[achrono]

Other than banks & ticketing, there is a whole host of things that do in fact need an app.

* Mobile payments

* Navigation

* All manner of IoT devices

* Wearables!

* Digital versions of ID (Mobile Passport Control)

etc.

So no, you can't just use the web.

[A4ET8a8uTh0_v2]

But, and I hesitate to point it out, because I am finding that people think it is somehow minimal entry stakes, one does not need any of those things..

[homebrewer]

You wouldn't get very far without WeChat and AliPay in China. Last time a good friend of mine was there, many merchants simply refused to accept cash. The few that did had made it known how much they were inconvenienced by doing that.

Same for basically every interaction with locals, for accessing government services, or even just using the public transportation.

It's pretty similar for locals AFAIK.

And before anyone replies that he didn't have to travel there — no, he did, unless he was willing to look for another job (which are very sparse here, you hold on to a good job for dear life).