The use of international information systems in tourism: european experience

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The use of international information systems in tourism: european experience

Oksana Pikulyk

The main directions of application of information technologies in tourism is considered. The analyses of the possibility of using global distribution networks in tourism activities are given. The features and advantages of global distribution system Amadeus and Galileo are examined. Directions of using computer networks, in particular the Internet, in the organization of tourism are analyzed. European experience of using information and communication technologies in tourism activities is examined. The main advantages of using international information systems in tourism activities are generalized.

Key words: tourism activity, international information systems, international reservation systems, computer networks, tourist services.

Пикулик Оксана. Использование международных информационных систем в туристической деятельности: европейский опыт

Рассмотрены основные направления применения информационных технологий в туризме. Проанализированы возможности использования глобальных распределительных сетей в туристической деятельности. Исследованы особенности и преимущества международных систем бронирования и резервирования Амадеус и Галилео. Проанализированы направления использования компьютерных сетей, в частности сети Интернет, в организации туризма. Рассмотрен европейский опыт использования информационных и коммуникационных технологий в туристической деятельности. Обобщены основные преимущества использования международных информационных систем в туристической деятельности

Ключевые слова: туристическая деятельность, международные информационные системы,

Шкулик Оксана. Використання міжнародних інформаційних систем у туристичній діяльності: європейський досвід

Розглянуто основні напрями застосування інформаційних технологій у туризмі. Проаналізовано можливості використання глобальних розподільчих мереж у туристичній діяльності.

Досліджено особливості та переваги використання міжнародних систем бронювання й резервування Амадеус і Галілео. Проаналізовано напрями використання комп'ютерних мереж, зокрема мережі Інтернет, в організації туризму. Розглянуто європейський досвід застосування інформаційних та комунікаційних технологій у туристичній діяльності. Узагальнено основні переваги використання міжнародних інформаційних систем у туристичній діяльності.

Ключові слова: туристична діяльність, міжнародні інформаційні системи, міжнародні системи бронювання, комп'ютерні мережі, туристичні послуги.

Statement of the Problem

Modern life, production and other spheres of activity can not do without information technology, since each sphere needs to process a large amount of information and information services. The tourism industry is one of the largest consumers of information and communication services. Efficient use of international information systems is a prerequisite for the successful work of tourism enterprises, as it provides reliability, accuracy and efficiency of management decisions. The development of information services in tourism is a strategic task for Ukraine. Therefore, consideration of modern features of the use of information systems in tourism, including European experience, is an actual issue of scientific research.

Analysis of Recent Research and Publications

Issues of the using information technology in tourism activity are investigated in the scientific works of both domestic and foreign scientists. In particular, the theoretical and practical aspects of the use of information technology in tourism are considered in the works of S. Melnichenko [11], V. Ikonnikov, V. Sadovskaya [9], A. Glebova [8]. The scientists S. Ficarelli, S. Sendra, L. Ferrando, J. Lloret analyze the activity of information technology in the southern European countries, such as Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and Greece [2]. M. Januszewska, D. Jaremen and E. Nawrocka analyze the effects of the use of ICT by tourism enterprises [3]. Samipatra Das researches global distribution systems in present times [5]. Since recent years there has been an intensification of tourist flows, the use of information technology in tourism management and marketing become global. The study of modern possibilities of using international information systems in the tourism industry, taking into account the experience of European countries, becomes of great importance.

The purpose of article is analysis of modern features of the using information technologies and international information systems in tourism activities. The main objectives are: to study the main directions of application of information technologies in the tourism industry; to consider the possibilities of global distribution systems in tourism; to analyze the features and benefits of using international reservation systems; to consider the European experience of using information technology in tourism activities.

The Main Material of the Research

Application of information technologies and international information systems is an important factor in the rapid development of international tourism. The use of global and local computer networks, application programs, multimedia marketing systems provide an effective management of tourism activities and increase the competitiveness of tourism enterprises in the international market. Due to information technology consumers can quickly get the necessary quality information about the tourist product without leaving home. Information technology in tourism includes computer applications, global and local computer networks, international reservation systems, and multimedia technologies, as well as modern office equipment, including communication equipment, personal computer, computerized workplace, audio and visual equipment.

The main areas of development of information technology in tourism are currently: introduction of applied programs for the formation, promotion and realization of tourist products; local office automation; using database management systems and local computer networks; implementation of international reservation systems; using the Internet; implementation of multimedia marketing systems. Automation of the processes of formation, promotion and realization of tourism product is carried out with the help of computer applications. Most of these programs allow to control the payment of tours, print payment documents, keep records of seats at the hotel and on the transport.

Modern personal computers and office software allows tourism enterprises to effectively solve many problems in the following areas: ensuring proper document circulation, preparation of contracts and agreements, accounting of the results of economic activity, marketing research of internal and external environment, database maintenance on clients, sales, personnel, etc. The use of electronic reservation systems by tourist enterprises provides a wide range of opportunities for the creation and completion of various types of tours that can satisfy the diverse needs of the tourist market. The advantages of electronic reservation systems include the speed of placing orders, the breadth of travel services coverage, the global approach (reservations virtually anywhere in the world), reducing the costs of tourism enterprises to seek partners and suppliers of tourism services, as well as the possibility of mass production of tours taking into account the individual characteristics and wishes of each client. The development of information technology and evolution of airline reservation systems of individual airlines have led to the development of the Global Distribution Systems (GDS), recognized as a worldwide computerized reservation network that electronically connects the tourist offer with the tourist demand [4].

