E-tourism in England a strategy .pdf

7.2 Modernising information services offered to consumers
ICT and e-business have major implications for the delivery of information and reservations
services to consumers, whether at home, travelling or within the destination. They enable
existing services to be operated more efficiently while also opening up many new channels
through which information may be accessed. These new channels will need to be evaluated
and trialed as they become of potential significance.
An Information Services Strategy was commissioned by the RTBs in 2000, based on a survey
of the whole TIC network and consultation with DMOs. An outcome of this work was a
recommendation that an application be developed to improve communication and the flow
of information between TICs, DMOs and RTBs that would complement existing local DMS
services. Northumbria Tourist Board’s ENTICE TIC extranet successfully demonstrated this
concept during 2001. Development of a national version of this is therefore proposed, to
include access to the national product database, online bulletin boards and discussion
forums. The application would be delivered by RTBs, with the technical infrastructure being
provided by EnglandNet.
Key Actions Lead role Others
involved
Develop the ENTICE web-based network to EnglandNet RTBs, RDAs
enable TICs and DMOs to access both the
DMOs,
national product database and a range of
support
browser-enabled functions and services.
from RDAs
Build local online communities linking TICs via
the Internet to tourism providers, either by
e-mail, or by access to their websites.
Undertake trials for the delivery of visitor
services through new channels – eg web access
from hotel rooms; Internet-enabled payphones;
handheld mobile devices, etc
EnglandNet
EnglandNet
RTBs, RDAs,
DMOs,
ETC, RTBs,
DMOs,
other
partners
Time
Available to
all TICs by
end of 2002
By end of
2003
From
January
2003
7.3 Enhancing the competitiveness of businesses and suppliers
The Internet provides an opportunity to create an online network (technically, an ‘extranet’)
that will enable stakeholders to communicate easily while also providing a wide range of
other functions. Such a network could help raise the competitive performance of tourism
businesses by improving day-to-day communication between tourism marketing
organisations and businesses, and more specifically by enabling tourism providers to:
• access tourism information (eg on events) for guests
• use online tools such as property management/booking systems, e-procurement
services, enabling, for example, accommodation providers to maintain their availability
on common databases to enable online bookings
• access business support services – such as research and intelligence information
• communicate and do business more easily with each other.
The technical requirements for a basic industry extranet are relatively straightforward.
However, the operational aspects of implementing it are costly. If the system is to be costeffective,
it will need to have the support of a critical mass of suppliers.
28/44 A strategy for modernising English tourism through e-business – July 2002