience powered by digital identity and biometrics has moved from theory to proven reality. The challenge now is to make this more efficient travel experience available to all travellers. There is good reason for optimism. With One ID standards already in place and the expansion of Modern Airline Retailing to support digital identity with the highest levels of data privacy and protection, the industry could be ready for this in the very near future. Government efforts to adopt digital travel credentials based on ICAO standards are picking up pace. Europe is already planning to issue Digital Identity Wallets to citizens and residents by 2027,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice-President for Operations, Safety and Security.
With air passenger numbers expected to double by 2041, and as building ever larger airports seems difficult, the industry needs to implement automation, digitalisation and efficient processes to handle this growth. All digital travel will assure speed in processing, accuracy and minimal human interventions.
The recent implementation of digital check-in at the immigration counters has been well-received by travellers, streamlining the process. As technology continues to advance and evolve, we can expect further innovations in our region to simplify air travel and complement our digital transformation efforts," adds Venkat.
BLURB
Travelling in the future will be all digital, where one wouldn’t have to carry a passport, resident or identity card for entry into the airport, nor will they need to carry a visa copy or anything else.
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