Chapter III.

Introduction to Information Technology and Familiarization of Application

INTRODUCTION

Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines
tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than
one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes". Travel and tourism has not only become
one of the world's largest industry but also grows consistently every year.

IT is the area of managing technology and spans wide variety of areas that include but are not limited to
things such as processes, computer software, information systems, computer hardware, programming
languages, and data constructs. IT professionals perform a variety of functions (IT
Disciplines/Competencies) that ranges from installing applications to designing complex computer
networks and information databases.

Lesson 1: Why Information Technology?

Information technology (IT) plays a vital role in commerce and

business which helps the different organizations for proficiently
working in order to elevate the output. Advancement in
Information technology minimizes the required time for working
in the business field. Electronic storage, protection of records
and faster communication are benefits of IT which can be
utilized.

Information technology is completely working in almost all fields

such as learning, work, health and leisure. IT is the best way to process the information and students
must need to access the computer and internet for increasing their skills. Schools are source of
knowledge and information. So, from ministries to classroom the use of IT is best way in educational
institutes for enhancing and holding the proficiency skills to compete with modern technology for both
teachers and students. Information technology enhanced the learning process via computer and
assignment which becomes more meaningful and productive for teachers to get expected outcomes
from students. IT maintains the matters between users and producers’ students which boost the
efficiency and capacity of teacher to rely exclusively live communication contact between students and
teachers via chalk session, e-mail web-based learning such as intranet, internet, TV audio-videotape, CD-
ROM and extranet.

Graphics, Animation and PowerPoint are also helpful for learning contents. Complicated process can
have explained well by computer. It is necessary for problem solving, decision making skills and teaching
process. Besides, other learning process such as Integrated Learning Modules, blogging, Mlearning, e-
learning, U-learning, Enhancement of Browsers and Wikis are taken as initiated steps to improve the
beast learning way.

Lesson 2: The Digital Tourism Landscape

The evolving digital tourism landscape. A look at how digital tourism is changing, and how the tourist is
shifting behavior:

The way in which tourism authorities and destination organizations market themselves to their
customers has gone through a period of reinvention over the past few years. Moving on from the likes
of price-comparison websites and PPC remarketing, it has become something much more significant
within digital.
Tourist organizations are beginning to realize that the nature of the industry is changing, determined by
the behaviors of customers themselves. Whether it’s a family holiday or a business trip, the way in
which consumers plan their trip is now an experience in itself, and it starts way before stepping on a
plane.
Innovative marketing combined with emerging technologies will lead to a successful digital tourism
campaign.

 A different kind of tourist.

For as long as we can remember, the main way to book a trip would have been through a travel agent;
choosing your options from a printed brochure, ultimately deciding on the preferred destination.
Whereas now, the entire process is has been revolutionized. The experience has allowed the customer
so much more choice and control.

 This new customer journey is shaped by digital, and falls into a 5-stage process.
Dreaming.
Everyone has a dream holiday destination, which they’ll research for hours, even days beforehand,
checking reviews on TripAdvisor, Yelp and Foursquare. A recent survey suggested that over 60% of us
will research and browse through different holiday options for hours before we commit to a destination.
The modern tourist will take their time to carefully read online reviews, watch videos and check out
advice forums before they even think about booking their trip. All digital.

Planning.
A study in the Applied Research in Quality of Life journal noted that the highest levels of happiness
come at the beginning of the holiday process; the planning stage. It’s even reported that many of us
actually plan holidays that will never happen just to experience this feeling. Not surprisingly, most
holidaymakers now consider the internet their main source of information for holiday planning. With
the advances in digital services, flights, hotels, attractions, and transport planning have all been made
much easier to coordinate. As marketers, we must be there to meet this content need, and package it as
an experience.

Booking.
Digital has made consumers much more aware of the options available to them. Content is frequently
posted with titles like ‘21 amazing places to visit before you die’ and ‘26 amazing things you have to do
in Berlin this weekend’ and it’s opening new doors to destinations that people might not have thought
about travelling to before, all whilst getting the best deal. With this trend comes an opportunity to
communicate value, and offer an experience that price comparison sites simply don't. Destination
booking is part of the experience. Whether the website supports an e-commerce system or integrates
with another system entirely, the user experience should be positive and allow the user search with
complete freedom.

