{"id":87,"date":"2023-04-04T12:56:38","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T12:56:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/tourismenu\/?p=87"},"modified":"2023-04-04T12:56:39","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T12:56:39","slug":"getting-ready-for-web3-edinburgh-tourism-industry-workshops-a-traveltech-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/tourismenu\/2023\/04\/04\/getting-ready-for-web3-edinburgh-tourism-industry-workshops-a-traveltech-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting ready for Web3: Edinburgh Tourism industry workshops a TravelTech future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week\u00a0Dr. Afiya Holder<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0joined key tourism and hospitality professionals in a workshop hosted by\u00a0Traveltech for Scotland<\/a>,\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Orange<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0xdLab<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0University of Edinburgh’s ‘DeCaDE’\u00a0<\/a>Centre. The session aimed to explore how Edinburgh\u2019s tourism stakeholders can leverage digital transformation and the possibilities of Web3 to unlock new opportunities and enhance transactional experiences for tourists and suppliers.<\/p>\n

The tourism sector is constantly evolving with one of the most recent advancements emerging at the intersection of travel technology and Web3. This reality has prompted the event hosts to send a call out for Edinburgh\u2019s experts to share insights on future possibilities for the region. However, one key question sparking the curiosity of all attendees was:\u00a0What is Web3 and how is it used or could be used among the different stakeholders?<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Some stakeholder opinions revealed:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI am just here to poke my nose in as I am really curious about it all\u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI am curious and a bit sick, to be honest, people fear for their jobs, people fear that we may lose the human touch in hospitality\u2026 but I challenged myself to come after attending <\/em>Joshua Ryan-Saha’s<\/em><\/a>\u00a0[Traveltech for Scotland]<\/em> webinar introducing this phenomenon\u201d.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Unanimously, attendees admitted being in a conundrum battling between, ignorance, curiosity, fear and eagerness for digital preparedness and readiness. Nonetheless, the collective curiosity and desire to position Edinburgh\u2019s tourism as a prime contender for innovative practice created the right recipe to combine talents, knowledge and expertise to leverage digital transformations occurring in Traveltech and Web3.<\/p>\n

Dr Holder mentioned some benefits during the discussions:\u00a0\u201cDigital transformation in tourism is inevitable and leading the trail has significant benefits for tourists, operators and residents alike. For example, megaevents such as the Olympics are already exploring Web 3 e-ticketing solutions that have positive implications for secure identity management, tokenisation and sustainable waste management.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Web3 in a Nutshell<\/strong><\/p>\n

Often referred to as the \u201cDecentralised Web\u201d, Web 3 encompasses blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, privacy and security in an equitable and fair online environment that is more user-centric. To date, we have seen Traveltech and Web3 revolutionize seamlessly how we search, compare and book multiple travel transactions, for example, utilising one platform to book hotels, airfare, car rentals, and tours encouraging more transparency in pricing and available options. Other examples include the use of AI, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) to enhance user experience with capabilities for customisation and real-time immersion.<\/p>\n

Getting Web3 Ready<\/strong><\/p>\n

In true innovative style, the hosts moderated a creative, design-thinking, roundtable-style workshop. This approach encouraged a cross-section of Edinburgh\u2019s tourism, hospitality and event experts to explore creative solutions and potential use value for Web 3. The top 3 reflections from the discussions include:<\/p>\n