UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA

UNAD FLORIDA Master of Business Administration MBA

Course: BUS5308 FINAL PROJECT E- COMMERCE Professor: Dr. Jose G. Lepervanche

Group A Saul Mendez Zambrano Carlos Alberto Caon Arnulfo Alzate Gladys Rodriguez

April de 2012

E-TURISM

"New technologies and tourism. The process of disintermediation in tourism " In today's Information Society "network of networks", Internet, has emerged as a revolutionary tool for the future of the tourism sector, especially in the area of distribution and sales, as well as everything around him: information retrieval, combination, book and buy tourism products and services. The new technologies of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have contributed significantly to the massive growth of tourism and the increased value of the supply and demand. As with any perishable, heterogeneous and intangible, in the case of tourism information forms part of the tourism product, as one of its factors of production. Previously, tourism businesses were already using new technologies since the middle of last century. Initially through the CRS's (Computer Reservation Systems), which allowed airlines automatic management of reserves. Later, with the proliferation of various CRS's-incompatible-in the eighties are created systems GDS (Global Distribution Systems) and global distribution system that will understand the different airlines. Today, these systems provide instant information on the various consortia of providers of tourist services, composed of airlines and hotel chains. The terminals of these systems are installed in travel agencies, through which reservations are made and purchases of the services offered by these companies. E-tourism ("e-tourism" or "tourism on line") is the virtualization of all processes and value chain tourist accommodation, transport, leisure, travel, restaurants, brokerage and related services. It includes every one of the tourist business functions such as marketing, finance, accounting, production, strategy, planning or management. The influence of new telecommunications technologies and information in the tourism sector is of vital importance today.

These allow tourism businesses: a) Having a global presence in the international market. The new information technologies and the media favor the globalization of tourism markets, allowing access to major tourist places, but not only that, but also create the possibility to access other parallel products, such as road maps , traffic information, advice to travelers, weather ... etc. In the absence of geographical barriers on the Internet, tourism entrepreneurs can enter foreign markets without any need for physical presence, increasing its mass potential customers. It also allows them to partner with other companies anywhere in the world in a profitable and efficient, not only of their own business, but also the field of information technology or telecommunications. The Internet presence should not be based solely on the business opportunities on line, since other factors such as image, advertising or offering value added services to their regular customers and sufficiently justify the inclusion in this medium. b) Research and develop new tourism products that meet the demand for niche markets, achieving a competitive advantage through specialization and differentiation. This is possible because new technologies allow value-added chains more flexible and allow consumers designed their own tourism product across multiple combinations that allow the TIC. Thus, companies will be able to customize their product for each customer, allowing them to select their preferred characteristics for that product, and thus set the market segment in the unit: each individual client. In this sense Internet helps to identify customers more accurately and effectively through the Internet data provided voluntarily on their visits to the websites of these companies, segmenting demand to the various specialized areas automatically. c) Reduce costs through the integration of operational systems and optimization of the internal efficiency of the company (through Intranet and Extranet networks), the decrease in the number of administrative staff, reduction of personal

and telephone communications; the possibility of access-by-user all the information that previously could only be achieved through direct contact with tourism businesses, reduction of commission to intermediaries through direct sales from their website electronic or through intermediaries, or the design process to avoid duplication. As an example of these cost savings in personnel is usual that the customers themselves do the work of data entry, which will prevent employees do the tourist business. This cost reduction is brought directly to the customer, putting downward pressure on commissions they charge for their services both traditional tourism businesses as virtual. d) more flexible making them more competitive prices and optimizing production. By enabling ICT monitoring of real-time sales, tourism businesses can react ongoing adjustments in the product configuration or price, or even turn to advertising to maximize sales. New technologies for tourism businesses warn of possible excess demand or supply, and given that the tourism product by its very nature can not be stored for later consumption over time, allow for last minute deals that prevent certain quantity of this product remains unsold. There are even companies that specialize in the sale or auction of this surplus, which allows its elimination through third without affecting the image of the main company. e) Save time, since ICTs enable tourism businesses to share information internally or with partners instantaneously, increasing efficiency. But just as they will also enable consumers to interact reciprocally with these companies, performing confirmations and purchase immediately. Being able to conduct transactions with suppliers of tourism services three hundred and sixty five days a year, twenty-four hours a day, without physically traveling to the office of the company in question, also customers maximize their effectiveness and value in a very positively to companies that allow them to make purchases using new information technologies and communication, which is a competitive advantage for them. E-TURISM

http://www.colombia.travel/es/

The government launched a new tool to attract thousands of tourists to Colombia. This is an Internet portal, through which potential visitors can not only get comprehensive information for the country but to make hotel reservations and buy your tickets in advance A site that aims to offer tourist services in the country in Colombia and the world. The main activities include international tourism, national and responsive in the country. A distinctive feature is to offer personalized tours according to the preferences and customer requirements. Also on offer and provide services within and outside the country, with the support of experienced staff in tourism.

Application Context Tourism Sector Policies

Competitiveness: The challenge to achieve a world class tourism Improve the competitiveness of tourism in Colombia, through joint management strategies involving all stakeholders in the sector, to strengthen the sustainability of the value chain and for positioning the country as a world class tourist destination.

These are some websites that manages the Colombian e-turism It is a very important strategy because it was created to ensure the quality of an organization, timeliness, accessibility, consistency and confidence in the information and institutional services offered through electronic means to citizens. It is also a benefit to both the institution and for the city as it reduces the time for completion of formalities.

Objectives of the online website.

The objectives of this website are to give timely information to the public and all users. This website takes an intense journey for each unit, showing current pictures of them and giving details of each, as is its location, boundaries, features and

characteristics, services provided, indicating times and locations of the same, and as spaces to communicate with the public. Providing easy access to in formation on tourism products and services Providing better information on tourism products and services Providing convenience for customers Expanding choices by customers Creating new markets Establishing interactive relationship with customers Improving customer services Improving image and public Recognition of the small & medium sized tourism enterprises Saving time for providing tourism services Providing customized & specialize d tourism products & services Reducing operating cost Simplifying the process business Interacting with business partners Founding new business partners

Main features and online benefits

BENEFITS Serves as liaison to all tourism-related organizations Provides timely information to all citizens QH some procedures Allows citizens to submit their requests, complaints and suggestions often

 Citizens of the survey on the most important issues for the inhabitants of the city. It has allowed to consult historical archives of the city Used as a guide to places to visit. You will have access to forms, formats and models needed to complete the procedures 24 hours a day. No need to queue or walk to another window, perform a few steps, and to apply. You can track as close as you want, the status of your process, whenever you wish, you can go to see the progress of the process. A reservation or quote

FEATURES

Advantages graphic design website The graphic design of this site must be implemented using standard web technologies, as specified by the World Wide Web Consortium, the body responsible for setting policies and technical specifications that govern the Internet (world wide web). Specifically, graphic design must be created with Cascading Style Sheets, or CSS for short in English. Style sheets are a set of instructions written in HTML, (HTML is the language that is used to publish content on the Internet) that define the appearance of a web page in order that their styles are alike. In addition to providing a uniform appearance, style sheets have other advantages: Accessibility for all persons

The technical features of this website must be people with physical disabilities to navigate and retrieve information more easily. Many sites in the network do not have this specification, making it impossible to access for people with physical limitations. To meet accessibility requirements, this site must be designed following the guidelines outlined in the Directives of Accessibility for the Content Web Consortium WAI. In addition, these guidelines are policies and standards for state disclosure web Presidential Directive 02, Government Online. Control of Printing Paper

3. How this initiative could be implemented in your city.

The new technologies offer a range of opportunities for tourism businesses, as the online entry per se causes an expansion of the business that would otherwise be very difficult to achieve for many companies. This is aided by progressive lowering of new technologies, which should be added the fact that the marginal cost of servicing a new customer is lower than in the traditional company, which pays for the initial investment if you get a portfolio significant customer. Another opportunity is, as we have seen, in the possibility of turning customer relationships into something much more personal, identifying the tourism product to levels difficult to achieve outside the network will also enable existing firms to use its mass of customers traditional basis for his leap to the Internet, which is definitely a competitive advantage over new firms arise directly on the Web also ICTs eliminate geographical barriers, so that increase the potential customer base might not otherwise engage the services of these companies due to distance factor. And

finally, new technologies will facilitate the joint bid with other tourism products that are not. Through the tourism enterprise portals can provide a path for other ecommerce products that otherwise would be little chance of commercial success.

As a result of the above, also by consumers of tourism products new technologies are going to report you many advantages, among which would be greater transparency of prices, the possibility of a personalized, better graphics and visual information (videos, photos , maps, plans, interactive products ... etc), lack of geographical and temporal, greater decision-making and training facility to compare different products, time savings, less need for advance reservations and cheaper products thanks to cutting production costs. The Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism (Anato) highlighted the positive performance of the sector, which was reflected in the increased consumption of tourism services by the Colombians. According to the guild, only during the first half of the year, international and domestic sales reported by the travel agencies affiliated with the Association grew 19.08 percent and 13.45 percent respectively. According to statistics of the trade, the countries to which most Colombians traveled last year were in order of importance: United States, 37.7 percent;

Panama, 12.1 percent, Ecuador, 9.6 percent, Spain , 7.8 percent and Venezuela, 6.4 percent. There are several websites one of them is: www.clubdereservaciones.com where the end user can search for prices, availability and book online and check each hotel information, maps and recommendations of other users. Besides giving hotels a platform for managing its supply and end users a secure portal to manage their hotel reservations, we think the structure of the Club Reservation to generate your own e-marketing and online advertising. Other sites have focused on other needs of the tourist, beyond choosing a destination and get a good price and is related to the tour guides, and here the role of the Internet, including a solid platform for Internet-oriented tourism tourism. To define a system, and offer cutting-edge e-tourism should be taken into account aspects such as: Geographic Information Systems. Optimal search algorithms on the GIS. Video conferencing systems Tourist-Guide. Business management system. If we speak of a geographic information system, we speak of information at multiple levels, from providing information on rivers, streets, restaurants etc. with people assigned to this sector. Also Interactive Kiosks Tourist Information that allows cities to offer a better, quieter and reliable tourist information providing all the information required in a city vistita, so, you can learn in an easy and Quick destinations, shopping sites, information on accommodation and attractions by implementing a software tool called Interactive Kiosks. In our country the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism aims to provide new ways to reach tourists and facilitate access to information and so this project is of great importance in pursuing this goal. The information provided through these kiosks called TOURIST INFOCENTER has been structured in the following 9 areas for this stage:

 Tourist Destinations: This section will contain information on all attractions in the City. Here we publish the information at the Tourism Product. Each resort has a main photo, a detailed description of the site and to state its benefits, how to get information, places of accommodation close to area restaurants (only those registered with the Tourist Office), information of dress, type of activities that can be performed, mileage from the point where it is located, general map of the province. Shopping and Handicrafts: We will incorporate all necessary information such as site location, type of stores, opening hours, telephone numbers, website and email. Hotels and Accommodations: For this project are requested to three photos of the accommodation establishment (photo of the facade, photo of a room, picture of a complementary area) was placed about name, type of accommodation, address, number of bedrooms , phone, website, mail, facilities provided by the facility. To do this the user can deploy them at sector or by type of accommodation. Restaurants: Here we publish the registered restaurants in the tourist office, with information on location, name, phone number, type of food on offer, website, email and schedule. Emergency Tourist Police: We will place all the phone numbers and addresses, emergency agencies, hospitals, clinics, with location information. Banks and Currency Exchange: This will list all banks and major branches at the regional level, and information on the homes of changes to account information. Ground Transportation, with complete itinerary of the companies providing the Service, to display information on destinations and schedules, and trip frequency. Events: We will place the information of all events that occur at local and regional fairs, festivals, employers etc., To cover the variety that exists in our region. This area consist with information on location, date, time, duration, deployed regionally. The kiosk will work with a touch screen to display information that is located in a distributed database. The information will be constantly updated in the database

whenever you have new records, the data is immediately deployed in each of the points where they are located kiosks. The project will be carried out by means of an agreement between the tourist and the productive sector iesy-business. Where will? First Stage: for this phase will identify strategic locations for the placement of the kiosks. (Bus Terminal, Shopping Malls, main park, and in certain tourist sites. Second stage to this stage could provide other facilities through kiosks such as publishing packages offered by tour-operators, posting price dynamics both rooms and packages, to include information on weather conditions in real time each destination.

As a way to delve into the knowledge of new information technologies to enhance and facilitate regional tourism, the aim is to show the E - Tourism ("Etourism") as a strategy that uses technology platforms that offer opportunities for development a particular industry. National policies on the issue of the relationship between tourism - user and how technologies can support the process of internal information of the micro and medium tourism enterprises, emphasizing the Internet as an agent that shortens distances

REFERENCES

- Blanquer Servant, D. (Ed.) et al. , IV Congress and Business University, Tirant Lo Blanch, Valencia, 2002. - PAUL ROUND, R., New technologies applied to tourism, Editorial Universitaria Ramon Areces, Madrid, 2004. - THE FORTRESS MARTNEZ, B., Distribution channels in tourism, College of Management and Marketing, Madrid, 2002. - PLAZA GUEVARA, A. et al. Internet and tourism, Editorial Miramar, Malaga, 1997. - LAGUNA OF PEACE, J. C., "Internet: aspects of public law regime", Spanish Journal of Administrative Law (REDA), No. 113, January-March 2002. - VVAA, New technologies and working conditions in the field of hotel, catering and tourism, International Labour Office, Sectoral Activities Programme, International Labour Organization, Geneva, 1997.