Why Touristic Areas Are a Missed Growth Engine for ISPs and Telecom Operators

Millions of tourists visit cities of all sizes each year starting from famous destinations like Paris and moving to new travel destinations including Baku. Tourists approach destinations with interested gazes while carrying smartphones and silently hope to maintain continuous connectivity throughout their travels. The increasing basic need for connectivity creates a substantial untapped business opportunity for ISPs and telecom operators to integrate their services into the digital aspects of tourism. Providing innovative services across popular location – is a key tool of getting ISP and telco revenue from tourism

The article examines the revenue potential of tourist spending which represents a significant yet frequently ignored business opportunity for ISPs and telecom operators. The steady income from VSaaS and video analytics services which support governments and airports and transport hubs and cafés and tourist attractions with security infrastructure represents the starting point. The article reveals an extra revenue potential which stems from the millions of tourists who pass through connected areas and are willing to pay for comfort and digital convenience and connectivity services.

The opportunity exists without requiring ownership of airports or presence in megacities. The opportunity exists right now. Many operators and ISPs maintain that infrastructure represents their ultimate goal. The service-driven economy of today generates new profit centers through digital experience development.

Tourism is your canvas. Take it to earn and achieve business goals!

Why Telecom Operators and ISPs Should Focus on Tourist Areas for Growth?

The global tourism industry is not just back. It’s booming.

The global tourism industry has returned with increased momentum. The worldwide international tourist arrivals reached 1.3 billion in 2024 and continue to rise rapidly. Millions of new visitors are now exploring European cultural centers and developing Asian and Middle Eastern and Central Asian destinations which all expect instant reliable connectivity.

The UNWTO reports that tourist spending reached $1.5 trillion during the previous year while individual travelers allocated $150–300 daily for urban and resort areas. Tourists base their spending decisions on more than financial costs because they value the experience quality.

Tourists consistently prioritize:

• Connectivity (Wi-Fi, eSIMs, mobile data)
• Convenience (apps, navigation, mobile payments)
• Comfort (premium services, digital concierge, contactless access)

The modern traveler demonstrates willingness to spend money on enhanced convenience and connectivity through simple mobile transactions.

For ISPs and telecom operators, tourists is your ideal customer segment – so why can’t ISP and telco revenue from tourism:

• High intent
• Time-sensitive
• Value-oriented
• Digitally dependent

Thousands of tourists arrive at destinations including Paris and Tbilisi, Bodrum and Baku, Jakarta and Rome. Tourists seek digital connections through airport Wi-Fi and interactive city maps and premium hotel streaming services and secure mobile internet access. Most cities fail to seize these available opportunities. Travelers who arrive at destinations search for airport Wi-Fi before attempting to navigate without assistance and end up using either poor network connections or expensive roaming services.

Your organization has the opportunity to bridge this gap. The goal extends beyond providing connectivity services. It’s about building experiences. The location does not matter because your actions determine everything. Tourists carry their devices and spending money to every destination they visit.

Think About the Tourist Journey — It Starts the Moment They Land

Arrival in the City: Airport or Train Station

Locations:

• Airports
• Railway Stations
• Bus Terminals

Opportunities for monetizing:

• Public Wi-Fi with easy onboarding via SMS, messengers, social media, or bank card
• Ad placement and local business promotions on the Wi-Fi welcome page
• Paid premium Wi-Fi access (ad-free, fast-lane connection)
• Partner offers (e.g. taxis, shuttles) via push notifications

The ISP and Telcos get Revenue from: advertising, premium access fees, local partnerships.

The model operates effectively even when tourist numbers remain low in cities. The audience size reaches thousands of visitors per month. The combination of daily operations with multiple partners and access points enables the creation of a sustainable digital ecosystem that generates revenue without requiring additional tower construction.

The Strong Opportunity for ISP and Telco Revenue from Tourism – Transit to Hotel and Check-In

Locations:

• Taxi and ride-share services
• Tourist buses and shuttles

Opportunities for monetizing:

• Wi-Fi-enabled vehicles
• White-label solutions branded by ISPs or telecoms
• Pay-per-access protected networks

The ISP and Telcos get Revenue from: direct monetization of Wi-Fi access, B2B partnerships.

Hotel Stay and Leisure Time

Locations:

• Hotel rooms
• Restaurants and lounges
• Pools, spas, gyms, beaches

Opportunities for monetizing:

• Guest-status recognition for prioritized bandwidth and seamless login
• Interactive TV, premium content streaming (Netflix, YouTube Premium)
• Hotel apps integrated with ISP services:
  • Mobile e-key for room and VIP zones
  • Digital access levels instead of wristbands with cloud access control options
  • Network-based auto-authentication
  • Push alerts for out-of-access areas

The ISP and Telcos get Revenue from: In-app upsell, VAS (value-added services), hotel analytics.

Reality check: hotels need these features to stay competitive, but few have the tech teams to implement them. ISPs and telcos are in the perfect position to package, sell, and manage it all.

City Exploration and Sightseeing

Locations:

• Squares, monuments, and cultural sites
• Cafés, local tours, boat rides

Opportunities for monetizing:

• Free Wi-Fi in tourist hotspots
• Targeted advertising on connection
• Interactive city maps with Wi-Fi hotspots
• Premium AR navigation or guided tours

The ISP and Telcos get Revenue from: Ad placement, subscriptions for enhanced content, B2B promotions.

Tourists will pay for premium access. Businesses will pay for placement. Cities will pay for analytics. Everyone has a reason to engage, if the infrastructure is smart and connected.

Shopping and Nightlife

Locations:

• Malls, markets, souvenir shops
• Bars, clubs, entertainment venues

Opportunities for monetizing:

The ISP and Telcos get Revenue from: B2B analytics services, premium Wi-Fi, brand partnerships.

No matter the city size, these mechanisms are deployable. Whether it’s 5,000 visitors a month or 500,000, every connection is a micro-transaction waiting to happen.

Summary: Key Monetization Touchpoints for ISPs and Telcos

So Why Aren’t More Telcos Doing It?

The industry continues to view tourism through the revenue lens of mobile roaming and SIM sales. The revenue from mobile roaming and SIM sales represents only a small portion of the total market value.

• The actual worth of digital service orchestration exists as the main value.
• Public Wi-Fi with monetization tools
• Guest-aware hotel networks
• Smart analytics for partners
• White-label services for brands VAS like pre-build access control options and mobile access

ISP and telco revenue from tourism without the need to reinvent your business. The correct platform serves as the only requirement for your business success.

Why Aipix is the Platform to Power It All

The Aipix’s VSaaS and VAS solutions provide the ideal launchpad for implementing the Digital Tourist Journey at scale. Our cloud-native architecture is:

• Aipix is Scalable. It handles millions of users simultaneously, with seamless delivery across large urban environments
• Aipix is Proven. It’s deployed in mass-market cities with millions of inhabitants
• Aipix is Flexible. It’s ready to integrate with hotels, transit systems, municipal hotspots, and retail venues
• Aipix is Turnkey. It enables fast go-to-market for ISPs and Telcos through modular services

ISP and telco revenue from tourism by transforming into smart tourism enablers through the Aipix VAS Software by delivering services that tourists want and cities require while discovering new revenue opportunities.

The tourism wave is rising. The only question is: are you going to ride it, or watch it pass by?

With Aipix, you have everything you need to step in and own the digital layer of your city’s tourist experience – no matter which the country you’re located in.

Let’s build your reliable and profitable revenue future with tourists! Contact us now!