Chapt 4

Mobile Technologies
Mobile technology is playing an increasing role in the tourist experience and a growing body of
tourism research has focused on this area. The effect of mobile technology on tourism is very
significant. Many workers are allowed to perform at least some job-related tasks virtually anywhere,
while traveling and exploring at the same time, due to access to these technologies. Technology,
data, and services, as well as multiple travel concepts and modes such as mobile tourism, smart
tourism, e-tourism, and sustainable tourism, have emerged or evolved further with the help of
mobile-related devices (smartphones, glasses, or other wearable devices). Mobile technology is
being heralded as the next technological wave that will transform tourism and travel.

Furthermore, mobile technology is becoming more important in the travel experience, and more
travel research is being done in this area.

These devices, along with content providers, network providers, travel companions, and the
traveler, are at the core of the Mobile Technologies Ecosystem.
These suppliers (network providers) or business operators (content providers) can provide users
with free access to signaling technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, QR, and others, which are
essential for communicating and conducting a wireless transaction or payment with them; this
component embodies the mobile device's signal aspect. GPS is also included in the signal category
because it is a satellite-based device that is widely used to navigate, monitor, and assess a specific
position or location around
the world.

From the perspective of the travelers in this ecosystem, they will be able to use specific
applications with their OS, or mobile operating system, which enables them to run apps and
programs. This person could also share and communicate with his or her traveling companions
while preparing for flights or while on the road (traveling).

Apart from the signal element, the sensor is a component used in mobile devices that detects
changes in the environment (such as changes in light, magnetic fields, temperature, and gravity) as
well as movement (such as the device being pushed, flipped, or picked up) and converts them into
electronic signals that the device can process. This can be useful during travel because the mobile
you are using adapts to the current environment and can check certain information such as the
current temperature, round weather, and so on, which can be extremely useful, particularly if it is
your first time seeing or visiting the location.

Types of Mobile Devices

A mobile device is a handheld electronic device that is designed with portability in mind, it comes in
handy a lot, particularly while traveling. Mobile has grown in popularity to the point that they now
account for more than half of all the devices we use regularly. The following are some of the most
commonly used mobile devices today:
● Smartphones - With the rise of Android and iOS, smartphones are the most popular mobile
device right now, and for a good reason. These devices are portable, can fit in a pocket, have
a million and one uses, and help us stay connected at all times thanks to a wireless carrier's
continuous network link.
● Tablets - Tablets offer many of the same advantages as smartphones but in a larger format.
When performing tasks that would be better suited to a larger monitor and more battery
power, a tablet succeeds. Job presentations, intense gaming, or even live streaming of high-
definition shows on Netflix, which you can do even while you're out and about, are just a few
examples.
● Laptop computers - Laptop computers have always been popular because they provide us
with the versatility of a desktop computer while allowing us to take it with us everywhere we
go. We can use the same operating system and applications, so there's no need to learn new
devices. Additional advantages include a full-sized keyboard, the same input and output
ports, and the ability to mount an external monitor.
● Smartwatches - Smartwatches are a relatively new technology that currently serves a niche
market. The ability to receive updates and important information on our wrist without having
to pick up another gadget is one of the key advantages a smartwatch can offer. We can make
and receive phone calls on some of the latest standalone models, much as we can on our
smartphones.
In the world of technology, new developments emerge with each passing year.

Over the next few years, we should predict many mobile-related developments. For example, we'll
see a bigger push toward progressive web apps, more websites that cater to mobile users, and a
continued emphasis on artificial intelligence-based apps and services. These innovations will be
extremely beneficial to the tourism and hospitality industry, both from the perspective of consumers
and business operators.

Functions of Mobile Technologies in Travel

. Informing. Tourists need information in order to understand, add value to their travel,
increase productivity, and reduce risk. Through this, they may be inspired to engage in new,
spontaneous, and imaginative experiences which they can obtain through their mobile
devices. In order to be fully excited, enjoy, and experience the local culture and life of their
destination, these technologies will let them imagine destinations and form their expectations
on the place they are planning to go.
. Contextualizing. Temporal, Identity, Location, Environment, and Social contexts are used by
these mobile devices to contextualize content in the phones. The content can be
contextualized based on the actual time and records, as well as current events and seasons.
.

