The Role of Information and Communication Technology in Travel Agency

This report examines the integral role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) within the travel agency sector. It begins by defining ICT as the integration of various technologies, including computers, systems, and telecommunications, and highlights its importance in storing, accessing, and manipulating information. The report then delves into the application of ICT in the tourism industry, emphasizing how travel agencies leverage technologies like the Internet, Global Distribution Systems (GDS), and Computer Reservation Systems (CRS) to streamline operations, manage transactions, and provide customer services. It discusses the division of business operations into front and back office functions, demonstrating how ICT enhances efficiency and reduces risks. The conclusion reinforces the significance of ICT in the travel industry, underscoring its impact on daily business practices and overall industry advancement.

Running head: INFORMATION AND COMMUNCATION TECHNOLOGY
Information and Communication Technology in Travel Agency
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion........................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................3
References........................................................................................................................................4

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Introduction
The integration of various computers, systems, telecommunications like wireless
technologies, telephone lines is known as ICT or information and communication technology.
This ICT allows all the users in storing, accessing, transmitting and manipulating the information
in all fields (Law, Buhalis & Cobanoglu, 2014). The main benefit of this technology is that it
eliminates all types of extra cost incurred for the telephone networks. This particular technology
is utilized in almost all industries for the betterment of their business.
This report outlines a brief discussion about the value and usage of information and
communication technology in the business operations of a travel agency. It provides proper
details about the above-mentioned topic.
Discussion
Tourism industry is one of the most recognized and reputed industries in the world. The
information related to the tourism industry is extremely sensitive and important (Bizirgianni &
Dionysopoulou, 2013). This information are stored, transmitted, manipulated and utilized with
the help of information and communication technology or ICT. Travel technology is an
application or integration of information and communication technology. The travel agencies
utilize ICT in their business operation for reducing the complexities of their operations of
business. The most common example of travel technology is the flight tracking. The flights are
tracked with the help of ICT easily. The travel agencies have opted for e-Tourism in their
businesses. The travel agencies utilize three main aspects of technology in the modern world
(Vaishnavi & Kuechler, 2015). They are the Internet, the global distribution systems or GDS and

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the CRS or the computer reservation systems. The information of the travel and tourism details is
easily accessible for the consumers. This is accessible because of the presence of Internet. The
travel agencies reserve the tickets and do all the transactions using the computer reservation
systems and Internet. The global distribution system is a system of network, which is usually
operated by a particular organization (Schegg & Stangl, 2017). This GDS allows all types of
automatic transactions within the travel agencies and the service provides of travel industry like
the hotels, cars, trains and airlines. The entire business operations of a travel agency are broadly
divided into front office operations and the back office operations. The front office operations
are based on customer facing and the back office operations are based on non customer facing.
All these operations are executed by information and communication technology. ICT easily
replaces the main proficiencies of intermediaries (Bizirgianni & Dionysopoulou, 2013). These
mainly include processing of transactions like the settlement and ticketing, the information of
raw products that are given by the suppliers. ICT reduces or eradicates the risk or danger of any
type false transactions and improve the performance of business. Moreover, the efficiency of the
business operations is improved.
Conclusion
Therefore, from the above discussion it can be concluded that, information and
communication technology plays an extremely important and significant role in the travel
industry or tourism industry. This ICT is nothing but an integration of various computers,
systems, telecommunications like wireless technologies, telephone lines. This ICT allows all the
users in storing, accessing, transmitting and manipulating the information in all fields. The main
benefit of this technology is that it eliminates all types of extra cost incurred for the telephone

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networks. All businesses utilize ICT in their operations. The usage and the value of ICT is
utilized in everyday business operation of a travel agency.
References
Bizirgianni, I., & Dionysopoulou, P. (2013). The influence of tourist trends of youth tourism
through social media (SM) & information and communication technologies
(ICTs). Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 73, 652-660.
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.
Schegg, R., & Stangl, B. (2017). Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism
2017.
Vaishnavi, V. K., & Kuechler, W. (2015). Design science research methods and patterns:
innovating information and communication technology. Crc Press.