The Impact of Technology on Travel and Tourism for Romanians

This research proposal investigates the significant influence of technology on the travel and tourism sector, specifically focusing on Romanian travellers. It aims to identify the impact of technology, particularly Facebook, on their travel decisions and preferences, with a case study on the Thomas Cook group. The objectives include understanding technology's role, exploring Facebook's influence, analysing social media's impact on decision-making, and recommending strategies to leverage social media effectively. The methodology involves structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews, leveraging both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to gather primary data. The literature review covers the concept of technology in travel and tourism, highlighting the shift to online booking, the role of social media in promotion and sales, and the changing landscape of customer engagement. The study also explores the feasibility of Facebook's implementation and its impact on the travel industry. The research aims to provide insights into how technology shapes traveller behaviour, improve marketing strategies, and enhance the overall travel experience.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Table of Contents
TASK 1.1.........................................................................................................................................1
Title or Topic...............................................................................................................................1
Brief Introduction........................................................................................................................1
Research Question or Hypothesis...............................................................................................1
Aim and Objectives.....................................................................................................................1
TASK 1.2.........................................................................................................................................2
Structured topics..........................................................................................................................2
Semi Structured Topic.................................................................................................................2
Unstructured Topics....................................................................................................................2
Interest.........................................................................................................................................3
Access to Primary Data...............................................................................................................3
Scope and Importance.................................................................................................................3
Feasibility....................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1.3.........................................................................................................................................4
Literature review.........................................................................................................................4
TASK 1.4 ........................................................................................................................................9
Research methodology................................................................................................................9
TASK 1.5.......................................................................................................................................11
Gantt chart.................................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

TASK 1.1
Title or Topic
The influence of technology on travel and tourism sector.
Brief Introduction
Technology is a crucial element that creates major impact on traveller’s businesses. To
operate successful results, development of new technologies totally change day by day so that it
affect to carried businesses. In ages of travel and tourism, industry develops significantly and
change the way of tourism as well. With the help of development of major attraction and social
events, it can be stated that it assists to establish opportunities for fulfilling traveller’s demands
and requirements (Xiang, Magnini and Fesenmaier, 2015). Technologies advancement
continuously develop that helps to create several benefits for potential visitors as well.
Introduction of communication technology also brought learning and teaching teamwork to make
easier and efficient work performance. Increasing tourism activities create modern and quick as
well as easy access of information such as travel destinations, dining options, lodging, etc.
Impact of digital technology create enormous benefits that are more attractive and
provide different kinds of information that are available on internet. Global positioning system
also assists to operate and self-check with online bookings that assists to totally transform the
travel and tourism industry (Wang, Xiang and Fesenmaier, 2016). Technology also influence to
develop continue work and produce attractive work that despite for economic development and
consider online booking systems.
Research Question or Hypothesis
 How Facebook influence Romanian travellers?
 How social media influences decision making activities in travel and tourism sector?
Aim and Objectives
Aim: “To identify influence of technology in travel and tourism sector for Romanian travellers –
A Case Study on Thomas Cook group”
Objectives
 To understand the concept of technology in travel and tourism sector
 To explore the influence of Facebook on Romanian travellers
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 To analyse the decision making theory which is influenced by social media towards
Thomas Cook Group.
 To recommend the ways through which social media activities increase which influence
Romanian travellers.
TASK 1.2
Structured topics
Structured topics related with interview which included in quantitative research method.
It is commonly known as survey research that assists to ensure that each interview is presented
exactly with same questions in same order. This method is involved when researcher has low
level of involvement in research with maximum number of respondents. Furthermore, this
method is standardised with comparing candidates on the basis of interview questions (Standing,
Tang-Taye and Boyer, 2014).
Semi Structured Topic
Semi structured research topic considers interview on the basis of qualitative method
which considers inquiry and combines pre-determined set of open questions. In this way,
opportunity also developed that explore different themes and responses further. It also mixes of
structured and unstructured questionnaire in particular sequence in advance manner. It is
generally beneficial for the interviewers to prepare proper guide and informal grouping of topics.