While the user's identity is used to categorize their desires, demographics, motivations,
expectations, and personal trip data. The content under the location section includes the
traveler's current location, nearby attractions, travel speed and direction, and mode of
transportation. While the user's environment contextualized content often includes weather,
traffic patterns, availability, and waiting times.
. Personalizing. Due to mobile devices, you may be able to personalize your travel.
Individuals provide personal information to organizations in return for better services or
benefits. Contextual data can be combined with personal information to personalize content
delivery and provide personalized recommendations.
When flying, you have complete control over your itinerary, airlines, seat, and everything else.
. Socializing. When you're on the road, you can keep in touch with your friends and family.
These emerging technologies assist travelers in maintaining a connection and being able to
reach and communicate with the people with whom they need to communicate.
. Managing. Travelers can benefit from mobile technologies to help them manage their
itineraries and requirements. This may include QR code tickets, flight numbers, and other
travel-related information. Visitors management by smart destinations, which involves the
incorporation of real-time, real-world data and the use of complex analytics, modeling,
optimization, and visualization to manage visitors, can also help business operators. These
operators can also handle visitors' catchments, routes, dwell times, activity patterns, and
social media activity (feedback, sharing content, sentiment). There are also some
management interventions such as special offers, notifications about wait times, travel times,
and weather, safety and security alerts, that may be used by the companies
. Translating. When traveling to new places, especially foreign countries, a language barrier
can arise. One of the functions of mobile devices is to assist travelers and citizens in
translating texts in order to facilitate communication between two nations and to keep them
informed about current events and information wherever they are.
. Purchasing. With the use of these mobile devices, online payment is possible. It's a
fantastic feature for m-ing wireless and hassle-free business transactions while on the road.
. Entertaining. Traveling might not be as boring as you think if you have access to a variety of
online activities such as binge-watching movies, playing sports, socializing with other people,
and other activities that you enjoy. Your journeys will be as exciting as they could be with
these mobile devices.
. Gamifying. Business operators can improve their technologies that travelers can use to
make their travel experience more enjoyable and fun by using mobile devices more
innovatively. One of the ways certain businesses use their websites or apps is to use game
design features in non-game situations to enhance user experience and interaction. Here are
a few examples of travel applications: i. Earning badges (e.g. TripAdvisor) Ii. Challenges and
quests (e.g. geocaching, collecting clues, competitions) ili. Augmented reality games (e.g.
Ingress, Pokemon Go, Wizards Unite) It may also be used instead of a tour to distribute
tourists around a destination and entice them to visit different locations within that area.
. Reflection. Mobile devices may be used as a tool for them to reflect on their experiences and
thoughts as they travel. Since these devices are flexible and useful in a variety of ways, they
can be useful for people who want to reflect while traveling or about their travel.
Aviation and IT
Types of Airlines

National flag carriers

An airline that is subsidized or operated by the country in which it is registered is known as a flag
carrier airline. The airline often seeks preferential rights or privileges by the government for
international operations.
The term "national airline"
or "national carrier" is used to refer to airlines that were operated by the government and therefore
associated with the country's national identity.
However, it can now extend to any airline with a strong connection to its home country, regardless
of whether it is operated by the government. Therefore, not all flag carriers are owned by the
government, as many have become private companies.

Philippine Airlines, or "PAL," is the country's national carrier, with a primary hub at Ninoy Aquino
International Airport in Manila and flights to more than 40 international destinations in Southeast
Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania, as well as many domestic destinations.

Commercial airlines
A commercial flight is carried out by a commercial airline. Typically, it is a typical flight that
transports passengers from one location to another using a pre-purchased ticket. In contrast to a
charter flight, these flights are regularly scheduled and passengers and groups can purchase seats.
Since the airline's goal is to move as many people as possible from one location to another, they are
the most common and cost-effective mode of air travel.

