AI and tourism, 91% of Italians rely on Artificial Intelligence to travel

Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence are radically transforming the way travelers organize and manage their trips.

According to official data from the Ferrovie dello Stato Group, in 2024, rail passenger traffic in Italy reached 49 billion passenger × km, with an increase of 6.7% compared to 2023, a growth that reflects the impact of the liberalization of the railway sector and the key role of digital platforms in optimizing the user experience .

New technologies are profoundly transforming the way people travel and organize their train journeys.

Today, 91% of Italians rely on technology to plan, optimize and improve their travel experience. This is what emerges from the recent research "AI and mobility", conducted by Doxa for Trainline, the leading independent platform in Europe for booking trains and coaches.

This study was the starting point of the first Italian Trainline Talk "Smart travel: the new era of digital transport", an event that saw the comparison between various protagonists of the sector, including Paola De Filippo (CEO of Sabre), Leonardo Cesarini (CCO of Trenord), Mario Ferretti (Co-founder of Wayla) and Simone Lini (CEO of Navifare).

The adoption of digital platforms is now widespread: 86% of Italians use them to plan their travels, especially business travellers abroad (40%) and in Italy (36%)

Among the perceived benefits, 51% said they saved money by comparing prices, while 29% were able to travel more often thanks to deals found online.

Italians are demanding more efficiency and integration from booking apps. The most requested feature is savings through ticket combinations (42%), followed by information on multimodal connections (20%) and real-time notifications (17%).

Another important aspect concerns the desire for integration of regional routes: 84% of Italians consider it essential to have access to local tickets from a single purchasing platform. Interest is particularly strong among 45-64 year olds (39%) and those travelling abroad for work (42%).