In the present research, this method is used to carry out significant advantages and consider
research for attaining desired results (Boniface, Cooper and Cooper, 2016). With the help of
preferred answers, proper findings will be carried out to attain effective work performances.
However, there are favourable and unfavourable responses that may be consider to focus on
attaining the desired results.
Unstructured Topics
Unstructured topics consider interview or non-directive interview which includes
questions that are not arranged previously. In the form of unstructured interview, widely
implications of different questions consider in relation with topic that researcher has wishes to
cover. It is an instrument and guide that is used by interviewers towards particular topic or issue.
Specific questions included in sequence that are determined in advance (Mason, 2015).
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Interest
In order to conduct the present research, researcher has a wide interest to assess influence
of technology for Romanian travellers. Furthermore, they have also considered their participation
to focus on broad enough tailored for assessing interest and expertise as well. Along with this,
researcher wants to know about Facebook implementation in development of travel and tourism
activities. As results, it helps to attain more significant advantages at workplace (Neuhofer,
Buhalis and Ladkin, 2014).
Access to Primary Data
In order to access the primary data, it is important to find its relevance and effectiveness
towards present research. Primary research in process assists to gather more relevant substance
that assists to conduct research with relevant information. With the help of conducting survey,
face to face interview is considered that assists to eliminate risk. Researcher can obtain accurate
results to address and clarify proper results at workplace. Before gathering data, it is important to
decide and conduct research with observation, questions, etc. (Ukpabi and Karjaluoto, 2017).
Uniform questionnaire considers the respondent’s reviews with unstructured responses.
Participants also provide information with minimal guidance.
Scope and Importance
In order to conduct present research, it has been seen that Facebook is the most important
element that helps to attract more travellers in industry. It would be done with Facebook
implementation activity. It increases the connectivity with social media that helps to analyse and
write up trends. With the help of revolution, speed and flexibility considered for social media
platform to research. It also provides recommendations, review, travel services, packages details,
etc. (Baum, 2015). Facebook plays an important role from all tools of social media to
communicate marketing with customers on 24/7 basis. Apart from this, Facebook is most
important element that included in social media and create social network with more than 1,55
billion people monthly.
Feasibility
With the implementation of Facebook in social media, social platform continuously
increases with potential clients. It is very easy to use them and create account quickly. These
elements help to consider relevant and consistent information to answer users questions.
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Facebook mainly help to interact with maximum users in which hotel is one important option.
Hence, present study help to analysis different perspective in research with ascertain significant
advantages in research (Cohen, Prayag and Moital, 2014).
TASK 1.3
Literature review
Concept of technology in travel and tourism sector
According to Yang, (2017) there have been many changes in the world of travel and
tourism due to advance technology. It has allowed reaching more customers all over the world.
Computer reservation system is used in the airline industry which represents broad range of
applications. Travel technology also includes virtual tour and tourism. Technologies. There is
implementation of IT and e-commerce solutions in this field. New options are provided to
consumers through dynamic packaging and guide available to them are in the form of GPS tour
guide. Social media has affected a lot and is providing updates to Romanian travellers with its
gestures. Flights are booked through Facebook. It has provided channels to Business man to
engage themselves with Romanian customers. Social media helps in promotion and sales of
tourism products and packages. It is a new way of communication between customers and
authorities. Social media share experiences of customers through posts and writing reviews, pics
and videos. Tourism industry is also facing similar situation like that of Facebook and Twitter.
As per the view of Yang, (2017) Facebook is most popular website used by Travel industry and
by hoteliers. All hotels of Romania have a realistic view on Social Media. They manage Internet
websites easily. Facebook pages are very well managed by them so that they can attract
customers in huge amount. According to Cohen, Prayag and Moital, (2014) business of travel
and tourism has increased to large extent due to the use of social media. By using Facebook,
there is increase in their brand awareness. It has become a re marketing tool for various travel
industries. Firstly a strategy is build up to target a segment at the initial stage of travelling with
ads and low rate of packages then, specific decisions are made by travellers. Here engagement of
large amount of audience with whom meaningful conversation can be generated about the brand.
