Entrust Survey Reveals Insights on the Future of Seamless Travel
SYDNEY – November 18, 2024 − Entrust, a global leader in providing identity-centric security solutions, today released key insights from its Seamless Travel Experience Survey, which aimed to understand international travellers' expectations for a smoother, more efficient travel experience. Surveying 1,750 frequent flyers across the G20 (including Australians), the study highlights the increasing demand for friction-less border control and enhanced security technologies.
The survey reveals that the majority of respondents encounter common challenges during international travel, particularly in the areas of customs, immigration, and visa applications. According to the data, 64% of Australian travellers express a preference for biometric solutions like biometric corridors - a path or location that uses biometric technology to process people without the need for manual processes - and remote identity verification, favouring these advancements over traditional checkpoints. This trend is strongest in India, where support reaches 88%, underscoring a global shift towards advanced, secure travel experiences.
Key Findings from the Seamless Travel Survey:
- Biometric Preferences: Travellers increasingly value biometric corridors, with 94% of Australians indicating they would use such options if they reduced airport wait times by 20–30%. Support for biometrics remains consistently high worldwide, with India showing the strongest demand, and Australia at 64%.
- Top Pain Points: Globally, immigrations and customs processes rank as the most challenging steps upon arrival. 87% of Australian respondents found that clearing customs was their number one pain point, followed by immigration at 81%. While respondents appreciate improvements in airline apps and online check-ins, border procedures are cited as areas in need of transformation, especially the visa/ETA application process and security screenings.
- Data Privacy and Digitalisation Concerns: While comfortable with biometric usage, 40% of responders from Australia rank potential technological failures as their primary concern. Data privacy also emerged as a significant factor, with travellers urging transparency in how their data is managed and protected. 24% of respondents from Australia also found that data privacy was their main concern with using more advanced biometric technologies.
- Future Solutions for Seamless Travel: Surveyed travellers identified three top advancements they desire: electronic visa applications, remote identity verification, and e-passports, with each offering faster, more secure border experiences. In Australia, the majority of respondents considered electronic visa application and approval the most desirable addition to improve their overall travel experience.
"These findings emphasise the global shift toward seamless, biometric-powered travel solutions," said Gordon Wilson, Vice President of Identity Verification at Entrust. "Travellers are calling for an experience where security meets convenience, but with weather, engineering, and worker issues already causing regular disruption, technology needs to be set up to ensure that it alleviates the barriers to travel without creating new ones. To help meet this demand, Entrust aims to redefine borderless travel through trusted digital identity."