Commercial flights depart from and arrive at commercial airports all over the world. So, if you want
to fly, you'll need to book a flight to its location's nearest commercial airport at a time and date
scheduled by the airline. Onboard commercial flights, most airlines provide more customized
services to those who want more privacy and luxury in more comfortable cabin classes such as
Business Class and First Class. Hundreds of planes fly in and out of these
airports, each handled by a r fferent airline. Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, Philippine Airlines, and Skyjet are
the Philippines' four main commercial airlines. These airlines fly the majority of the country's
international and domestic flights.

Low-Cost carriers
Instead of the traditional division of economy, premium economy, business, and first-class, low-cost
carriers often have only one class of service. Many budget airlines also only have one type of plane
in their fleet, decreasing crew preparation, and some fly into secondary airports in congested cities
rather than the most popular (and therefore more expensive airports.
A Low-Cost Carrier is an airline that does not provide conventional services in its fares, allowing it to
provide lower fares at the expense of fewer amenities. This also means that luggage isn't included,
as well as the food and beverages that other, more premium airlines have. The services available
vary from one carrier to the next; various approaches are used that have no direct effect on the
consumer experience. Passengers benefit from lower ticket costs, but these companies recoup
their expenses by charging for a variety of extras such as food, priority boarding, seat allocation,
and baggage.These companies are referred to as "low-cost airlines," "budget airlines," and "budget
airlines." Aside from Cebu Pacific and AirAsia, there is a range of other low-cost camiers ihat fly to
the Philippines, most of which are based in Singapore or South Korea.
Jetstar As C: To, JejuAir, Air Busan, Lucky Air, and others are among them.

Charter airline_
The business of renting an entire aircraft (i.e., chartering) rather than individual aircraft seats is
known as air. A charter flight is an unscheduled flight that is not part of an airline's daily schedule.
Since a charter flight is not part of a regular schedule, it can take off when you want it to. You may
also pick which cities you want to travel to and from. When traveling to a city where scheduled
airline service can require several connections or layovers bef arriving at your destination, charter
flights are especially convenient.
Some of the charter airlines in the Philippines are Aero Tour offers V.I.P Transport, AirGurus offers
VIP / Corporate Charter, Asian Aerospace offers Corporate Charter, and Air Juan offers Air Taxi. If
you look up the term 'charter' in the dictionary, you will fina that it means to rent or to lease. When
you look up the word "charter" in the dictionary, you'll discover that it simply means "to rent or
lease." So, a charter airline operates based on "rented" or "leased" aircraft.
Information Technology used by Airlines
Aviation, the operation of aircraft, is one of the modes of transportation in traveling handled by
airlines. With technology innovation, airlines have used various information technologies in handling
travel operations. Figure 4.7 shows the flowchart on how these ITs operate in making the travel
process smoother. It includes the Airline Reservation System, Fleet Management Systems, Flight
Scheduling Systems, Revenue Management Systems, Departure Control Systems, In-Flight
Technologies, etc. which are topics that will be tackled in the lesson.

Airline Reservation Systems.

These systems under airline reservation include components such as the availability of flight
schedules. By booking date or planning to travel, one must check if there is an available airline that
is particularly free on a certain date and location. The fare quote system, fare rules, cabin classes,
booking codes, and fare basis code must also be checked in choosing your airline, as you process
your electronic ticketing to get the e-ticket or boarding pass. To fully reserve the seat, passenger
information such as the name record, record locator is needed and may include special service
requests.

Fleet Management Systems.