Customers like to make pre-booking on websites and compare hotels and travel industries of
their choice. It has also affected decision making of this industry to greater extent. Social media
is changing work decisions and obtaining and communicating information with employees and
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other people. It is regularly increasing its penetration in our lives. There is existence of high level
of trust through online social media. Equal input is being received in decision making which is
identified by the organisation. Research is being conducted through search engine and final
decisions are taken by leaders. Youngsters like to read blogs of travel agency and decide and do
their planning. Organisations always do speculations on blogging and its internal and extensive
decisions are affected. Due to the use of social media, cooperative publishing, blogging, micro
blogging, video live casts, discussions take place between employees and customers. It
challenges travel industry's notion and changes decision making process. Thus, use of Facebook
is vital in travel industry because various industries get to know about their competitors and
current trends running in the market. “Technology”, the word here itself is made through its own
use and even while reading this article a person will be using technology. Today every person is
bound to use technology and even they are addicted to it in such a manner that technology is
being used in every field of life including this Travel and tourism sector as well.
According to Helen Belokon, as said in an article on how technology is changing the travel and
tourism industry that through technology travel and tourism sector can have a much larger target
market segment than it has ever before. Today people are more tech-savvy, they are learning
technology day-by-day. Generally the travellers are of younger age and they are better informed
and knowledgeable in the field of technology, therefore every time they travel, they make a use
of technology. Not even youngsters, but adults and even aged people are using technology when
they travel. Through technology travel industry is not only stepping into a new generation but
they are embracing it as well. There are many ways in which travel industry had made itself
more accessible to the larger target-market segment through the use of technology which are as
follows: Better Communication:- This ability helped the travel industry in engaging their
valuable customers quickly and to retain them through solving their issues in a more effective
manner. Better communication doesn't mean only customer relationship management but it also
helps to manage their customers on various social media marketing sources. Online booking:-
This is the best example of in-house technology that the customers are able to book each and
every thing on their smart-phones, from a pen to even a hotel room or a flight ticket.
Basically, the amalgamation of travel and tourism industry and the information technology
industry is known as travel technology. It means the summation of technology and travel
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industry. Today travel technology not only include designing, formulating, implementing and
evaluating the technology to the travel industry but this also include the analysis of their
economic processes, their market related structures and even their customer relationship
management. Today the sub-technology of online booking, better communication is also getting
outdated as they are getting replaced by managing the technology in travel and tourism industry
for example there are many companies which are working/have worked on a mobile application
which will be able to manage all the digital booking related problems like today there are many
online booking websites for various hotels through which they get all the details of booking but it
is difficult task to manage all those websites therefore there is a company named REZ hotels
which provide a website and a mobile application which will provide all the required information
and it will manage all the other websites and applications with proper service through which that
travel company receives its booking. Therefore, technology has became a crucial part of travel
industry.
Influence of Facebook on Romanian travellers
According to the views of Yang, (2017), in age of information, internet is the most often
and consulted source that comes to gather different types of material for specific tourist
destinations. As per the world tourism organisation, online media in which Facebook is most
important element for targeting Romanian travellers. Wide spread of internet and rapid
technologies assist to develop effective results. Facebook is the main element that is increasing
different kinds of information which is based on information intensive industry. To reduce the
risk, it is important to collect a lot information regarding destination and area of development.
