Due to increased technology, the world seems much smaller. Travelling is quite effortless nowadays compared to before. So, are you planning on travel app development for your startup or a travel business? Well, you are on the right path at the right time. The industry is on the boom, and this is the right time to create your space in it.
The following blog is a complete guide regarding mobile travel app development. We have mentioned points like the benefits of investing in travel apps, how to make a travel app, primary and unique features to consider in development, monetisation strategies, and much more. For your consideration, we have also added a list of the best travel apps in the market currently. You will realise which of the best travel apps you are going to be competing with and market your app accordingly.
Does the travel industry seem too saturated? Well, saturation is a mind-made concept. This saturation denotes activity, and the market is active. Is there already too much competition? Are you worried about competition from the best travel apps like Expedia and Hopper? Follow this guide, and you can beat them in the long run.
How would you retain clients? By developing on demand app development services with a range of unique features. Rather than talking directly about the saturation of the market, let’s discuss the present status of the travel and tourism market. That will give you an idea of the promising trends that the market has been showing and what its future is. Looking ahead can help you to appreciate the advantages of making investments in the creation of travel applications for your travel company.
Why Emphasize Travel App Development?
A Statista analysis projected 230 billion mobile app downloads globally in 2021. Now, the travel app category ranks 12th with a 3.26% share contribution in the study for the most often used app categories on the Apple App Store.
According to Statista, the travel app’s download number is likely to be approximately $145, or about 80 million, in 2023.
Thus, total income in the travel app segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% annually, translating to $507 million by 2026.
52% of travellers will be able to communicate with a travel brand via text or messaging.
Therefore, 92% of the travel brands surveyed affirmed that the mobile strategy is important to their organisation’s future.
How to Develop a Travel Application?
Recognising the App Objective
The initial step is to determine the type of travel app. They expect it to be the best app for travel, and therefore, before designing the app, you need to set the goal that the app is meant to achieve. Essentially, you may decide if you desire an app for touring and travelling, a touring and travelling guide app, a hotel booking application, an app for backpackers, a transport application, or any other application. The types of travel app development solutions are the main determinants of the features and functionality that are incorporated into them.
Market Research
The second step in travel app development is market research. Based on the aim of your app, you can now go further and do excellent research about it. The best way to accomplish this is by identifying the most efficient travel applications in your niche. Understand what they do, how they work, what sets them apart and what they lack. A travel app development company can do this by getting the best travel mobile apps and performing conversational analysis of the audience’s response to them. This will assist you in providing some form of insight into what you want to achieve to out-compete your rivals.
Determine the App Features
Before you design a travel app, invest time in contemplating the requirements. List the features that are mandatory to prove yourself as the best service provider to consumers. It is preferred that you study the contenders in the same niche you’re working on and jot down the functionalities that catch your attention.
Hire Dedicated Developers
Now that you know about the MVP design, you can look into professional travel app developers. It is recommended that you employ a well-esteemed mobile app development firm instead of freelance coders. A company has an organisational culture, and it has enhanced its image of the workplace. Besides, an entire team is assigned just to your project and to you. Project managers, mobile app developers, UX/UI designers, and quality analysts make up this team. Always depend on a seasoned company that understands exactly what it is doing. Checking their track record on the old projects is beneficial at this phase.
Discussing and Creating
After recruiting the travel app developers, you should explain the exact requirements to them. They will, of course, quickly comprehend it, even if your idea is not the best one ever conceived. He could also suggest some crucial modifications and insertions that you ought to make to your project. After discussing the project’s action plan, the actual development kicks in.
App Promotion
Any app, regardless of its originality and feature count, cannot be successful if it is not pushed on the relevant platforms. You have to present your software in such a way that the intended market notices its existence. You could have a travel blogger publicise it or feature it in a newspaper.
Standard Features to Consider When Developing a Travel App
You can involve some or all features to give the app precedence over other apps in the competitive space. Analyze these before getting started with travel app development.
Backpacking
Backpacking apps are trending these days. Backpackers have different special solo travel needs, want reasonable stays and transportation, and have limited travel possibilities. The app can guide backpackers with:
Arranging moderately expensive transportation and lodging
Discovering native locations and cuisine
Finding local utility stores, even in rural locations and suburbs
Translation of the regional dialects and languages
Getting advice or meeting with fellow backcountry travellers
Alerting the backpackers on any weather conditions
Expense Tracking
Most people struggle to keep track of their trip expenses. Your app can be used as an expenditure tracker to enable users to monitor their spending and refunds.
Convert money
Most people who travel abroad make errors while making payments because they either overestimate or underestimate the worth of the money. Under these conditions, a real-time money conversion function is a delight.
Voice search
Of the travellers, 60% would be willing to search for or book vacations using a chat tool. Voice search is sure to make it much more appealing.
Travel Planning
This function of a travel planning tool helps users arrange their vacations logically. With this tool, users may search for a location, book their holiday, obtain travel advice, learn about events, and obtain e-tickets.
Maps
Whatever the kind of travel app, this is one fundamental feature shared by everyone. Apple or Google Maps integration makes travellers feel safer since it helps them avoid getting lost throughout their trip.
In-App Booking
Using one app, this function lets customers book hotels, flights, trains, cabs, etc., on the run. Including sales and offers will help your app stand out from others.
Recommendations and Feedback
When booking a hotel, transportation, or other travel-related service, users search for reliability. Recommendations and reviews assist them with this. An app for a travel guide cannot be developed without this ability.
Local Information
Visitors will love discovering the regional specialities, well-known local markets, and much more. Your app could offer details about them. Additionally, your app should include local emergency contacts.
Monetisation Strategies for the Travel App
Monetising a travel app involves using various strategies. Firstly, make money by taking a small percentage from bookings of flights, hotels, or tours made through the app. Secondly, ads should be shown that match users’ travel interests to earn money from advertisers. Thirdly, offer special features, like custom travel plans or early access to deals, for a subscription fee. Additionally, provide links to travel-related products or services and earn a commission on any sales made through these links. Finally, a platform should be created where local vendors can list their activities or experiences for a fee, expanding revenue sources. Using a mix of these strategies helps maintain a steady income while also making the app more valuable and enjoyable for users.
Final Thoughts
Given the booming travel market today, developing a travel app for your company or startup is a fantastic idea. This guide clarifies the advantages of using a travel app and how to create one that is unique. Each step is essential, from researching the market and setting your app’s goals to hiring skilled travel app developers and adding unique features.
Don’t worry about the market being crowded. Focus on the opportunities and trends in travel and tourism. Make sure your app has important features like in-app booking, expense tracking, voice search, and local information to improve the user experience. To make consistent revenue, use tactics including commission from bookings, targeted advertising, premium subscription offers, affiliate marketing, and a marketplace for local events. These guidelines will help you develop a successful travel app that attracts and retains customers, separating your travel app development company from competitors.