Why your tourism business needs an online booking system

148.3 million travel bookings are completed online every year. 82% of all travel bookings in 2018 were made online via a mobile app or website, without human interaction. It's 2020. You need an online booking system. If you're still unconvinced, here's our list of reasons why your tourism business needs an online booking system. 

70% of travellers use and complete their research on their smartphones

Travellers are becoming highly dependent on their smartphones and internet connection when it comes to accessing information. Studies also show that travellers do their research using their phone. If you want a slice of that pie, you must invest in mobile-friendly website design for these users. Subsequently, it must be integrated with your operator software so it can accept convenient and hassle-free mobile bookings.  

Online bookings account for at least 40% of all tour and activity bookings

A few years ago, most people were apprehensive in doing business online, whether it was purchasing products, services, or booking flights. Giving credit card information to websites was a scary thing for many people. But as technology and cybersecurity have advanced, better security measures are keeping online customers safe.  

Today, most people feel very comfortable in making transactions online, including booking flights, tours, and activities. After all, it is so much more convenient than driving or commuting to physical stores for in-person reservations or making phone calls. Online booking is faster, easier, and more efficient. 

148 million online bookings are made online annually 

According to Statistic Brain, over 148 million bookings are made in the travel industry each year. The majority of these online bookings are done via a mobile device. So if you want to claim a stake in these bookings, you should equip your business with the right tools to accept mobile bookings in your website and your social media profiles.  

There's been a 519% increase in last-minute bookings since 2015 

A huge chunk of this figure represents last-minute bookings done on mobile phones. If you want to capitalize on this proven trend,  you need to have the means to accommodate such bookings. Online booking software that lets you promote and accept last-minute bookings efficiently is a must-have weapon in your toolkit.  

If you haven't adopted an online booking system yet, now is the time to do it. By making it easier for your customers to book, you are future-proofing your business.