Value of ICT in Business Operations of Travel Agency

This article discusses the role of ICT in the travel agency business, its advantages and disadvantages, and changes within travel agencies based on ICT. It also provides recommendations for travel agencies to embrace safe and secure use of applications for business growth.

Running head: VALUE OF ICT IN BUSINESS OPERATIONS OF TRAVEL
AGENCY
Value of ICT in Business Operations of Travel Agency
Name of the Student
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1VALUE OF ICT IN BUSINESS OPERATIONS OF TRAVEL AGENCY
Table of Contents
1. Introduction...............................................................................................................2
2. Discussion................................................................................................................2
2.1 Role of ICT within the Travel Agency Business..................................................2
2.2 Advantages of Implementing ICT within Travel Business..................................2
2.3 Disadvantages of Implementing ICT within Travel Business.............................3
2.4 Changes within Travel Agencies based on ICT..................................................3
3. Conclusion................................................................................................................3
4. Recommendations....................................................................................................3
5. References...............................................................................................................4

2VALUE OF ICT IN BUSINESS OPERATIONS OF TRAVEL AGENCY
1. Introduction
The industry of travel agency or the tourism sector is reputed as one of the
largest industry in the world. This sector has been mostly been influenced with the
rapid growth of information and communication technology. The widespread public
use of the internet technology has been a beneficial factor within the business of the
modern travel agency (Bethapudi, 2013).
2. Discussion
2.1 Role of ICT within the Travel Agency Business
The use of ICT within this sector has transformed the procedure for the
benefits of the customers as well as the travel agencies. ICT within the industry of
tourism has a major affect within the change of internal strategies within the business
and thus renders them to much flexible kind of changes. This would also help them
in adapting to the new needs within the market.
There are various form of online portals of tourism sector, which have
redefined the experience of travel for customers. These online portals have the
potential of organizing and thus distributing tourism inventories to particular clients.
Many of the suppliers of the tourism business have understood the potential of ICT
within the sector and have thus implemented these services within their business.
This has led to the benefits of the customers in various aspects related to online
booking of tickets, hotel reservations, viewing the availability of flights and various
other options that are mostly vital for this sector (Berné et al., 2015).
2.2 Advantages of Implementing ICT within Travel Business
The access to high speed of Internet facility allows a healthy form of
communication pattern within the business. The communication within the business

3VALUE OF ICT IN BUSINESS OPERATIONS OF TRAVEL AGENCY
areas would be much advanced and the time taken for bookings and reservations
would be in just a limited time (Morrison, 2013).
2.3 Disadvantages of Implementing ICT within Travel Business
One of the prime disadvantages of implementation of ICT within travel agency
is that sometimes the customers would act as their personal travel agents. They
would firstly perform their online research and thus would book tickets on behalf of
the travel agencies.
2.4 Changes within Travel Agencies based on ICT
Based on the fast implementation of ICT within travel businesses, it could be
discussed that the travel agents would be able to stay in constant touch with their
customers with a wide variety of mediums such as e-mails and mobile devices.
Accessing the venues of travel, the various bookings of airlines and hotels at real-
time is a huge beneficial factor for the customers.
3. Conclusion
Based on the discussion from the above document, it could be concluded that
the adaption to the newest form of technologies within the business of travel
agencies would be a major change within the industry. This has transformed the
traditional way of the business patterns within the industry and hence has helped
them to adapt to the newest form of technologies.
4. Recommendations
Based on the drawn conclusions, it could be concluded that the travel
agencies should focus on the development of high level of technical details for
increasing their growth within the business. They should embrace safe and secure
use of applications, which would be beneficial for the business (Gretzel et al., 2015).

4VALUE OF ICT IN BUSINESS OPERATIONS OF TRAVEL AGENCY
5. References
Berné, C., García-González, M., García-Uceda, M. E., & Múgica, J. M. (2015). The
effect of ICT on relationship enhancement and performance in tourism
channels. Tourism Management, 48, 188-198.
Bethapudi, A. (2013). The role of ICT in tourism industry. Journal of Applied
Economics and Business, 1(4), 67-79.
Gretzel, U., Werthner, H., Koo, C., & Lamsfus, C. (2015). Conceptual foundations for
understanding smart tourism ecosystems. Computers in Human Behavior, 50,
558-563.
Morrison, A. M. (2013). Marketing and managing tourism destinations. Routledge.