Shaping the Future of Travel: How Gen Z is Using AI to Plan, Explore, and Experience

A new report on artificial intelligence (AI) from Booking.com, one of the world’s leading online travel platforms, has shed light on how this technology is reshaping the travel industry through the behavior of Gen Z. This generation, who grew up with technology as an essential part of their daily lives, uses AI not only for planning but also for every stage of their journey, demonstrating a high level of technology integration and shaping the development of the industry.

Vietnamese tourists experience culture in Lien village ( Lao Cai ). Photo: nhandan.vn

The study found that 85% of Gen Z described themselves as “familiar” with AI technology, while 20% said they had a good grasp of how AI works, and the remaining 65% understood the basic concepts. This deep familiarity and trust has led them to view AI not just as a tool but as an indispensable companion on their journeys.

AI has become an integral part of Gen Z's daily lives. Booking.com's survey found that Gen Z interacts with AI tools multiple times a day, for both work and play.

Specifically: 75% use AI-integrated search engines every day; 66% use generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Google Bard every day; 59% rely on AI-powered recommendation tools on streaming platforms like Netflix or Spotify; 70% interact with smart devices (security cameras, thermostats, facial recognition) every day.

Additionally, 48% use AI to monitor their health, 43% get smart shopping recommendations, and 37% use AI to recommend restaurants. As AI becomes part of everyday choices, it’s no surprise that 44% of Gen Z uses AI to find travel inspiration and help book trips.

For Gen Z, AI is part of the entire travel journey. This proficiency is evident in how they use AI at every stage of their trip:

Before a trip: Nearly all Gen Zers (99%) use AI to prepare, from getting personalized recommendations (42%) to researching new destinations and the best times to go (40%). During a trip: 99% are also comfortable using AI at the location to translate languages, signs, menus, or local conversations (53%), and to get interesting information about attractions (47%). After a trip: 96% continue to use AI after returning, mostly to get personalized recommendations for future trips (49%) or write reviews (46%).

Similarly, 99% of Gen Zers want AI to help them plan new trips, from researching destinations (42%), suggesting local experiences (40%) to recommending the right restaurant (38%).

These results show that Gen Z is both open to technological advancement and smart about its implementation. For the travel industry, this sends a clear message: AI development needs to be practical and accessible, while ensuring convenience, ease, and inclusiveness – the factors that Gen Z values ​​most.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/dinh-hinh-tuong-lai-cua-nganh-du-lich-gen-z-dang-su-dung-ai-de-lap-ke-panh-kham-pha-va-trai-nghiem-nhu-the-nao-390955.html