Introduction

In the past 20 years the development of the internet and information technologies has made colossal strides. The internet has become available to almost any person who wishes to use it and can spread information at a ludicrous rate. This and many other factors make it the ideal platform for the tourism industry to base its business on. The tourism industry can use the internet to its advantage in various ways. For one, companies can advertise activities, travel packages, historical sites, and various other things online for people to see. Another advantage that the internet has given the tourism industry is the ability for the consumer to instantly book flights, make hotel reservations, and rent cars from the comfort of their home. Along with these obvious advantages that the internet has given the tourism industry there is another benefit that is not as evident and may become very popular in the future. This is the ability for the tourism industry to create a virtual cyber tour of a site so that a tourist does not even have to leave their home to experience a specific travel destination. These are just some of the many examples of how the internet and information technologies have impacted the tourism industry.