HOLIDAYMAKERS ARE increasingly seeking “technology black holes” where mobile and internet reception is limited, according to research by hospitality website lastminute.com. It suggests the trend is a reaction to the always-on nature of modern communications and will become more important to travellers in future.
The findings are part of a report compiled by the site and think tank The Future Foundation called The Future of Free Time. The study aimed to identify how people's travel habits will change by 2030.
“It’s about this trend towards having this full-on, immersive experience and making the most of the time you have,” said Marco Balabanovic, head of innovation at lastminute.com.
“That involves not being brought back into your work life through your phone.”
According to Mr Balabanovic, resorts and locations are not yet actively blocking mobile signals to make themselves more attractive but some are taking advantage of their natural isolation from technology and using it as a selling point. He said the trend was interesting as people generally chose to make themselves so connected and could choose to disconnect while on holiday if they so wished.
“It’s much harder to police yourself and if that’s seen to be part of the deal, then that helps.”
The trend towards mobile-based, always-on internet connectivity is also changing the way customers interact with sites like lastminute.com, with many now making impulse bookings through their phones.
“This fits in with the way people’s social lives are changing,” said Mr Balabanovic.
“In the past you had to make very careful plans in advance about where you met someone but now people tend to organise as they go.”
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