The Internet Effects on Tourism Industry

Abstract:     
This article aims to demonstrate the positive effects of the Internet on the tourism industry in three main areas: planning travel, commerce and industry structure. The document highlight that the journeyers have several tools provided by the Internet to receiving, looking for and sharing information to plan their travels. Also, Global Distribution Systems via the Internet have provided a new distribution channel for the retail of touristic products and services. Finally, the Internet has affected each actor of the value chain in the tourism industry. For the suppliers the Internet is providing directly information of their customers helping to increase their sales. Finally, the intermediaries have realized that they have to adapt to the new environment.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 9

Keywords: Tourism, e-tourism, travel, GDS, information communication technologies

JEL Classification: L83, L86

working papers series