Comments on: Is The Internet The Future Of Travel? http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/is-the-internet-the-future-of-travel/ Newsletter on-line commentary and discussion about tourism in South Africa Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:50:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Peter Rose. Chairman Umhlanga Tourism Information Centre http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/is-the-internet-the-future-of-travel/#comment-555 Peter Rose. Chairman Umhlanga Tourism Information Centre Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:07:30 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/is-the-internet-the-future-of-travel/#comment-555 Hello Martin Interesting article that you write about the Internet and the future of travel. I believe the issue here is that too many people have been sold on the idea that by using the Internet you can by-pass all travel agents and tour operators and organise your own holiday on the cheap. Clearly that is true in some cases, however in others it leads to very poor experiences for the traveller. I occasionally meet people who have paid deposits for accommodation and when they arrive, guess what? the accommodation does not exist. Its regrettable that there are people out there who use the internet as a means of ripping off tourists and making a fast buck. However, that's not to say that every tourist is ripped off, especially if you consider the many millions of self made tours that are undertaken every year, mostly to everyones satisfaction. So I think some balance is required in this matter before its concluded that the Internet is fast becoming redundant as a means of making your own travel arrangements. Every day in the Umhlanga Tourism Office overseas tourists arrive looking for information on local tours and accommodation. The great majority say that they have made their own arrangements very successfully and are pleased to be here. The "problems" with self made Internet holidays seem to stem from unrealistic expectations and the inability or inexperience of tourists to make a few simple checks with what they are booking. The few complaints received in our tourism office are that the tourist has been sold accommodation that does not match up to the descriptions of the establishment on the Internet. But when you talk to the tourist in more detail, its often a case of trying to do too much on the cheap and not staying at graded establishments, which of course are more expensive, so the tourists avoid them and then complain about standards. Personally, I believe that the Internet is here to stay for the mass travel market and will become more powerful. However, it's only a tool and not the all seeing all embracing means of organising travel, and like all tools, it's only as good as the person using it. Best regards to everyone and lets hope that 2010 brings all of us in South Africa great success with the Fifa Soccer World Cup. There are just 142 days left to kick off. Peter Rose Hello Martin

Interesting article that you write about the Internet and the future of travel. I believe the issue here is that too many people have been sold on the idea that by using the Internet you can by-pass all travel agents and tour operators and organise your own holiday on the cheap.

Clearly that is true in some cases, however in others it leads to very poor experiences for the traveller. I occasionally meet people who have paid deposits for accommodation and when they arrive, guess what? the accommodation does not exist. Its regrettable that there are people out there who use the internet as a means of ripping off tourists and making a fast buck.

However, that’s not to say that every tourist is ripped off, especially if you consider the many millions of self made tours that are undertaken every year, mostly to everyones satisfaction. So I think some balance is required in this matter before its concluded that the Internet is fast becoming redundant as a means of making your own travel arrangements.

Every day in the Umhlanga Tourism Office overseas tourists arrive looking for information on local tours and accommodation. The great majority say that they have made their own arrangements very successfully and are pleased to be here.

The “problems” with self made Internet holidays seem to stem from unrealistic expectations and the inability or inexperience of tourists to make a few simple checks with what they are booking. The few complaints received in our tourism office are that the tourist has been sold accommodation that does not match up to the descriptions of the establishment on the Internet. But when you talk to the tourist in more detail, its often a case of trying to do too much on the cheap and not staying at graded establishments, which of course are more expensive, so the tourists avoid them and then complain about standards.

Personally, I believe that the Internet is here to stay for the mass travel market and will become more powerful. However, it’s only a tool and not the all seeing all embracing means of organising travel, and like all tools, it’s only as good as the person using it.

Best regards to everyone and lets hope that 2010 brings all of us in South Africa great success with the Fifa Soccer World Cup. There are just 142 days left to kick off.

Peter Rose

]]> By: Jessy Lipperts http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/is-the-internet-the-future-of-travel/#comment-553 Jessy Lipperts Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:03:35 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/is-the-internet-the-future-of-travel/#comment-553 Hi Martin, Thank you so much for this article. It reflects exactly what I've been experiencing over the last 5 years, since starting my company in 2004. The internet is a jungle and to get decent advice is very hard to find. The traveler needs people on the ground, travel ambassadors, people enthusiastic about the destination and willing to share honest and true information and advice. My clientele is mostly from The Netherlands and 99,9% comes to me via word-of-mouth which is still, obviously, the best advertising. My clients love the fact that I live in South Africa and that they can ask me questions online and I keep them updated about things happening on the ground. Yes, the internet is a tool we can use but it can never replace personal interaction with your clients or suppliers, it helps you and makes things easier and faster. People that book over the internet on these booking sites might get cheaper deals but I'm not looking for clients that want a cheap deal. I'm looking for clients that want an AWESOME experience in this beautiful country, that makes them come back many more times and tells all their friends and family how it REALLY is and how Africa, once in your system, will stay there forever. Anyway, you can see I'm passionate about what I do. And yes, I do think we need to move toward being more travel consultants, tour designers, travel advisers so that we can actually charge for the knowledge that we've build up over the years and the time that we spend advising our clients. Why is it that when I hire an interior decorator that I pay her for her time AND she gets commissions from all the suppliers? Why do we in the tourism industry have to be happy with just commissions? It would be great if we could steer away from that 'attitude' and take ourselves very serious but the market might not be ready for that yet. Would love to hear from other passionate tour designers what they think of this. Have another great day in Africa, Jessy Hi Martin,
Thank you so much for this article. It reflects exactly what I’ve been experiencing over the last 5 years, since starting my company in 2004. The internet is a jungle and to get decent advice is very hard to find. The traveler needs people on the ground, travel ambassadors, people enthusiastic about the destination and willing to share honest and true information and advice. My clientele is mostly from The Netherlands and 99,9% comes to me via word-of-mouth which is still, obviously, the best advertising. My clients love the fact that I live in South Africa and that they can ask me questions online and I keep them updated about things happening on the ground. Yes, the internet is a tool we can use but it can never replace personal interaction with your clients or suppliers, it helps you and makes things easier and faster. People that book over the internet on these booking sites might get cheaper deals but I’m not looking for clients that want a cheap deal. I’m looking for clients that want an AWESOME experience in this beautiful country, that makes them come back many more times and tells all their friends and family how it REALLY is and how Africa, once in your system, will stay there forever. Anyway, you can see I’m passionate about what I do.
And yes, I do think we need to move toward being more travel consultants, tour designers, travel advisers so that we can actually charge for the knowledge that we’ve build up over the years and the time that we spend advising our clients. Why is it that when I hire an interior decorator that I pay her for her time AND she gets commissions from all the suppliers? Why do we in the tourism industry have to be happy with just commissions? It would be great if we could steer away from that ‘attitude’ and take ourselves very serious but the market might not be ready for that yet. Would love to hear from other passionate tour designers what they think of this. Have another great day in Africa, Jessy

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