The future of travel

When the Web started being used by millions of people nearly 30 years ago, pundits predicted that new forms of communication like video chat would kill the travel industry.

After all, why bother going through all of the time, trouble and expense of getting on an airplane, when you can “visit” anyplace or anyone without leaving the comfort of your home?

But that is not what happened. Quite the opposite in fact. As our collective use of the internet rose, long distance travel rose right along with it.

It seems that as it became easier to connect with distant people and places, there was a corresponding increase in everyone’s motivation to visit those people and places.

In the next few years, video chat services such as Zoom might gradually become replaced by something that feels a lot more like being there — perhaps something akin to the Star Wars Jedi Council.

When that happens, what will be the effect on long distance travel? I predict that the pattern will repeat: Our human connection to distant friends will only increase, and long distance travel will increase as well.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *