| Title Page | Introduction | Internet Advertising | Booking Agencies | Internet Tourism | Conclusion | Bibliography |
One of the greatest ways that the internet has helped the tourism industry grow is with the introduction of booking websites. Before the internet a consumer had to either physically go to a travel agency and make reservations, or had to get on the phone and do it there. Both of these methods are very inefficient compared to the internet because they are restricted by the hours that they are in operation. The internet on the other hand is in operation 24/7 and the consumer can make reservations when it’s convenient for them. Whether someone is trying to book a flight, rent a car, or make a hotel reservation, the internet is the only place they need to go to do everything. “Most hotel companies have invested a lot in driving bookings directly to their website” (Sangster, 2006). Not only have hotel companies invested a lot of money into internet booking, but airline companies and car rental companies have done the same thing. One website that is an excellent example of these companies using the internet to book their services is expedia.com. Expedia makes it possible for the consumer to visit one website and book hotel rooms, flights, car rentals, cruises, and also activities. This is another way that the internet and computer technologies have affected the tourism industry and it is one of the most important ways that it has helped.