Question

Rapid advancement in information technology has dramatically changed the tourism industry both on the demand and supply sides. Discuss FIVE challenges of accelerating technology advancement on tourism suppliers.

Accelerating Technological Advances Challenges Faced by Tourism Suppliers:
◼ Maximizing operating efficiencies

 Rising wages will necessitate increased productivity

 Use of communication technology and internet

◼ Amplifying guests’ experiences

 Technology will be used to reduce customer burden

 Tailor made for individual needs

 Use of website for reservations

◼ Cashless Society

 Customers purchase 25% more when using a credit card

◼Internet: Travel tool of the 21st century

 Travel planning and booking has increased leading to more competitive direct selling from service providers such as airlines, attractions, hotels.  

◼The Green frontier

 Recycling will become more important

 Increase in number of hotel properties that are “green” by using environmental friendly facilities

◼ Reservation

 Use of technology such as Instagram, website rather than sales call

 Upgrade of technology in connect with outsiders

 Special requests made online/by mobile apps

 Use of social media facilitate dialogues among hotel guests

◼Transportation transformations

 Development of more fuel efficient forms of transportation

 Expansion of rail service and higher speeds

 Push for more efficient aircrafts

◼ Internet: Travel tool of the 21st century

 Travel planning and booking has increased

 Special requests made online/by mobile apps

Answer 1

Information Technology has plays an vital role in the tourism industry. Technology has helped to cut the cost, enhance operational efficiency, and provide quality service to customer. But where as few challenges are there in this cutting edge technology.

Maximizing the operating efficiencies: I feel like operation centers can be handled from various locations for that employee recruitement and wages and for the better career. While the access easy for the customer in the same time branches from various location is quite expensive to provide the best services. Through information technology everything can be managed digitally. All the information about customer are managed centrally that's really helpful. Operation Head can be managed the operation by seating any where ever in the world.

Amplifying Guest Experience: Customer can book the ticket by seating in front of the desk. This facility through technology is the biggest advantages in 21st Century. Customer need not to go any travel agency and book the ticket. Now Customer avail the discount in the same time where it gives more assurance to him and it is convincing factor to use the particular website and book the tickets. Industry should have a regular feedback process in the system. So that we can improvise services more adequately.

Cashless Society: Through information system technology customer need not withdraw the cash and go to the counter to buy a ticket. Customer can book a ticket through online and pay the amount for that. Which is more reliable and safety from company side. For that Online travel agency has to be certified so that customer informations are safe in the system.

Internet: Internet is very much necessary for online booking. Customer should have the internet facilities to avail these services. More over now days internet are more affordable to customer. where ever internet is not available then it is a big challenges for the industry to expand the business with the help of information and technology. Industry should initiate the facilities like sending a messages or call to their customer care for bookings.

The Green Frontier: No doubt information technology is gifted for Nature. Our environment is safe now to the extend with the help of technology. No paper should be required for the bookings and for the travel. Everything is based on eticket that does not need any print. So this way millions of tress are now safe.

Reservation:

Tourism industry has to collaborate with the social networking like Instagram, facebook etc. Industry has to go forward and should appeared with the help of cloud sales so that advertisement is accessible to every one who is using the internet. Periodically provide the offers to the costumer so that they keep booking in our site.