However, Larsen and Urry, (2016) stated that confidence in decision making is also an important
consideration that helps to make better decisions in the business environment. Internet and
variety of information with communication tools are also ascertained with web and mobile
technology. Besides this, changes lead to travellers that is more independent, experienced,
flexible and sophisticated to arrange trips. New online trends also consider more control over
travel decisions that extreme influence travel and tourism. As per the point of Khan, Qianli and
Zhang, (2017), social influence is an important consideration of technology acceptance. Social
and individual needs vary from one person to another so that it will represent using social
networking websites. With this respect, personal belief is also influenced by the opinion of
another people. Facebook is most important element of marketing. Abubakar and Ilkan, (2016),
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explored their ideas and views that promoting hotel and spreading message on social media
consider diversity with proper content. Although, it includes whatever kinds of content which
determine to publish and post consistent with interesting compelling. Quality element helps to
gain visibility and increases profitability on long term basis. Facebook has been used to increase
relationship with guest and community as well. Along with mobile capabilities, it also helps to
stimulate growth and differentiate from competition.
Decision making theory which influence by social media towards Thomas Cook Group
According to the view of Rivera, Gregory and Cobos, (2015), it can be stated that social
media affect consumer decision making activities. In this regard, Facebook is more important
element that consider as communication tool that helps to people to connect other people at
workplace. Sometimes, people visit social media to share their experience, reviews, information,
etc. Hence, information assists to solve issues and provide interest with connection of different
friends. Information also helpful source that influence to consumer in decision making. In the
study, it has been show that social media consider guidelines for future planning and effective
trip. Apart from this, Benckendorff, Sheldon and Fesenmaier, (2014) argued that marketers also
take advantages with marketing strategy that helps to gain maximum number of customers at
workplace. Social media environment easily applied to accomplish and reach towards customers.
There are several benefits undertaken with convenience and accomplish desired results.
Facebook is most popular element that assists to share lifestyle, stories, etc. in crucial manner.
Posting information also lead with review towards decision making activities. As per the view of
Ukpabi and Karjaluoto, (2017), nowadays social media consider variety of information that
assists to grow industry day by day. More than 500 million people interact daily with social
media so that users growing have attracted markers. They recognised social media activities that
is important part of communication strategies. It also assists to interact with customer needs and
understand goals. Key business factor of social media allow to travellers to estimate products and
make recommendation with contact several friends, relatives, etc. However, Boniface, Cooper
and Cooper, (2016) communication with social media found that impact on consumer decision
making and marketing strategies as well. Consumer socialisation theory helps to predict proper
communication among customers which effect cognitive, affective and behavioural attitude.
Advertisement with social media helps to built with new consumer behaviour so that purchase
decisions has been considers to business on social media.
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Recommendation ways through social media activities increases which influence Romanian
travellers
As per the view of Neuhofer, Buhalis and Ladkin, (2014), recommendation by friends
and relatives assists to consider proper decision making activities. It helps to develop brand
attitude, purchasing attitude and advertising attitude. More positive and good responses from
customers on the basis of feedback must be undertaken so that Thomas Cook Group able to
consider innovations and creativity at workplace. With the help of focus on social media
marketing, company will easily develop their successful consideration. However, Xiang,
Magnini and Fesenmaier, (2015) generated their views that chosen business should provide
discount and coupon that helps to promote more desired results at workplace. In this regard,
study for brand allow consumers to communicate directly with brand representative. Most of the
customers using this tool to know about item brand, their advantages, etc. Online consumer
booming market in all over the world so that it give globalised level of segmentation with cross
culturally. Enterprise must solve issues and problems engaged in social media so that it increases
insight activities with different medium so that it would be beneficial to include social
connection and self expression. According to the view of Neuhofer, Buhalis and Ladkin, (2014),
motivation is important element that helps to connect older friends and review with business
support. As results, it increases values and outcomes to ascertained different aims and objectives.
In order to support and consider decision making, more reasonable products will be develop to
conduct study with accessible nature of internet. Study also helps to examine and cover relevant
information from social media activities. On the other hand, Boniface, Cooper and Cooper,
(2016) stated that posting travellers information helps to up grade photos, videos, advise, etc.
consider sharing personal and travellers views. This thing assists to make positive impact with
systematic travel information. On the basis of social network sites, it has been shows that social
influence affect to person decision making so that people participate and appear in community
group members. It defined support with ideas so that decision making process need to make
confirmation for decide best.
