It’s hardly a secret that NFTs took the limelight in 2021. With that impetus, NFTs have been on a roll, penetrating a dizzying number of industries and sectors. What started with the art world gained popularity with the rise of play-to-earn NFT gaming marketplaces. Since then, NFTs have been used in everything from ticketing to tourism.
NFTs are being utilized in the most creative of ways, some of which are highly unexpected. But long story short, NFTs are revolutionizing several sectors. A very interesting use case is travel and tourism. How do you digitize something that isn’t, well, tangible? In many creative ways, it would seem! Curious? Read on.
How NFTs make sense in tourism
The most obvious way in which NFTs fit into tourism is ticketing. With NFT tickets using blockchain technology, you become the sole owner of your ticket. Cancellations and/or trades could also be made easier. Airlines and hotels could also offer access to premium deals and services to NFT holders. Another use case lies in souvenirs. NFTs could serve as proof that you visited a particular attraction, and could even come with the digital collectible that you can show off.
But the Tourism Authority of Thailand has come up with an innovative application for NFTs to enhance the tourist experience. Tourists can download the YAKS app available for iOS and Android. With this, they can scan QR codes at kiosks set up in 5 key tourist attractions - ChinaTown, Wat Arun, Giant Swing, and Siam Square in Bangkok, and the Ancient City in Samut Prakan. Doing this will get them a random “Amazing Thailand NFT”. Each location has 3999 NFTs, and each NFT has unique offers. The system is set up so that each tourist can scan the code only once in a particular location. If they collect 3 items at 3 different places, they can access privileges including discounted airfare, accommodation, and food.
Closing Thoughts
This really opens the door to all sorts of possibilities in the tourism industry. Soon, with the advent of Web3, it may even be possible to set up AR and VR enabled tours!
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