Travel+Agencies


 * 1. Describe the term**

A travel agency is a retail business that sells travel related products and services to customers on behalf of suppliers such as airlines, car rentals, cruise lines, hotels, railways, sightseeing tours and package holidays that combine several products. In addition to dealing with ordinary tourists most travel agencies have a separate department devoted to making travel arrangements for business travelers and some travel agencies specialize in commercial and business travel only. There are also travel agencies that serve as general sales agents for foreign travel companies, allowing them to have offices in countries other than where their headquarters are located.


 * 2. Describe the use of IT in each area**

- Record of customers, transportation, reservation, expenses,
 * Database**

Travel agencies will keep records of all reservation of hotels, airlines, and other transportation, expenses etc. of all travels.

- Websites, Advertisement/ travel information - Payment
 * Internet**

Internet is the key component in the use of IT in travel agency. Through Internet, travel agencies post up advertisement, travel information and relevant notification to attract, inform and acclimate customers. Also, payment can be done online through online banking and transaction.

- Online reservation: Hotel, Airlines, transportation - Computer Reservation System
 * Global Distribution System (GDS)**

A worldwide computerized reservation network used as a single point of access for reserving airline seats, hotel rooms, rental cars , and other travel related items by travel agents, online reservation sites , and large corporations. The premier global distribution systems are Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, and World span. They are owned and operated as joint ventures by major airlines, car rental companies, and hotel groups. Also called automated reservation system ( ARS ) or computerized reservation system (CRS).

A computer reservations system (CRS) is a computerized system used to store and retrieve information and conduct transactions related to air travel. Originally designed and operated by airlines, CRSes were later extended for the use of travel agencies. Major CRS operations book and sell tickets for multiple airlines (GDS). Airlines have divested most of their direct holdings to dedicated GDS companies, who make their systems accessible to consumers through Internet gateways. Modern GDSes typically allow users to book hotel rooms and rental cars as well as airline tickets. They also provide access to railway reservations in some markets although these are not always integrated with the main system



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 * GPS tour guide:**

Travel by GPS tour guides is sightseeing adventures that include media rich audio narration and visual representation. GPS tour guides enable travelers visit what //they// want to see at their own pace.

The GPS Tour System facilitates automated, GPS triggered, pre-recorded audio commentaries that play at key points of interest along your sightseeing routes and connects to your Public Address System. GPS Tour systems open up a new world of possibilities for sightseeing companies that value high-quality tour products and new opportunities for profit and growth.


 * XML-based****technologies**

XML can be used to support air reservation booking or to implement optional services and merchandising functions in the booking process. Another important application of XML is the establishing of direct connections between Airlines and Travel Agencies.

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 * 3. Explain how IT helps with each area.**

Technology has affected tourism by directly influencing the ability of potential tourists to not only discover potential destinations, but travel there easily after investigating them at their leisure. With instant information, reliable travel networks, and great tools to overcome language and cultural barriers, the travel of today is far improved over the travels of the past. And aside from the distant aspects of global tourism, even local tourism is much improved by the benefits of technology.

Many travel agencies have already explored the diverse uses of information and communication technologies - including web-based services offering. Information Technology is used in the back-office for handling routine operational problems and to facilitate multi-stakeholders interactions as well as in yield management. IT is used as well in the front office for customer relationship management (CRM).

Technology facilitates the speed and efficiency with which information of the tourism industry is processed, stored, retrieved, distributed and otherwise manipulated. Information technology can reduce costs of information handling, increase speed of information transfer and retrieval and increase customer involvement in the control of transactions. It has flexibility of product specifications and greater reliability of information transferred.

Information technology has radically altered the way in which information is transmitted throughout the tourism industry. Hence, it changes the way in which tourism services are delivered. Because consumer expectations are rising rapidly, the move towards more independent and flexible holidays away from package holidays, with the emergence of a computer literate generation, requires the service providers to find new ways to satisfy tourists' needs. Thus, it offers new opportunities for information technology and the tourism industry.

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 * 4. Describe any problems with IT in each area.**

Digitally-based guide, new positioning technologies (by phone or GPS), or mobile Internet and its large span of possible applications are just emerging and will have considerable applications and impacts on businesses and consumer behavior in the future.

Since many of reservation, notification, and authentication will be done through Internet, reliability and connection of the Internet will be critical in the use for Travel Agencies. Errors and inconvenience caused by Internet connection problem can dissatisfy company’s customers and disrupt the business. Also, having online website can lead to malicious attack and can make stored information vulnerable to exposure.
 * Internet**

Travel agencies will keep records of their customers and use the records for future reference. However, data loss, hacking, and other malicious attacks to the database are possible, causing the business and its customer harm, especially when the database contains personal and financial information.
 * Database**


 * 5. Identify and explain possible issues with each area. (Strand 1)**


 * Reliability/ Integrity** – The reliability and integrity of the travel agency are important as the company may have access to information of customers’ privacy and personal information. Customers will have to some kinds of trust issues as they hand in their sensitive information as well as financial information to the company.


 * Security** – Since the travel agency involves numerous steps online and offline within networks, the security of the customers’ information can be causing issues. Hackers for stealing information of their customers can target the travel agencies’ networks and websites.


 * Globalization and cultural diversity –** With popularly distributed information about tourist attractions, people can now have easy access to travel websites and gather local, regional news as well as tourism information online.