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TASK 1.4
Research methodology
Research methodology consider important role in business success. Therefore, it
considers procedure or techniques that assists to select, process and analysis information for
topic. Methodology also allow to critically evaluate study and validate with reliability (Park, Ok
and Chae, 2016). Following are certain elements included that helps to develop significant
advantages in research: Research design: Research design consider different meanings that helps to make choice
between qualitative and quantitative research methods. In respect to consider design,
there are main two forms of designs exist such as exploratory and conclusive.
Exploratory research design has aim to generate insight information about particular
situation. However, conclusive research design consider verify insight for course of
action. In present research conclusive research design undertaken in which descriptive
research design undertaken by researcher (Veal, 2017.). It helps to focus on find casual
relationship that helps to attain more effective work performances. Research philosophy: There are two types or research philosophies exist such as
positivism and interpretivism. With this consideration, researcher use interpretivism
philosophy that helps to attain positive results and perform many functions in creative
manner. With the help of this element, researcher able to collect more relevant
information for their research (Park, Ok and Chae, 2016). Research approach: Research approach consider description of research that helps to
bring fact and ascertain creative work performances. In this regard, two approaches has
been undertaken which helps to promote desired results at workplace. For instance,
inductive or deductive. Inductive approach implement to generate new theory and
deductive approach consider to testing theory. In the present research, deductive
approach has been used because it is associated with quantitative research. This approach
is necessities to researcher to begin with complete open mind with new ideas and
generate testing on theory. It is important to consist use of deductive with subjective
measurement that helps to test hypothesis and explore emerging areas. Research technique: In respect to consider present research, description brings with two
types of approaches such as quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative technique based on
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simulation approach that helps to consider useful building and understand future
conditions. Furthermore, qualitative information based on concerned with subjective
assessment of attitude, opinion and behaviour, etc. Research includes generation of data
with quantitative form so that it would be beneficial to consider effective results at
workplace. Survey research consider in this method so that appropriate findings will be
develop. It will assist to focus and maintain more growth with data analysis at workplace.
Generally this technique also measure simulation to understand future conditions (Mair,
Ritchie and Walters, 2016). Data collection: In order to collect data, researcher need to keep two types of data such
as primary and secondary. Both these methods assists to focus and maintain more
relevant work performance in the business. In respect to collect primary data there are
different methods exist that could be used by researcher such as questionnaire,
observation, interview and schedule. Apart from this, in respect to collect secondary data
researcher used various publications from state, central, local, etc. government.
Furthermore, books, journals, magazines, articles, newspapers, etc. also undertaken. In
the present research, both kinds of data taken by researcher to focus and maintain more
effective work performances at workplace. Primary data collected with survey which
conducted on the basis of design questionnaire. Secondary data has been used from
different tools of government that helps to focus on desired results (Park, Ok and Chae,
2016). Data analysis: After collection of data, researcher focus on proceed to analysis it.
Therefore, it considers process to analysis appropriate data that includes editing, coding,
classification, tabulation, etc. All these perspective helps to develop significant
advantages at workplace. There are different elements also exist that helps to analysis
process. It includes descriptive, correlation, multi variance analysis, etc. From the above,
researcher used descriptive method of analysis to undertake effective research in business
(Yüksel, 2017). Sampling: Sample consider in grouped that determines with two broad classes as per
method selection. There are two kinds of methods exist that consist for sample selection
such as random or probability sampling and another one non random or non-probability
sampling. Random sampling method consider with different methods such as simple
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random sampling, systematic sample, multi stage random sample, sequential sample, etc.
