The 2 nd Arab International E-Tourism & E-marketing Conference
Tourism and Marketing in the Age of Technology: Virtual and Real
El Gouna - Red Sea – EGYPT
Mövenpick Resort & Spa El Gouna, Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna and Steigenberger Golf
Resort El Gouna
Dec. 14-18, 2009
Organized by
IOETI
International Organization for the E- Tourism Industry
Background
E-commerce in Tourism has become a key tool for business development, particularly for marketing and promotion. The Travel Industry Association of America reports that 30% of the U.S. adult population used the Internet for destination information or to check prices and schedules. Online travel and tourism transactions are increasing continuously and changing the industry. E-tourism extends beyond transactions to include customer relationships and offers opportunities for tourism organizations to cost effectively expand their customer base and communicate with customers and related partners. E-tourism helps customers access information on destinations and services, communicate with tourism organization, and book conveniently and inexpensively.
Yet despite many e-tourism advantages, developing e-tourism is difficult, especially for organizations in less developed countries. However developing countries are finding that tourism, already a major source of income, can be greatly enhanced via websites that enable potential customers to research, reserve, and pay for trips and hotel stays electronically.
Many travelers now shop for vacations online, and developing countries in the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Asia have the chance to court these customers directly, offering domestic flavor, unique experiences and local knowledge that can trump overseas competition. The challenge is to reorganize tourism services and set up well-linked websites that allow domestically owned hotels, banks and travel firms to provide necessary services for tourists to arrange their trips, reservations, flights, currency exchange and payments. E-tourism helps profits stay at home and contribute to job growth and economic growth.
Don't Miss 2009's E- tourism and E- marketing Outsourcing Conference!
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