Technology helping travellers stay in touch

Modern travellers are increasingly taking electronic equipment with them when they go on holiday and using new technology to stay in touch, according to a new study.

The research, conducted by the American Travel Industry Association and Synovate, shows that 86 per cent of American holidaymakers take their mobile phone with them when they travel and a quarter choose to take their laptop computers.

Over two-thirds of travellers now take digital cameras on their holidays and one in ten people travel with an MP3 player or iPod.

Dr. Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research for the Travel Industry Association, said: "In this day and age of PDAs, digital cameras, wireless and high-speed internet access, travellers can share their experiences and photos as they happen instead of waiting until they return from vacation.

"The down side is that we can, or have to, also stay in touch with the office."

According to the survey, 18 per cent of holidaymakers choose to stay in touch with friends, family and the office via email and the internet whilst they are away, while 16 per cent use it as a tool to find travel and tourism information on the move.

The Voice of the Traveller survey was conducted in May, across a representative sample of 1,500 US adults.

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