From acquisition to disposal, fleet management is the mechanism through which your company
manages all fleet and asset details. This allows the company to reduce costs, increase productivity,
and ensure enforcement across the entire fleet. Understandably, maintaining a fleet of commercial
vehicles is difficult at the best of times. Add to this external influences that a fleet manager faces
but has litle control over, such as legislation, car market uncertainty, and spiraling costs, and the
task can soon become overwhelming. There are three main keys on fleet management systems to
keep in mind:
● Fleet Maintenance - it is the process of keeping your vehicles in good enough working order
so that they are safe, reliable, and can remain on the road for longer periods. Developing a
preventative maintenance program is an important aspect of fleet management because it
reduces running costs and improves vehicle inspectic 1 results, among other things.
● Fleet Assignment - it entails allocating aircraft to a range of flight legs in order to meet
customer demand while keeping a number of constraints in mind. The routing of each aircraft
is calculated during the day in order to reduce the number of necessary flights for a given
fleet. Researchers have focused on obtaining quasi-optimal solutions, particularly at larger
scales, due to the related flow continuity and aircraft count constraints.
● Fleet Acquisition - from the outside, it will appear that purchasing a vehicle is a simple
process: you choose the vehicle you want and purchase it. It's not that easy, as fleet
managers know. Vehicle procurement necessitates a number of complicated decisions,
ranging from when and from whom new vehicles should be purchased to how well they can
perform for the fleet over time. There are best practices fleets can follow that will simplify the
process and ensure the company's vehicle money is well spent.
● Getting the timing right
● Choosing factory ordering over dealer stock
● Negotiating with manufacturers
● Carefully consider vehicle replacement
● Getting the right vehicle for the job
● Thinking total cost of ownership
● Making the ordering process clear for drivers

Flight Scheduling Systems. The flight schedule is a key component of an airline's planning
process, intending to maximize resource allocation to meet demand and optimize profits, as well as
having a strategic plan for successful travel. For operation planning, safe and effective route
planning, environmental and safety legislation, and customer satisfaction, it is an essential
component of any airline. Scheduling systems must be able to handle:
• Strategic Goals
• Environmental & Safety Regulations
• Route Network
• Passenger Demand
• Airport Restrictions
• Aircraft Type
• Contingency
• Human Resources
• Planning

Revenue Management Systems.

In summary, it helps airlines to simplify inventory control, raise loads on low-demand flights, and
boost the yield on high-demand flights.
The revenue outcome for each flight is determined by your flight inventory settings.
These options determine the classes and prices that are available for purchase, as well as the
availability of each price point.
If your flights are manually operated by flight controllers based on demand groups, you've most
likely set separate inventory settings for low-demand, medium-demand, and high-demand days.
The issue with manual control is that it assumes that all flights in the same category (low, medium,
or high) would behave in the same manner, resulting in daily losses for your airline that are not
visible. Forecasting, storing historical data, modeling, and decision support are all capabilities of
this information system.

Departure Control Systems. A departure control system (DCS) automates an airline's airport
management activity, which involves handling the information needed for various airline boarding
elements. DCS also manages e-tickets with interfaces from a variety of devices, including check-in
kiosks, online check-in, mobile boarding passes, and baggage handling, for the most part (98
percent). DCS will classify, capture, and update reservations for passengers stored in a so-called
passenger name record from an airline's computer reservation system (PNR). From passenger
check-in to departure, automate main airport processes. Streamline the passenger experience to
make sure flights depart on time and safely. The following processes are part of checking the
departure control through these systems such as:

The process of passengers being admitted by an airline at the airport before travel is known as
airport check-in. Airport check-in is the process whereby passengers are accepted by an airline at
the airport prior to travel. Airline service counters are commonly located at airports. The check-in
process is usually performed by the airline or a handling agent working on their behalf. Passengers
typically hand over any baggage they don't want or aren't permitted to bring into the aircraft's cabin
and collect a boarding pass before proceeding to board their flight.
When a passenger arrives at an airport, the first step is normally check-in, as airline rules require
passengers to check-in by a certain time prior to the flight's departure. Depending on the
destination and airline, this can take anything from 15 minutes to 2 hours (with self-check-in, this
can be expanded to 24 hours, if checking in by online processes). During this process, the
passenger is asked for identification and has the option to request special arrangements such as
seating preferences, inquire about flight or destination details, earn frequent flyer program miles, or
pay for upgrades. The required time is often written on the reservation, sometimes on a website,
and sometimes simply stated as "passengers should provide sufficient time for check-
When a passenger has a valid ticket for a flight but is unable to board because the number of
passengers who have checked in and arrived at the gate on time exceeds the number of available
seats that can be occupied, denied boarding occurs. The following are some general criteria used
by airlines to decide who will be bumped: Those who did not choose a seat while making a flight
reservation. Those who arrive at the last minute to sign in. Those who do not arrive at the gate 30
minutes prior to departure.

