We thought that all sorts of force majeure events are engines of progress. Just think: if it weren't for the pandemic, some technologies would not have seen the light of day anytime soon. In this article, we will tell you which innovations in tourism were accelerated by the coronavirus epidemic. 

Contactless Airport

Is it worth mentioning that tourism has changed significantly? We already have self-check-in kiosks, electronic boarding passes, and touch-screen multimedia systems on long-haul flights. Very soon, artificial intelligence for facial recognition will be widely used. This is already being tested on Delta Air Lines and United Airlines flights. 

Another cool feature is retinal scanning instead of a passport. Such biometrics are already used in airports in Canada, Japan, Singapore, Italy, Spain, and Iceland. Soon, the entire airport journey will be contactless, which is expected to speed up all procedures. This also includes booking security screening. This means you don't stand in line with a container in your hands, but book a specific time to go through your screening no matter what. Such a system is already in use at Montreal International Airport. Pretty cool, right?

Antiseptic Luggage Treatment 

That moment when your items are also disinfected during scanning with a special antiseptic spray or ultraviolet rays. A special tag is then attached to the luggage, indicating that the suitcase has been sanitized. 

Virtual Stores

There is a possibility that the familiar cash registers in Duty Free will soon disappear. Instead, there will be self-service checkouts, and perhaps even displays will become virtual, with goods delivered by robots. It sounds like science fiction, but these are quite real technologies.

Imagine sitting in the departure lounge, choosing perfume or a snack for the plane online, and a few minutes later, a simple robot delivers them. Convenient and great! 

Disinfection Points

This is not about antiseptics placed everywhere, though they are also important, but about cooler things. Full-height disinfection booths are already installed at Hong Kong and Singapore airports, and cleaner robots drive around the terminals, washing floors and spraying antiseptic agents on carpets. 

AI-Controlled Security

In Auckland, a special artificial intelligence system scans up to 900 people per hour. Firstly, this greatly assists security services in terms of terrorist threats. For tourists, such a system will be useful because it is a very fast procedure. You won't even notice you're being scanned, which means it will help avoid queues and crowds. 

Private Dinners in Hotels

Due to the need for social distancing, many hotel restaurants are going through a tough time. The "buffet" system is no longer the same, and having dinner in the evening has become almost impossible. 

But in one hotel in a Swedish town, restaurateurs found a solution. They started offering private dinners in rooms. Such service can be booked for a company of up to 12 people. Beautiful table settings, tablecloths, candles – romantic and safe! 

How airports changed during the pandemic?>>>

Virtual Remote Control  

A great idea is to replace hotel room TV remotes with a virtual one on your smartphone. It's very simple: upon check-in, scan the QR code under the monitor, and that's it – the app is unlocked, switch channels as you please. You don't need to download anything, and it automatically deactivates upon check-out. 

Contactless Car Rental

To avoid handing over car keys – as this is a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses – rental owners have implemented car unlocking and locking via an app. And without a manager, whom you also won't have to contact. Just walk up, tap a couple of times on your phone, and drive off. Wonderful!