Beside this, non random sampling method consist with purposive sample, quota sample
and convenience sample. In the present research, random sampling method has been used
in which simple random sampling method consider to analysis data (Lowry, Cartier and
Delconte, 2015). This is because, present topic has been based on travelling sector so that
it is important to collect data on the basis of all grouped views. In this way, 20 sample
size has been selected that are employees of the chosen business. Ethical consideration: Ethical consideration consider most important part in research. In
this way, research participants not be harmed in any ways whatsoever. As per
participants, research must be prioritised in dignity of research. Full consent also obtained
as per prior study. Researcher also need to protect privacy of research participants.
Adequate level of confidentiality in research data has been ensured so that participants
will be collect effective information at workplace. Along with this, data must be
communicate in relation with honesty and transparency so that it could be help to attain
more effective results. Misleading information must be avoided to find more effective
consideration at workplace (Cantallops and Salvi, 2014).
 Reliability and validity: All information must be reliable so that effective results will be
concluded at workplace. On the basis of validate information, systematic and effective
work performance must be represent with primary data findings. Issue of reliability and
validity must be addressed in research methodology. Reliability defines as extent in
which same instrument obtained more than one time. As results, research is associated to
generate same results and using same method to undertake effective consideration.
Validity of research is also explained at extent in which scientific research method
followed in process to generate findings (Figueroa-Domecq, Pritchard and Villacé-
Molinero, 2015).
TASK 1.5
Gantt chart
In order to consider Gantt chart, it includes different activities with time frame.
Activities Week 2 Week
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Week
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Week
8
Week
10
Week
12
Week
14
Week
16
Week
18
Week
20
Week
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Determines
research
proposal
Defining
background
or rationale
for study
Literature
review
Deciding
aims and
objectives
Finalizing
aims and
objectives
Devising
the
questionnai
re
Gathering
data
Examining
the data
Finding
Recommen
dation and
further
areas to be
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consider
Final
Submission
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Abubakar, A.M. and Ilkan, M., 2016. Impact of online WOM on destination trust and intention to
travel: A medical tourism perspective. Journal of Destination Marketing &
Management. 5(3). pp.192-201.
Baum, T., 2015. Human resources in tourism: Still waiting for change?–A 2015 reprise. Tourism
Management. 50. pp.204-212.
Benckendorff, P.J., Sheldon, P.J. and Fesenmaier, D.R., 2014. Tourism information technology.
Cabi.
Boniface, B., Cooper, R. and Cooper, C., 2016. Worldwide destinations: The geography of travel
and tourism. Routledge.
Cantallops, A.S. and Salvi, F., 2014. New consumer behavior: A review of research on eWOM
and hotels. International Journal of Hospitality Management. 36. pp.41-51.
Cohen, S.A., Prayag, G. and Moital, M., 2014. Consumer behaviour in tourism: Concepts,
influences and opportunities. Current issues in Tourism. 17(10). pp.872-909.
Figueroa-Domecq, C., Pritchard, A. and Villacé-Molinero, T., 2015. Tourism gender research: A
critical accounting. Annals of Tourism Research. 52. pp.87-103.
Khan, S.A.R., Qianli, D. and Zhang, Y., 2017. Travel and tourism competitiveness index: The
impact of air transportation, railways transportation, travel and transport services on
international inbound and outbound tourism. Journal of Air Transport Management. 58.
pp.125-134.
Larsen, J. and Urry, J., 2016. Mobilities, networks, geographies. Routledge.
Lowry, L.L., Cartier, E.A. and Delconte, J.D., 2015. Addressing the need for new tourism theory:
The utility of constructivist grounded theory methodology for theory development.
Mair, J., Ritchie, B.W. and Walters, G., 2016. Towards a research agenda for post-disaster and
post-crisis recovery strategies for tourist destinations: A narrative review. Current
Issues in Tourism. 19(1). pp.1-26.
Mason, P., 2015. Tourism impacts, planning and management. Routledge.
Neuhofer, B., Buhalis, D. and Ladkin, A., 2014. A typology of technology‐enhanced tourism
experiences. International Journal of Tourism Research. 16(4). pp.340-350.
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