Impact of ICT on Travel Sector Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Usage and value of information and communication technology on travel agency. Answer: Synopsis: The economy of travel sector has been driven by the ICT or information and communication technology nowadays. The travel business has been representing the industry which is information-intensive characterized by a notable long value chain. It has been influenced to a large extent by the information. Its generation, gathering, storing, retrieving and transferring has been remaining at the heart of all the activities of the travel agencies. Every innovation in the sector of ICT could potentially alter the strategy followed by the travel agencies in running their business. These transformations have also been effected by the customer behaviors that keep changing under the impact of information technology. The decision making process of the consumer in the travel agencies has transformed into online as the direct booking of service has come into place. Critique: The commodity-like structure of the products is provided by the travel agents. Law et al., (2015) identified that the easiness with which various travel products could be described have been concerned about the travel agencys future provided the advent of ICT. Early recognition of the trend in the change in role of the travel agents has been the notable decrease in the agency commissions as paid by the airlines. This also includes the rise on internet usage and the other online services for obtaining the information about travel and making the airline reservations. The developing of the vertical portals has redefined the business of travel. According to Krcher (2013), this has have rise to numerous last minute travel portals online that effectively organize and then distribute the inventories of distressed tourism to the customers. A client is able to search for online bookings and access numerous options available and then lastly take the decision to purchase. Law, Buhalis and Cobanoglu (2014) showed that the internet has made possible for the clients to undergo through large quality information in a lesser time. Moreover it made the service expectations since the consumers expect to get served all the day out throughout the year. Benckendorff, Sheldon and Fesenmaier (2014) stated that the technology has been also useful for the airlines in reducing the expenses and getting nearer to the customers. The application and rise of mobile technologies have also influenced the travel business sectors. The services of short messaging have been delivering lots of information. The booking confirmation through mobiles could simply get presented to hotels or airlines and one can enjoy the service effectively. Reflection: Thus it is seen that the travel business has revolutionized their strategies and plans with the usage of improved ICT solutions. They have been restoring to the solutions to the customer focused travel. They have aimed to deliver solution for every services related to travel via ICT. The travel agencies must embrace the effective and newly developed solutions of ICT for running travel operations efficiently and smoothly. At the same time the primary focus must be on delivering the efficient customer service. For these things the only counter is to adopt the updates and best information and communication technology. References: Benckendorff, P. J., Sheldon, P. J., Fesenmaier, D. R. (2014).Tourism information technology. Cabi. Krcher, K. (2013).Reinventing the Package Holiday Business: New information and communication technologies. Springer-Verlag. Law, R., Buhalis, D., Cobanoglu, C. (2014). Progress on information and communication technologies in hospitality and tourism.International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management,26(5), 727-750. Law, R., Leung, R., Lo, A., Leung, D., Fong, L. H. N. (2015). Distribution channel in hospitality and tourism: Revisiting disintermediation from the perspectives of hotels and travel agencies.International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management,27(3), 431-452.