Worldwide, smartphones are
travelers’ most indispensable items when they travel, even ahead of their
toothbrush and driver’s license, according to the Expedia/Egencia Mobile Index.
The index, commissioned by
Expedia.com and Egencia (Expedia’s business travel brand), was conducted by
consulting firm Northstar. It was based on input from 9,642 travelers from 19
countries.
Among U.S. respondents, one-fifth considered their smartphone to
be their most essential travel item, on par with the number of respondents who
said their driver’s license was the most important item to travel with. In the
United States, those items tied for the most essential item for travelers.
Worldwide, 66% of
respondents said smartphones are the most essential item, while 74% considered
it an important travel item.
China, Taiwan and Thailand
topped the charts on the countries where respondents placed the most priority
on having smartphones while traveling; in China, 94% of respondents said they
consider their mobile phone an important travel companion. Taiwan saw the same
percentage, and in Thailand, it was 91%.
The study also found that
worldwide, 84% of travelers said they want to access information from anywhere.
Over half, 60%, said they do not “unplug” on leisure trips, and 35% said they
use their smartphones more on vacation than at home.
Globally, 60% of travelers
said they wouldn’t go on vacation without a mobile phone, and 63% sleep with
their phone next to their bed on vacation.
“We have found that
travelers are using mobile devices at every stage of the travel process, from
researching and booking trips to capturing and sharing the travel experience,” said
Aman Bhutani, president of Brand Expedia Group.