Emergence of online travel agents and their impact on traditional businesses : a case study on India | |
| Author | Vij, Ritishka |
| Call Number | AIT RSPR no.SM-07-50 |
| Subject(s) | Tourism--India Travel agents--India |
| Note | A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration in International Business |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The travel industry is one of the most dynamic and potentially unstable sectors. General trends affecting the travel industry include increased competition through globalization and through deregulation and increased expectations. At the same time, customers are becoming ever more knowledgeable and growing accustomed to automated technologies. Being one of the largest industries in the world means that it is a prime choice for better efficiency and increased added value. In many ways, the travel industry is the best example of an industry profoundly transformed by technology. Faced with this need for change, the travel industry currently relies on an outdated distribution network, essentially relying on third-parties. In recent years, travel agencies made use of a specialized technology infrastructure and specific knowledge, to justify their cost. New technologies are progressively rendering this infrastructure obsolete as providers begin to understand how to deliver information directly to their customers, through phone, fax, electronic mail and increasingly, through multimedia interactive systems. This endangers the travel agencies, which will need to reposition themselves. The new providers, often driven by technology, also need help in adjusting their offerings to their customers, as they often use technology-driven strategies rather than business driven. The current mass of undifferentiated travel offerings on the Internet is one example of such shortcomings. This type of change will profoundly affect the landscape of the industry as we know it today. Some players will disappear, new players will emerge, and all of the current actors will have to change in order to survive. In which direction, whom, how, and how much are still open questions. Every organization currently active in the industry will be affected, from airlines to travel agencies, from large corporations to small and medium enterprises, and certainly individual travelers. It is crucial to understand these changes today, in order to plan for tomorrow. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Type | Research Study Project Report (RSPR) |
| School | School of Management (SOM) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Master of Business Administration (MBA) (Publication code=SM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Beise-Zee, Rian; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Sununta Siengthai;Dimmitt, Nicholas J.; |
| Degree | Research Studies Project Report (M.B.A.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |