SURVEY Almost 60 percent of Croats plan to travel with AI. Have you also used AI tools for vacation?

Artificial intelligence increasingly present in travel planning

The use of artificial intelligence in travel planning is experiencing significant growth. According to the research, 15 percent of Croatian travelers use AI regularly, while an additional 25 percent use it occasionally. This represents more than an eightfold increase compared to last year when the word about the use of artificial intelligence for vacation planning.

Although AI is increasingly being used in all the countries covered by the research, the frequency of its use is still related to the level of income. Travelers with higher incomes are already using such tools when planning their trip.

They use it most often to find local recommendations, search for the best offers, and organize logistics and transportation. They mention saving time, availability of the service throughout the day and ease of use as the main advantages.

It is particularly interesting to note that 42 percent of the respondents, or even 45 percent of travelers with higher incomes, would be ready to completely leave the organization of their vacation to an AI agent or entrust it with certain tasks. Such results point to a growing trust in automation not only during planning, but also during the entire travel experience, including the payment phase. However, the final decision still remains in the hands of the user, while transactions are protected by security mechanisms.

Croats still like to travel in the summer, but some travelers choose flexibility

Research shows that almost 80 percent of Croats plan to travel within the country, while 54 percent intend to travel abroad. Half of all trips take place during the peak summer season.

Among the most popular international destinations are Italy, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Travelers with higher incomes show greater flexibility. Although half of them still travel during the main season, an equal proportion choose to travel in the off-season. The reasons are mainly greater comfort, avoiding crowds and the search for more exclusive experiences.

This group also travels abroad – as many as 74 percent of them plan international trips. In addition, they have a more flexible approach to cost management. While 53 percent of respondents from the general population plan their travel budget in advance, among travelers with higher incomes, that share amounts to 40 percent.

Digital payments dominate travel

When the wordč when it comes to paying while traveling, digital methods continue to have an advantage. Almost six out of ten Croatian travelers, or 59 percent, plan to use the same payment card abroad that they use at home.

An additional 22 percent of respondents decide to pay via smartphones, smart watches and digital wallets.

Practicality, speed and security are the main reasons why travelers prefer digital payments. When paying by card, 52, 42 and 36 percent of the respondents singled out these characteristics.

Despiteč therefore, a large number of travelers still do not use all the benefits offered by payment cards. Riječ is about value-added services (VAS), which include additional functionalities associated with cards, such as access to airport lounges, various discounts or loyalty programs.

Credit cards linked to loyalty programs, mobile applications adapted to travelers and foreign currency accounts are the most popular among average travelers. Passengers with higher incomes have similar preferences.

The next step: agents of the trade

The development of artificial intelligence is increasingly moving towards the concept of trade agent, a model in which AI not only helps users in making decisions but can also act on their behalf.

This includes self-searching, comparing and booking trips tailored to the user’s individual preferences. For example, AI could find the most suitable destination, book transportation and accommodation, and choose the best available options according to given criteria.

Visa states that it actively develops such solutions in cooperation with partners, with an emphasis on security and useful control.

“This is the direction in which Visa develops solutions together with its partners, while ensuring that users always retain control over the final decision and payment,” said Renata Vujasinovi, director for Croatia at Visa.