Electronic Commerce Application in Tourism Agents

Tourism agents of distribution are organizational links in a travel product producer´s system of describing, selling, and confirming travel arrangements to the buyer. Such channels are needed because it is impractical for any supplier to own sales outlets in every market city. It is much more feasible and productive to distribute the product, for example, through 25,000 retail travel agencies. There are specialty channels of many kinds. The Electronic Commerce is a new force in the sale of travel today. It will grow in importance in the future and have an impact on the travel distribution system. Travel distribution channels are similar to those used in other industries. But tourism products are intangible. Then the particular travel product can be integrated into the distributor´s operation. Some channels are very evident, such as travel agencies. However, depending on the individual product, additional distributors, such as incentive travel firms, corporate travel departments, hotel sales reps, and associations, can be very sales-effective.