Technology In Tourism

• In retrospect of the last few decades, it is understood that technological development around the world has invaded tourism industry within a relatively a very short period of time if a comparison made between the long history with the recent past. This development could be recognized: • Within the industry systems and human behavior • The client behavior Precisely with the beginning of the 1980s a sudden boost could be noticed in the industry with the improvements of IT and other related technologies of the time. Developments in ICTs have undoubtedly changed business practices and strategies as well as industry structures (Porter, 2001). Tourism, to this date, is the major job provider globally as it demands high number of human attention

Wide range of publication media from print technology to modern wireless technology have been abundantly exploited in distribution, pricing as well as in customer attraction. Thus, the term e-tourism has been coined which provides the industry bodies to share knowledge, research new trends, create opportunities and to create competitiveness, etc. (Cooper C. (1989) Progress in Tourism, Recreation and Hospitality Management, Belhaven Press: London; &Cooper C. and et al. (1999) Tourism: Principles and Practice, 2nd ed., Longman Publishing: Harlow;) Technology then has become a mixed bag for the tourism industry. It creates a great deal of conveniences while at the same time has been used as a way to increase revenues and to lessen customer service. The world of technology has made air travel safe and abundant but has also brought about the need to go through long security lines and daily hassles. (BroLashley C. and Rowson B. (2005) Getting IT Right, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 17 Issue 1, pp. 94-105;) While even the best computer can never substitute the care and love that comes from another human being, technology if used properly can solve many a problem in

Ease of place: Use technology and social networks to allow visitors to research from home and to gather basic information. However, many hotels and transportation companies seem to hide telephone numbers on their web sites. Combine basic information that can be given on a computer with the human side of information. It is understood that if the tourist can never reach the service provider at his ease, he will find a more user- friendly location. (wn L. and Pattinson H. (1995) Information Technology and Telecommunications, Management Decision, Vol. 33 Issue 4, pp. 41-51;Cheng C. and Piccoli G. (2002) Web-Based Training in the Hospitality Industry: a Conceptual Definition, Taxonomy and Preliminary Investigation, International Journal of Hospitality Information Technology, Vol. 2 Issue 2, pp.19-33;) Whether it is desirable or not technology has become an inseparable aspect of tourism. If we are smart enough to use the benefits of technology such as convenience, speed, and accuracy and avoid some of the pitfalls, user friendliness, size of lettering, and lack of human contact, then technology can be a great time and cost saver. But if the tourism industry forgets the importance of the human element and that tourism is all about the experience then it is making a major error. (Dr.