The oft-touted “technology overload” results in the need to detox, get away, andescape.
The idea of setting time aside for quiet moments – particularly “alone time” or time for self-care – holds widespread appeal.
Tourist boards should clearly flag the opportunity for escape that their destination could provide in the discovery phase – but also to make explicit that this is well within the consumer’s own control.
How important it is for consumers to have some time with no commitments or nothing specific to do?
Source: nVision Research | Base: 1000-5000 online respondents per country aged 16-64 (Indonesia & S. Africa 16-54), 2015 February
Not important at all
Not important
Neither important nor unimportant
Important
Very important
The global device-use throughout the average consumer’s day
Source: nVision Research │ Base: 1000-5000 online respondents with a smartphone, tablet, laptop and desktop per country aged 16-64 (Indonesia, Mexico & S. Africa 16-54), 2014
Device usage is not only constant throughout the day, on top of this consumers stick to devices as they move from one activity to the next. Crucially, it can be seen how technology and potential stressors or feeling of digital overload might be strongly linked as well.
NTOs and visitor attractions must aspire to be at the forefront of the debate about the role of technology in ordinary lives.
In the short-term, this is about recognising consumer boundaries, allowing easy opt-outs from communication channels, or switching to an opt-in model.
In the long term, it is about keeping up with digital innovations that will make technology more sensitive and responsive to people’s lives.