Those who fail to turn up for a flight despite having a valid reservation are the reason why airlines
sell more tickets than there are seats available on the plane. No-show passenger cases occur on a
daily basis, and airlines want to maximize their profits, so they sell more tickets based on So, on
most modern airlines, flying standby is when a passenger without a seat assignment waits at the
gate until all scheduled passengers have boarded to see if there is an extra seat. Passengers often
fly standby as a result of a missed flight, which forces them to fly standby on the next flight to the
same destination because they no longer have a reservation.

Interline connections are the most basic types of arrangements that can be made between airlines
in cases where a traveler's departure involves traveling on another accepted by an airline at the
airport prior to travel. Airline service counters are commonly located at airports. The check-in
process is usually performed by the airline or a handling agent working on their behalf. Passengers
typically hand over any baggage they don't want or aren't permitted to bring into the aircraft's cabin
and collect a boarding pass before proceeding to board their flight.

When a passenger arrives at an airport, the first step is normally check-in, as airline rules require
passengers to check-in by a certain time prior to the flight's departure. Depending on the
destination and airline, this can take anything from 15 minutes to 2 hours (with self-check-in, this
can be expanded to 24 hours, if checking in by online processes). During this process, the
passenger is asked for identification and has the option to request special arrangements such as
seating preferences, inquire about flight or destination details, earn frequent flyer program miles, or
pay for upgrades. The required time is often written on the reservation, sometimes on a website,
and sometimes simply stated as "passengers should provide sufficient time for check-in”.
When a passenger has a valid ticket for a flight but is unable to board because the number of
passengers who have checked in and arrived at the gate on time exceeds the number of available
seats that can be occupied, denied boarding occurs. The following are some general criteria used
by airlines to decide who will be bumped: Those who did not choose a seat while making a flight
reservation. Those who arrive at the last minute to sign in. Those who do not arrive at the gate 30
minutes prior to departure.

Those who fail to turn up for a flight despite having a valid reservation are the reason why airlines
sell more tickets than there are seats available on the plane. No-show passenger cases occur on a
daily basis, and airlines want to maximize their profits, so they sell more tickets based on So, on
most modern airlines, flying standby is when a passenger without a seat assignment waits at the
gate until all scheduled passengers have boarded to see if there is an extra seat. Passengers often
fly standby as a result of a missed flight, which forces them to fly standby on the next flight to the
same destination because they no longer have a reservation.

Interline connections are the most basic types of arrangements that can be made between airlines
in cases where a traveler's departure involves traveling on another airline. An interline agreement is
a commercial agreement between airlines that governs how passengers are handled when they fly
on multiple airlines on the same itinerary. It is possible due to interoperability, which is
characterized as the ability of two or more networks, systems, components, or applications to work
together without restriction by exchanging information and having the ability to use the shared
information for technological or operational purposes. It ensures that travelers' departures are
smooth and accurate, especially since they are traveling on multiple carriers.

In-Flight Technologies. Some technologies are used in various stages of the traveler's journey from
the point of origin to the point of destination.
●
● Check-in Options:
● Online check-in
● Self-service kiosks
● Auto check-in using geofencing and smartphones
● Check-in counters
● Security Scanning:
. Confirming traveler identity
. X-ray baggage screening
. Body screening
● Pre-boarding:
Passengers:
● Flight information display systems (FIDS)
 ● WiFi hotspots
● Recharge station
●
● Mobile apps (e.g. airport navigation, GateGuru) Airports:
● Business intelligence tools (passenger volumes, queues, dwell times)
● Point-of-sale (POS) systems
● Alerts and notifications
● Arrival:
● Immigration databases (e.g. 'No Fly List')
● e-passports
● Scanners and cameras
Passenger Identification: biometrics systems and future systems that will analyze walking
gait, body language, heart rhythms, or DNA profiles to identify passengers
Baggage and Cargo Handling:
Baggage handling systems (BHSs)
● Bag tags with optical bar codes
● Conveyor belts and robotic systems for sorting
● Baggage tracking systems (e.g. Bagtrac)
● Lost baggage systems (e.g. World Tracer)
● Self-service bag drops
● RFID bag tags and chips in luggage
Safety and Security Systems.
● Communications Systems
● Navigation Systems
● Surveillance Systems
● Flight and Weather Information Systems
Environmental Management Systems.
● Environmental Monitoring
● Energy Use
● Noise Reduction
● Carbon Emission Reduction
● Water Quality

