Impact of Information and Communication Technology in Travel Agencies

This report examines the significant role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the travel and tourism industry, focusing on how travel agencies leverage ICT to enhance their operations and customer engagement. The analysis highlights the importance of an online presence, including the use of social media platforms like Facebook for marketing and sales. It emphasizes the role of IT in providing efficient services, such as online booking, payment options, and live chat support, which improve customer experience. The report also references how governments like China are investing in ICT to promote tourism. Furthermore, it discusses the use of data mining, mobile systems, and transportation management to streamline operations and improve destination planning. The references provided support the claims about the benefits of ICT implementation in travel agencies, emphasizing the need for proper ICT strategies to achieve operational efficiency and competitive advantage in the global tourism market.

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ICT in Travel and Tourism Agency

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ICT in Travel and Tourism Agency
It’s always seen that a strong tourism industry actually makes the country’s development
reach new heights and make sure that there is social development as well. This also involves a lot
of evolution and progression.
In this industry of Travel and Tourism, the travel agencies play a great role in
contributing to the growth. The role of communication is actually make sure that there is an
influence on the choices of people and also to the destinations they would like to visit.
In every day if a travel agency is actually using the ICT efficiently, then there will be a
probable influence on the place they would like to visit vis-à-vis touristic destinations and the
products they purchase or would like to. In daily business operations in any travel agency will
involve a lot of work on the following:
1. Presence online- Since now-a-days we have many agencies who are online, thus it
becomes really essential to offer the packages online with exciting and mesmerizing photographs
and small articles. (Bekkaoui, 2008).
For example: Facebook allows you to sell packages on various groups along with
description and photograph upload options. This is a normal operation which will can actually be
used as a great communication tool- Communication Technology being the highlight.
2. Information Technology: IT is too much into the travel agencies arena because of the
popularity of websites and so much more. Thus for a travel agency, having a full proof site
displaying all what they offer would actually help them get more and more customers. Here the

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IT will ease the process in great length- like payment options, availability and so much more on
the customer’s fingertips. Also with the efficient systems now in place- customers can chat live
which actually give them all the details without actually talking on phone and increasing the
length of the process. Internet also proofs to be an excellent efficient tool.
Even the world understands it that how important is ICT in travel industry and because of
which the Chinese government has increased the budget for the private travel agencies who
are in this business and actually promotes China as a great destination for tourists. (Mohamed &
Moradi, 2011).
ICT not only will help travel agencies in general but will also assist them in handling a
lot of other factors like that of mobile systems, transportation and eases their work quite a lot
for currency conversions and translations etc.
Travel agencies have a great help in managing travel groups on the above mentioned and
makes sure that their business operations run smoothly.
Travel agencies can actually use the ICT strategy and moreover data mining for
information prediction and other management will actually encompass a combination of services
and products which will be offered as s great bundle for the tourists to help in destination
planning.
Also countries around the world like Morocco, Australia even has given so much of help
and budget to the local private business to expand. And they have been using these wide ranges

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of websites, social media pages only to make sure that they demonstrate all the beautiful places
they have to offer. (Burgess, et. al 2011). Like for example- Malaysia has efficient
information systems for visas in place which will help the travel agencies to actually smooth
and save on time in procedural things. (Roman & Dimitrios, 2012).
Thus as per the various reasons which actually help travel agencies to get the benefits of
ICT, thus the travel agencies should make sure that there should be a proper implementation of
ICT in order to get benefits. This will also smoothen their daily processes and operations.

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References
Bekkaoui, Z. (2008). A generic electronic marketplace platform [manuscript]: application to e-
tourism (Master’s thesis, Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane, Morocco), Available from
Mohammed VI Library Online Catalog. (mlc.b1098520) Retrieved from
ftp://its/AUI_Online_Theses/SSE-THESES/Bekaoui_Zahia_2008.pdf
Burgess, L., Parish, B., & Alcock, C. (2011). To what extent are regional tourism organizations
(RTOS) in Australia leveraging the benefits of web technology for destination marketing
and ecommerce?. Electronic Commerce Research, 11(03), 341 – 355. Retrieved from
http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=e3f849cf-3977-498e-a415-
cda6a367feab@sessionmgr198&vid=4&hid=4211
Mohamed, I., & Moradi, L. (2011). A model of e-tourism satisfaction factors for foreign tourists.
Australian Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences. 5(12), 877 – 883. Retrieved from
http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=55f38e06-e313-4948-a413-
c0df2c5a7e7c@sessionmgr4002&vid=3&hid=4211
Roman, E., & Dimitrios, B. (2012). E-tourism case studies. Routledge. Retrieved from
http://books.google.co.ma/books?id=4eokjrxRb0MC&printsec=frontcover&dq=e-
tourism&hl=fr&sa=X&ei=tdqnUuKGFIeS0QXDmICgDg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=
morocco&f=false