Livingstontravels.com

Master's Thesis from the year 2001 in the subject Tourism, Copenhagen Business School (unbekannt), language: English, abstract: Inhaltsangabe:Abstract:§The use of electronic and other mechanized methods to exchange business transactions and other information through interconnected computers is not just a technological change but also a fundamental shift in mindset and in the way of doing business today.§There are great new opportunities for the e-business, which have not yet been explored. Technology supports while does not limit the amount of opportunities but allows a whole new set of competitive advantages in a global scenario where some of the rules of the game have change, even though, the most basic principles of business remain the same.§There is potential for acting globally with the support of the communications technologies. Additionally, the reduction of regulatory barriers in most of the countries stretches the limits of e-commerce around the world. However, there are still barriers such as the paying mechanisms, currencies or the fiscal and legal issues.§Even though the amount of opportunities that technology provides to the market place is surprising, there is no technology that can help with out a clear idea of the business objectives to be achieved on the net.§Both tourism and Web based Electronic Commerce are growing and changing rapidly. Two hundred and thirty percent increased in online holiday sales over 1997. Travel is currently the most purchased product online having surpassed computer equipment. In 1999 US$5 billion was spent at travel web sites. Research indicates this figure will increase six times to US$30 billion in 2001. Given these opportunities in the market place, this project will set the tools to stimulate the creating process, to test the idea and to work out its implications.§Livingstontravels.com aims to be a niche player among the online travel agencies focusing mainly on satisfying the needs of young travelers with an interest and respect towards other cultures and resorts around the world. Therefore, Livingstontravels.com will not only handle reservations but it will also offer some other bundled services which will help to understand better the visited country and establish contact with the native people through the web site virtual community before starting the trip.§Inhaltsverzeichnis:Table of Contents:§SECTION 1: OVERVIEW1§1.INTRODUCTION: WORLDWIDE INTERNET TRAVEL PORTAL2§2.PROBLEM FORMULATION3§3.METHODOLOGY5§SECTION 2: INDUSTRY ANALYSIS9§4.DEFINITION OF THE INDUSTRY10§4.1VIRTUAL COMMUNITY INDUSTRY VS ONLINE TRAVEL INDUSTRY10§4.2WHO IS THE CLIENT?11§4.3TRAVELERS MOTIVATION AND NEEDS11§4.4THE HOLIDAY PROCESS12§4.5HOW ARE THE NECESSITIES COVERED ONLINE; TRHOUGH WHICH FUNCTIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES13§5.EXOGENOUS FORCES AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY14§5.1MACROECONOMICS VARIABLES14§5.1.1Political14§5.1.2Economic Environment and its Relation to Consumption14§5.1.3Demographic Variables16§5.2E-CUSTOMER PREFERENCES18§5.3TECHNOLOGY18§6.ENDOGENOUS FORCES: PORTER S FIVE FORCES DRIVING INDUSTRY COMPETITION21§6.1THREAT OF ENTRY21§6.2PRESSURE FROM SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS/POSSIBILITIES TO ENTER OTHER SEGMENTS OF SERVICE EXPANDING THE CAKE22§6.3BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS23§6.4BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS24§6.4.1Carriers24§6.4.2Lodging27§6.4.3Car Rental Firms27§6.4.4Global Distribution Systems (GDS)29§6.4.5Food Services, Attractions & Entertainment, Resorts33§6.5INTENSITY OF RIVALRY AMONG EXISTING COMPETITORS33§6.5.1Description of Main Competitors and their Strategies vs. their Profitability33§6.5.2Travel Agencies34§6.5.3Wholesalers35§6.5.4Tour Operators35§6.5.5Specialty Intermediaries36§6.5.6Virtual Communities36§6.5.7Benchmark ...