Computer distribution systems have a great impact on the entire tourist industry, as they provide not only airline services, but also hotel accommodation, car rental, cruise travel, location information, exchange rates, weather reports, bus and rail links. These systems have become electronic supermarkets linking buyers to sellers and allowing reservations to be made quickly and easily [5]. Major computer distribution systems in the international tourism market are Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, Worldspan.

Amadeus is a leading global distribution system and technology provider serving the marketing, sales, and distribution needs of the world's travel and tourism industries [5]. Global distribution system Amadeus was founded in 1987 by European airlines Air France (23,36 %), Lufthansa (18,28 %) and Iberia (18,28 %), which means that 59,92 % of the company is owned by the three founder airlines, while the remaining 40,08 % of shares are held publicly. Network and database Amadeus system is among the largest civilian computer systems in the world and serves over 99,000 travel agencies in 195 countries, over 500 airlines and 34,000 airline sales offices, over 86,000 hotels, with 100 million overnight stays per year, 36,000 rent-a- car businesses (over 42 car rental companies), many tour operators and railway companies. The headquaters of the Amadeus system are located in Madrid, Spain, while the center of the operational functioning of the company is situated in Erding, Germany and it is now one of the largest commercial computer centers in the world with the network AMANET and 15 computer centers which divert the data flow and control the traffic [4]. The services of the Amadeus system are used by more than 70 % of travel agencies in Europe, 36 million travelers use Amadeus every day. Amadeus provides a variety of services, including cooperation with airlines, rail and ferry transport, rental of cars, hotels, and also provides additional services, such as travel insurance, etc.

Galileo International was founded in 1993 by 11 major North American and European airlines: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Olympic Airlines, Swissair, TAP Air Portugal, United Airlines, and US Airways. It is a major player in the GDS business throughout the world: North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia/Pacific region. Galileo International is a diversified, global technology leader. Its core business is providing electronic global distribution services for the travel industry through its computerized reservation systems, leading-edge products and innovative Internet-based solutions [5]. The Galileo system is distributed in about one hundred countries of the world, including in Europe there are more than 150 thousand terminals of this system. Using the global computer distribution systems, travel agencies can make reservations directly from their terminal with any airline and on all continents without having to go through a coordination process or contract negotiations. All global computer distribution systems provide the basic functions for the reservation process such as product presentation, reservation, fare quote and ticketing and additional services [6]. Another important direction in the development of information systems is the formation of global networks, primarily the Internet. The Internet has become a global information system that has no borders. The use of the Internet in the organization of tourism has several practical directions. The first direction is the use of information opportunities of the Internet as a source of information for conducting various types of research and analysis for the purpose of organizing tourism activities: while conducting research and analysis of the state and trends of tourism development, finding partners, obtaining information about the country, its culture, places of interest, history, obtaining information on climatic conditions, weather, flight timetables of the airlines, trains, etc. Another area of use of the Internet is the creation of specialized sites that enable travel reservation services. About 36 % of European tour operators and 40 % of travel agencies offer on-line booking tours. In Europe, much of the tourists book their places in hotels without intermediaries. This makes it possible to save about 40 % of the cost of living. According to the European Commission, 62 % of European hotels book rooms for customers on the Internet [10].

Innovation and new information technologies have become determining factors to stimulate competitiveness in the European tourism sector [1]. According to the 2015 survey on information and communication technologies usage in households and by individuals, 39 % of the population (aged 16 to 74) used the internet for purposes related to travel (or travel related accommodation services) (Figure 1) [7].

Fig. 1. Internet use Related to Rravel and Participation in Tourism in European Countries, 2015 (Source: Eurostat [7])

international information tourism

In 2015, 65 % of Europeans who used the internet bought or ordered goods or services online. More than half of those who shopped online (52 or 34 % of all internet users) bought or ordered holiday accommodation and other travel arrangements such as transport tickets or car hire. 40 % of those who bought or ordered any goods or services online booked holiday accommodation (or 26 % of all internet users), while 37 % bought or ordered other travel arrangements online (or 24 % of all internet users) (figure 2) [7].

Fig. 2. Internet use for Buying or Ordering Travel Related Services, EU-28, 2015 (Source: Eurostat [7

Electronic catalogs for tourism and hotel business are extensively used abroad. Among them the most famous are Hotel Guide, Flight Guide, Cruise Ferry Guide, HRS, Business Travel Planner, Air Travel Planner and others as well as CDs from individual destinations. Electronic catalogs usually updated monthly. Electronic catalogs contain an expanded search system for services, products and information. Many catalogs have an online option that supports booking hotel and airline tickets.

Conclusions and Perspectives of the Following Researches

Tourism is a sector, where information technologies tools are most often used. The use of information systems and technologies in tourism, such as automated control systems, computer networks, international reservation systems and computer equipment, provides an improvement in the management of tourism industry. This increases the productivity of labor, quality of travel services, speed of service.

The use of information technology in European countries contributes to the high level of quality of European tourist business, which is an important competitive advantage in the international tourist services market.

Further promising research are related to a more detailed analysis of the possibilities and scope of coverage of international reservation systems, computer special applications in the tourism business, economic effect from the use of information technology in tourism, as well as new opportunities for using information systems in Ukrainian tourist business.

Literature and Sources

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