Skift Take

Functional apps that serve a real purpose – getting around a city, weather reports – are the most popular among travelers, another bad sign for a growing number of pretty inspirational apps.

Over 50 percent of travelers download a travel app before setting out on a trip. And there’s no lack of options with a constantly growing app market of travel guides, language translators, and reservation platforms; however, maps are the most popular of downloads.

According to a study done by communications agency Text 100, 40 percent of people going on vacation will download Google Maps or a GPS app before they go. City guides and local weather are also popular picks.

The study found that travelers from Asia Pacific, Australia, and China were more reliant on apps that their North American counterparts. Out of all smartphone and tablet users, only 11 percent of travelers from Asia Pacific, Australia, and China chose not to download apps in comparison to 38 percent of North Americans.

 

smartphone

The Daily Newsletter

Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

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Tags: apps, maps, smartphones, tablets

Photo credit: The iPhone 4 is used to get around Hong Kong and Shenzhen in China. Mike Lau / Flickr.com

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