Travel Agency for Quality and Environmental - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theTravel Agency for Quality and Environmental Investment. Answer: Introduction The tourism and hospitality industry is an essential sector that attracts tourists to the destination of their choice. Development in this industry results in attraction of more guests and tourists to the destination. Travel agents have a key role to play in the tourism industry. This assignment highlights three articles related to travel agency and the key challenges and issues faced by them are shed light upon. Based on the challenges faced, few recommendations are also suggested. Key challenges faced According to (Zare Chukwunonso, 2015), the travel agents play a key role in the tourism and hospitality industry. In the traditional system, the travel agents have a key role to play in ensuring urgent bookings and providing an assured travel and stay package to the tourists, who book their packages through the travel agents. However, with the introduction of Internet and the Information Communication and Technology (ICT), the business of the travel agents has fallen remarkably (Zare Chukwunonso, 2015). The travel agents find hard to find clients, since most of the customers prefer the online booking, to the travel agents. The recent developments in the ICT brought in a revolution in the tourism industry. This has created opportunity for the customers, to contact directly with the suppliers, thus eliminating the requirement of the travel agents (Zare Chukwunonso, 2015). The online reservation systems have made it easier for the customers to chose the best suitable rooms in the cho sen hotels thus, making it transparent and mitigating the needs of the travel agents. Lack of human resources, as well as the lack of innovative ideas among the travel agents, resulted in decline in the market of the travel agents (Zare Chukwunonso, 2015). Lack of openness to changes is also a major issue faced by the travel agents (Zare Chukwunonso, 2015). Moreover, another issue that is faced by the travel agents is that the companies are refraining from paying to the travel agents, in order to lower the investments. Thus, the online reservation portals replaced the travel agents. The author (Zare Chukwunonso, 2015), also opined, that the travel agents of Malaysia are unable to upgrade their online infrastructure, and thus are losing their business. As mentioned by (Elhaj Barakeh, 2015), the traditional travel agents merely manage the information regarding a tourist destination and provide a complete solution to all the queries of the tourists. Moreover, the travel agencies are often biased. They are often in favour of the hotels that offer them the maximum commission (Elhaj Barakeh, 2015). Thus, the solution given by the travel agents or the hotels recommended by them are often not reliable. Often, the frequent travellers are more knowledgeable than the travel agents, thus reducing their utility as well as reliability. A number of specialised website has emerged to serve the customers and guests. The travel agents have emerged primarily as an advisor and a middle-man between the customers and the hotels and suppliers (Elhaj Barakeh, 2015). However, with the use of the Internet and the online reservation systems, these would offer the guests with discounted travel packages, thus replacing the travel agents. The computer illit eracy of the travel agents and the lack of upgraded infrastructure also resulted in the decline of the position of the travel agents (Elhaj Barakeh, 2015). As highlighted by (Bagur, Perramon Amat 2013), the business competitiveness and the quality management is affected by the travel agents. The environmental management and the economic benefits of the hospitality industry also share a special relation with each other. This article highlights the fact that maintenance of quality and commitment towards work can provide competitive advantage to the travel agencies, and other small businesses (Bagur, Perramon Amat 2013). Travel and tourism is a highly competitive sector. It is important that the travel agents maintain reliability and commitment, in order to remain in competition. Moreover, the lack of reliability and trustworthiness will result in the dominance of the online booking portal, thus giving the travel agents a backseat (Bagur, Perramon Amat 2013). It has also been observed that the travel agents give more priority to the quality management, in order to gain competitive advantage, over the environment management practices. Th us, along with the quality management, the environment management practices. This will help the travel agents, gain priority over the Internet as well as the online reservation portal. The travel agents play a key role in enhancing the competitive advantage of the companies, they work for and thus, it is essential that they give adequate importance to the environment management practices as well as the quality management practices. Recommendations As recommended by (Zare Chukwunonso, 2015), the travel agents should upgrade themselves and become more aware of the information technology. The lack of knowledge about the information technology and the use of the online reservation systems by the customers is a major disadvantage for the travel agents. It is recommended that the travel agents should be flexible and open to changes (Zare Chukwunonso, 2015). The online travel agency services could be launched, such that the travel agents could use Internet and help the customers get their bookings done in a price lower than booking directly from the online reservation systems (Zare Chukwunonso, 2015). The online travel agency, rather than the online reseravation systems could facilitate quick handling of the changes or immediate refunds. The human contact of the travel agents could be used via the Internet, to revive the lost market of the travel agents. As mentioned by (Elhaj Barakeh, 2015), it is recommended that the travel agencies should upgrade themselves and restore to e-commerce travel agencies. This is beneficial for the travel agents such that they do not lose their importance. In order to remain important in the highly competitive market, it is important that the travel agents restore to the online portals (Elhaj Barakeh, 2015). Innovation is also an important strategy that could be used by the travel agents. As recommended by (Bagur, Perramon Amat 2013), customer loyalty programs have to be introduced, such that new customers are attracted to the travel agents. If the benefits, commitment as well as the reliability are higher in the travel agents, than the online booking system, then customers will be attracted to take the services of the travel agents, thus helping them to gain back their lost market (Bagur, Perramon Amat 2013). It is also recommended that the travel agents give adequate priority to the environment management, along with priority management. Moreover, innovation in the marketing of the products has to be carried out, such that the travel agents are successful in gaining competitive advantage and win back the confidence of the guests and travellers. Conclusion Thus, it could be concluded that the travel agents have been losing their position in the market, on the advent of the Internet and online portals. However, following the recommendations, they might be successful in regaining the position and achieve competitive advantage. The recommendations include the use of the Internet by the travel agents, giving customer loyalty benefits to the customers. Innovative marketing strategies have to be incorporated as well, such that the customers prefer the travel agents over the online reservation services. The travel agents are an integral part of the tourism and hospitality sector. The challenges mentioned above have to be overcome successfully by the travel agencies. Hence, it is important that they remain important, along with the extensive use of ICT and Internet. References Bagur, L., Perramon, J., Amat, O. (2013). Impact of quality and environmental investment on business competitiveness and profitability: The case of travel agencies. Elhaj, M. R., Barakeh, M. Z. (2015). The Impact of E-commerce on Travel Agencies Profitability in Respect of Size: Evidence from the US. Zare, S., Chukwunonso, F. (2015). How Travel Agencies Can Differentiate Themselves to Compete With Online Travel Agencies in the Malaysian Context.E-review of Tourism Research,12.