TripAdvisor study zooms in on Connected Travellers

Mobile usage is on the rise throughout the entire traveller journey and more are using their smartphones to book parts of their travel, according to TripAdvisor?s TripBarometer Connected Traveller.
The study was conducted by independent research firm Ipsos and reported on more than 44,000 global responses from travellers and the hotel sector.
Key findings:
* 42 percent of travellers around the world are ?connected travellers?, having used a smartphone to plan or book a trip;
* They are twice as likely as all other travellers to make travel-related bookings via a mobile device: 12 percent booked their accommodation via a smartphone, compared to six percent of travellers overall;
* Almost half (45 percent) say they ?usually? use their smartphones to book activities for a trip;
* Almost three quarters (72 percent use their smartphones to look for restaurants while on vacation;
* 34 percent want their accommodation to offer mobile check-in.
Top 10 Most “Connected” Countries
Thailand (1) and China (2) lead the world with the most connected travellers, while the US ranks at number eight.
Adam Medros, TripAdvisor?s senior vice president of global product, says: ?While booking travel via mobile is ultimately on the rise for all types of travellers, connected travellers are far more likely to see their smartphones as a booking device, both before a trip and while in-destination. ?Through travel apps, connected travellers are also finding their way around, looking for places to eat or things to do and reading reviews to make the best choice.”