Experiencing.
Modern travelers expect the digital experience to continue on their trip. However, this is something that
many tourism businesses are not tapping into. Geo location technology allows an application to send
visitors notifications with recommendations on the best restaurants nearby, discount vouchers and the
option to book attraction tickets in advance.
To create good memories, the customer needs to have good experiences. Tourism is all about creating
the environment for good experiences to take place. Should a tourist need to use a map, search for
attractions, or check-in to a flight, they will expect to be able to do so easily on their mobile or tablet.
These services are external to tourist organizations, but integration with them
Sharing.
Social Media is shaping travel. Around 70% of tourists will update their Facebook statuses while they’re
on holiday. Photos which may have previously been kept in a box under the bed are now shared for
friends to see on Facebook and Instagram at any time. Seeing a friend’s photos of their trip to Iceland,
standing on top of a frozen waterfall can inspire others to dream about doing this themselves;
something which they may have never considered before. This pattern is increasing year-on-year, and it
will only continue to increase as digital tourism evolves and people continue to share.

 A destination marketing strategy.

Successful tourism websites and digital experiences don’t just happen. They all share the same
components that are sometimes missed by other providers. Failure to recognize the key success factors
will result in an experience that is not memorable at all, or worse, memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Tourism organizations need to look at their strategy and how it will speak to these customers.

 The unique selling proposition.

Any tourism-based organization or brand needs to recognize what makes their offering unique, in order
to develop a competitive advantage. The tourism industry is one that is growing; with it, also comes a
growth in providers. The two largest online retailers Amazon and Alibaba have both entered the
industry, and after the acquisition of tour-booking platform Viator, TripAdvisor’s CEO Stephen Kaufer
stated that “TripAdvisor intends to go beyond its core focus on hotels and be the solution of choice
throughout the entire travel cycle”. Adopting a Single Customer View and focusing on hyper
personalization will be the main focus for these big industry players and it will be a digital experience
that, therefore, sets it apart.

 Positioning the destination.

Based on needs and destination characteristics, such as hospitality, climate and attractions, a successful
market position is integral to any digital tourism plan. How a destination is positioned effects how that
country is perceived in the eyes of tourists all around the world. A successful destination position
requires the destination itself to be considered a ‘product’. The price and distribution are a
consideration similar to any brand; and are elements that need to be communicated clearly and
consistently to fight off rival destinations.

 Content-led approach.
How a tourism organization defines its position is down to their content. The development of a content-
led approach falls into two distinct categories.
First, the provider must build a calendar that focuses on promoting digital content around specific
milestones. These can be destination specific, date specific, or can fit around topics that have
significance for that region as a whole. Planning is crucial at this stage to communicate the right
message. Content marketing needs to reflect what’s important to the target audience, and will be
derived from the market position. In this case, it will always be content that is relevant to enhancing the
experience.

 Creative technology is a key.

Technology and digital will be at the heart of all future destination marketing campaigns. As the number
of marketing and fulfillment channels increases, so will the need to integrate them to ensure that KPIs
are measured and met. Travel organizations have the power to connect suppliers and software to its
core offering, coordinating local products and services, and making them available globally. This allows
for a more personalized buying experience, based on an individual’s preferences without any barriers.
 Lesson 3: Using Information Technology for Tourism

How Information Technology Has Affected the Tourism and Hospitality Industry.

Information Technology has played an important role in the hospitality and tourism industry over the
last decade. Technology has helped reduce costs, enhance operational efficiency, and improve services
and customer experience. Both customers and businesses can benefit from improved communication,
reservations, and guest service systems. Technology has helped tourism and hospitality industries
replace expensive human labor with technological labor. This helps reduce labor costs, but also helps
avoid customer service issues.

Here are some examples of the ways that IT continues to improve the hospitality and tourism industry.

 Internet and Marketing

The internet has a powerful impact on hospitality and tourism. A customer’s first experience with your
business is a visit to your website. This includes looking at pictures and reviews from past guests. It is
vital for a business to effectively utilize online advertising, social media, blogs, and online purchasing to
help convenience their customers, especially when your competitors are doing the same thing.

 Computer Systems
Computer systems allow communication between larger hotel chains with multiple locations to connect
easier. They also help keep staff on the same page and make it easier to access information, making
your guests experience much better. Guest requests, housekeeping information, and reservations can all
be found on one system.

 Mobile Communication
Mobile tablets and smart phones have replaced large desktop computers, making them virtually extinct.
This is helpful, because many travelers take some type of mobile device with them on a trip. This helps
hospitality businesses keep customers advised of changes and delays to their reservations, offer deals,
and advertise by using GPS tracking.

 Conclusion
The use of Technology in the hospitality and tourism industry has helped speed up operations and
helped the traveling process much more enjoyable and efficient. Technology not only helps large chain
hotels, but can also be useful to B and B’s and other smaller companies in the industry.