Towards the Infomediation in Tourism

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyse the changing role of tourism intermediaries in the distribution chain. Globalisation and the development of ICTs have undoubtedly changed both business practices and strategies as well as industry structures. They are also creating new rules governing competition within the tourism market. However, the idea of disintermediation to which e-commerce specialists often refer does not necessarily mean distruction of travel intermediaries. By examining their traditional functions one can demonstrate that current Internet trends go beyond disintermediation in tourism. Emerging new Internet players are being joined by entirely new types of intermediaries, leading to the radical restructuring of tourism value nets.

Keywords: tourism intermediation, disintermediation, tourism value nets, infomediation in tourism

JEL Classification: L83, M31, O31