Once upon a time, arranging your own trips was a challenge only the brave would attempt. Travel agents were in their prime, handling everything from booking flights to finding hotels.
But a shift occurred. Travel agents became less common as people turned to smartphone apps to manage their itineraries with comfort and ease. Since then, the demand for mobile travel apps has only grown.
Interestingly, this shift towards technology isn’t just limited to travel. High-tech solutions are also transforming other industries, like car insurance. For example, in Qatar, innovative trends in car insurance are making waves. You can read more about it here: https://goodmenproject.com/everyday-life-2/car-insurance-in-qatar-goes-high-tech-a-look-at-the-latest-trends/.
This article will explore the rise of travel app development and the impact it’s had on the tourism industry. Let’s start by looking at the market.
The travel app market
The online travel market was projected to reach $1.09 trillion by 2022, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 11.1% from 2016 to 2022.
Here are some reasons for this growth:
- On average, most U.S. leisure travelers use 7-8 apps throughout their travel experience, from searching to booking. The most popular app categories are maps (52%), weather (51%), and branded airline apps (50%).
- The most requested features include real-time flight alerts (65%), the ability to view the entire itinerary in one place (64%), and easy flight searching and booking (63%).
Top players in the travel app market
Several applications have become prime examples of successful travel app development and are leading the industry’s growth. The top ones include:
- TripIt.
- Google Trips.
- Roadtrippers.
- Packing Pro.
These apps often combine services from multiple categories. Let’s look at the different types of travel apps to understand the domain’s uniform growth.
Types of travel apps
When you enter the travel app development industry, you’ll find several categories:
1. Travel itinerary planning apps
These all-in-one apps consolidate essential travel features like accommodation and flight booking, bookmarked attractions, and currency converters.
2. Travel booking apps
These applications focus on helping users book their core travel needs, such as flights and hotels.
3. Location tracking apps
These apps make it easy for travelers to navigate from point A to point B in a foreign city.
4. Language translation apps
These tools are useful for tourists who want to communicate with locals in their native language without having to learn it.
Now that we’ve looked at the industry, let’s address why travel apps are so necessary.
The need for travel apps
Below are some key reasons why travel apps are indispensable:
Instant access to information
A travel app provides direct answers to everything a user needs to plan a vacation — from transportation details and flight tickets to hotel bookings and local points of interest.
A one-stop platform
Travel apps serve as a single solution for all travel-related needs. Users don’t have to search across multiple browsers; they can find everything in one place.
Simplified transactions
One of the best features of travel apps is the ability to make hassle-free payments. By providing a secure platform for online transactions, these apps save users a significant amount of time.
These benefits are the result of well-planned features that simplify the entire process and drive industry growth.
Key travel app features:
- Travel Planning.
- In-App Booking.
- In-App Payments.
- Reviews and Recommendations.
- Integrated Translation.
- Currency Conversion.
- Weather Forecasts.
These features heavily influence an app’s success and play a crucial role in determining its development cost.
How much does it cost to make a travel app?
The price a travel app development company charges depends on several factors, including:
- The platform the app will be launched on.
- The feature set included.
- The size of the development team.
- The technology used.
- The location of the development company.
A combination of these factors will result in a cost estimate ranging from $5,000 to $90,000. For example, a travel booking app with a standard set of features could cost between $100,000 and $130,000 to build.
