he Internet offers an easy-to-use and read format. The
effective means for volume of consumers that rely on
developing a single and this information to make
sustainable electronic travel-related decisions will
infrastructure for information therefore continue to rise. In
gathering and business addition, features and benefits
transactions for both travellers of using the Internet to research
and suppliers. It is an ideal and book holidays are improving
method for people to source and being added to all the time.
information on travel. It is an For example, consumers no longer
essential for travel-related have to receive printed tickets
Websites to offer useful, from the travel operator. They
pertinent and easy-to-find simply print out any information
information alongside a booking that they require themselves
facility if appropriate. after they receive it
automatically via email.
It can be used to fully research
a destination, book all aspects The ‘Net’ has meant that people
of the holiday including travel can now easily plan trips for
and communicate others who have themselves. This has not only
the same ideas or have been opened up a greater amount of
through similar experiences. It discounts available to the
gives travellers an excellent general public, but also given
opportunity to compare and people the fun and enjoyment of
contrast everything on offer planning and booking their own
before they make a purchase. trips.
The information available online Prior to the Internet, travel
is continually being reformatted agents were the primary source of
and presented in a more logical, information and facilitating
bookings within the travel
industry. However, the onset of 2) The advertising model,
Net popularity has seriously providing valuable travel
impacted upon the future success information whilst generating
of a telephone or face-to-face revenue through various adverts.
based travel agency. The Internet The significant advantage of this
now allows individuals the model is its low cost base. A
ability to plan and book their website in this business model
own trips. It has revolutionised that provides information on the
the travel industry as a whole UK is TREKtheUK.com.
and instigated a trend away from
the customer using a travel 3) The direct model allows the
agent. service provider themselves to
deal directly with the general
There are four Internet business public. First of all, British
models that can be applied to the Airways is the longest
travel industry. The business established and has a large
models and examples of businesses marketshare and conventional
within them are as follows: competitive advantage. Secondly,
EasyJet have established the
1) The merchant model, which Internet as being key to their
brings buyers and sellers core competency.
together. It could be argued that
this model is effectively an 4) The community model is one of
online travel agent. Websites in the longest established operating
this business model category models on the Internet without
include Travelocity who have having a history of generating a
recently purchased LastMinute.com significant revenue stream. Two
and Expedia – an offshoot from websites reviewed that fall into
Microsoft. this category are Lonely Planet –
based upon the books that have of several business models, it is
been published for more than interesting to acknowledge that
thirty years, and just because a business generates
VirtualTourist.com – a community the majority of its revenue
of individuals who have a passion online, it doesn’t mean that
for travel. conventional business models
can’t be applied to them.
Although it can be argued that
some websites are using a mixture
About the Author:
David Bain is founder of the UK travel website http://www.TREKtheUK.com. TREKtheUK is a comprehensive UK travel guide featuring lots of places to go and things to do. Why not consider Mid Wales travel?
Read more articles by:
David Bain
Article Source: www.iSnare.com 
