Mobile Travel Apps Thrive

Travel apps continue to grow in downloads and time spent as mobile becomes an essential part of the travel experience, despite rising travel costs.

Themes

Experiences Over Material Goods , Navigating Global Uncertainty

Timeframe

near-term

Subcategories

Business Travel Digital Content Creation Social Media Travel Trends

Impact areas

Tourism Transportation Travel

Detailed Analysis

Mobile apps are becoming increasingly essential to the travel experience, with downloads reaching 4.2 billion in 2024, a 3% increase year-over-year. While the growth rate has slowed compared to the post-pandemic surge, the trend remains positive, with users relying on mobile apps for planning, booking, and managing their trips. Despite rising travel costs in 2024, time spent on travel apps continued to increase, indicating a growing preference for mobile tools and services. Transportation apps, including bus & rail and airline apps, also saw significant growth, reflecting the broader adoption of mobile in the travel sector.

Context Signals

The impact of rising travel costs on download growth. The increasing competition between streaming services and league-specific sports apps. The shift in travel advertisers' video ad spend from OTT platforms to YouTube.

Edge

Travel apps will become even more personalized and integrated, offering seamless booking, real-time updates, and AI-powered recommendations. The use of AR/VR and the metaverse could transform the travel planning and experience. Sustainability and responsible travel will become increasingly important factors influencing app development and user behavior.

Click to access the source report