Blockchain technology is poised to revolutionize the way we travel. The use of blockchain in tourism will bring a completely new experience in the way we book air tickets, hotel rooms and much more, providing a seamless user experience.

Blockchain is a technology that publicly stores all the transactions that a particular network produces. Each record is encrypted and grouped into blocks that form a chain. The main characteristic of such technology is that the data is decentralized, and once a record is added, all members of the blockchain must confirm it, thus ensuring that the data on the blockchain is safe, traceable, unalterable and transparent.

That is why many major companies have incorporated blockchain technology into their services, such as:

• Ticket and hotel reservations
• Check-in - Migrations
• Baggage handling
• Customer reward system
• Data traceability

Let's see how these services are favored:

Booking of plane tickets:

This process is relatively easy in today's era. However, the process can be further simplified using blockchain-based methods. Winding Tree is an open source distribution ecosystem that makes the flight booking process easy. Reduces transaction costs by up to 20% for consumers using the blockchain facility for ticket reservation.

Airlines like Air New Zealand have incorporated blockchain technology, which makes the ticketing process less complicated. It can also help prevent overboarding on flights. Payments for services can be made quickly and securely using blockchain methods. Therefore, it allows faster payment during transactions.

Blockchain uses cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which eliminates the need to use digital payment methods that rely on third-party payment applications. Payment can be made between the two parties directly involved.

Customer identification is essential for the travel and tourism industry:

Immigration officials must verify the identity of each foreign tourist for security reasons. Blockchain has the potential to transform current traveler verification practices. Today a traveler must present identification in multiple stages, such as check-in at the airport and migration procedures - and this means a significant waste of time - which thanks to the Blockchain system is reduced efficiently.

Baggage handling:

Mishandling and loss of luggage is a common concern of all airlines. For example, international baggage has to change hands during a layover, or is lost in transit due to human error.

The loss or mishandling of luggage can be significantly reduced by using blockchain and thus monitoring luggage. It can be used with artificial intelligence and sensor technologies to determine the location of luggage, in case it is lost.

Customer reward system:

Travel service providers run loyalty plans to encourage customers to return. Blockchain can help with these programs, allowing customers to easily access their loyalty rewards.

Services using blockchain can reward the customer with cryptocurrencies, which can be used for future travel. As in the case of Trippki, which uses a loyalty reward system that allows clients and companies in the tourism industry to contact each other directly. Customers are assigned tokens for staying, for example, in a specific hotel and it is registered in the blockchain, they never expire and can be redeemed at any time.

Data traceability:

Another example to highlight is the company ShareRing, which launched a contact traceability solution based on a blockchain network that will be offered to 2.6 million hotel and activity providers that currently use one of the company's services.

This ShareRing app allows users to upload important documentation, such as electronic visa, passport information, travel insurance, flight and accommodation reservations, and a negative COVID-19 test result. .

This technology promises to improve transparency and safety, leading the tourism industry to new challenges: will it be the way to safely enjoy a trip in the future?