19/12/2025

FRIDAY | DEC 19, 2025

21

LYFE

Travellers expect smarter airports

o Mobile passport, real-time flight alerts, baggage tracking top consumer wishlist

June, a survey rated mobile-app functionality among top features for a “smart airport”. Do these ‘wants’ for airport apps matter? Today’s travellers want smooth, quick and predictable airport experiences. They value speed, clarity and the ability to skip long queues. App-based tools let them manage flights, payments, boarding and even luggage from their phone. That reduces stress, especially during busy travel periods. In the Asia-Pacific region, new research by Priority Pass from mid 2025 found that about two-thirds of travellers believe airports are upgrading technology at the right pace. Among those using airport lounges and automated systems, 47% said technology reduced travel stress, with 68% saying they spent more time on shopping or dining as a result.

Ű BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR

boarding-pass and bag tag Many travellers want a smartphone that doubles as a digital ID, boarding pass, loyalty-card holder and more. 0 Biometric-based, paperless processing Half of passengers now use biometrics at some point, be it for security, immigration or boarding. Among them, 85% report satisfaction, while 74% say they will share biometric information if it speeds up their journey. 0 Real-time updates and convenience features Travellers appreciate apps giving accurate gate changes, flight delays, indoor navigation and baggage tracking. Detailed in the International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management report in

A CROSS the world, travellers now expect more from airport apps. Recent data from the International Air Transport Association shows a clear shift: passengers increasingly want to use their smartphones to manage every stage of their trip, from booking to baggage claim. In essence, these are what travellers want: 0 Full mobile booking, payment and check-in In 2025, 54% of passengers prefer dealing directly with airlines via mobile apps rather than third-party websites, and digital-wallet use jumped from 20% in 2024 to 28%. 0 Integrated digital passport,

Our dependence on smartphones is fuelling the advance towards a digital future for air travel.

In the not-too-distant future, consumers may be able to expect a seamless air travel experience through just one app. – PICS FROM FREEPIK

Improvements should not stop There are aspects that still need work as not all features meet travellers’ hopes yet. In the same International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management survey, baggage tracking and smart-parking features scored relatively low, showing a clear gap between expectation and delivery. Though many airport apps deliver core services, such as boarding pass, flight info and check-in, elements such as dependable in-app baggage

tracking, accurate indoor navigation or unified payment plus loyalty-card integration remain inconsistent. For the end user, when they use an airport app next, they have reason to expect digital passport and boarding-pass integration, biometric check-in, real-time flight alerts and hopefully, baggage tracking. If the app lacks these, the tech is there elsewhere. As airports and airlines continue to upgrade their systems, travellers are bound to treat a good airport app as essential as a boarding pass.

Terengganu leverages 4×4 motorsports to attract tourists to state THE newly launched Terengganu Tourism and Cultural Events Calendar 2026 includes the Terengganu 4×4 extreme motorsport event as one of its 13 flagship programmes in support of the national Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign. for all 4×4 enthusiasts in Terengganu. “Personally, I do not see this recognition as something exclusive to us as organisers. The 4×4 ecosystem in Terengganu thrives because of the collective cooperation between various clubs and

The recognition comes on the back of strong momentum within Terengganu’s off-road motorsport scene throughout the year. The fifth edition of the Terengganu 4×4 Merdeka Challenge, held in Bandar Baru Kuala Nerus last August, gathered 152 competition vehicles and 304 participants from across the country – setting a new benchmark for positioning the sport as a viable tourism product for the state. Adding to this momentum, Terengganu-based team GG 4×4 recently made history on the international stage by securing third place at the Rainforest Challenge Grand Final 2025, which concluded in Gua Musang, Kelantan on Dec 10. “Four-wheel-drive extreme sports in Terengganu have a long history spanning several generations, and today it has been elevated as one of the state’s tourism products, marking a new chapter for the community and

communities who work together to elevate this sport as a tourism product for the state,” said Muhammad Muzzammil Mokhetar, the principal stakeholder behind the Terengganu 4×4 Merdeka Challenge since its inception in 2023. Muzzammil, who also serves as president of the Ummah Four Wheel Drive Sports Club (UT4×4), added that the event’s continued success is the result of strong collaboration with local clubs such as Kelab Terjoh! 4×4 Kuala Terengganu and GG 4×4, each contributing technical expertise and organisational experience. As part of ongoing efforts to attract more visitors to the state and to promote off-road motorsports among recreational communities, UT4×4 and several local 4×4 clubs are now planning a 60km expedition through the dense forests of Hulu Terengganu. The launch ceremony was

Four-wheel-drive extreme sports in Terengganu have been recognised as a new tourism product capable of boosting the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign.

officiated by the state Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman Datuk Razali Idris, who emphasised that cooperation between the state Tourism and Culture Department, the

Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and Tourism Malaysia will significantly strengthen the state’s contribution to the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign through a diverse range of tourism products from the

East Coast. The Terengganu 4×4 Merdeka Challenge 2026 is one of 13 main events and more than 100 supporting programmes announced during the ceremony.