Surface Transport and IT

What is Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)?
It refers to a wide range of information and communication technologies that help to improve the
transportation system's safety, efficiency, and performance. ITSs will aid in the reduction of traffic
congestion, the improvement of mobility, the saving of lives, and the optimization of our current
infrastructure. Tunnel management systems, event detection and weather sensors, lane and speed
control signs, connected vehicles and car-sharing systems, automatic payment processes, and
intelligent parking management are some of these IT Systems.
Benefits of ITS
● Detecting hazards and advising drivers before they become apparent
● Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles
● Allowing vehicles to connect with facilities
● Route planning and warnings of congestion and accidents alert
● Keeping drivers aware of the local speed limit
● Monitoring drivers for signs of fatigue
● Users of public transportation can get real-time service details
● Ticketing solutions that are both smart and seamless
● Incorporating public transportation into traffic control systems
● Increased productivity has clean environmental benefits
● Reliable real-time travel and traffic information

Information transfer in ITS

There is three common information transfer in ITSs which are the in-vehicle systems, vehicle-to-
vehicle systems, and vehicle-to-infrastructure systems.

The goal of in-vehicle information systems is to enhance driver safety, situational awareness, and
anxiety reduction, but they can also increase mental workload and diversion. This is especially
critical in road tunnels, which produce extremely hazardous driving conditions. These systems
provide drivers with information such as road and traffic conditions, navigation information, weather
conditions, hazard warnings, and business communication services that would otherwise be
inaccessible to them (e.g. email, voice mail, and fax).

The vehicle-to-vehicle communications system is a wireless network in which vehicles transmit

messages to each other with information about their activities. This information will include things
like speed, position, travel path, braking, and loss of stability. Any node (car, smart traffic signal,
etc.) in the V2V network will be able to send, record, and retransmit signals. The network's five to
ten hops will collect traffic conditions a mile ahead. Even the most distracted driver would be able
to take his foot off the accelerator in that amount of time.

The vehicle-to-infrastructure system's communication is the wireless exchange of data between

vehicles and road infrastructure. V2l communication is normally wireless and bi-directional and is
enabled by a system of hardware, software, and firmware.

Infrastructure components such as lane markers, road signs, and traffic lights can wirelessly
provide information to the car, and vice versa. With so much data being captured and shared, rich,
timely information can be used to enable a wide range of safety, mobility, and environmental
benefits.
Applications of ITS on Surface Transport
ITS has the potential to solve some of today's most complex road transportation issues. In general,
ITS implementations can do the following:
● improve traffic flow by reducing congestion;
● rapidly identify and respond to incidents;
● improve air quality by lowering pollution levels locally and reducing travel time;
● improve safety by providing advance notice of possible collision situations;
● reduce the negative effects of environmental, highway, and human factors that cause
accidents

The following are some Intelligent Transport Systems that can be used on the roads:
● Automated Traffic Management Systems (ATMSs): use a range of software to control the
flow of road traffic.
● e-tolls: toll payments are deducted without stopping, with the help of electronic toll booths.
● Electronic Road Pricing (ERP): necessitates drivers paying various tolls at various times
● Traveler Information Systems: provide online, real-time information on road conditions
through the internet
● Route guidance system: assists a driver in finding the most efficient routes to a specific
location

Vehicle Technology
There are three main categories of vehicle technology: smart cars, driverless cars, and connected
cars.
Smart car is a term for an automobile with advanced electronics. Since the late 1960s,
microprocessors have been used in automobile engines, and their use has gradually increased in
the engine and drivetrain to improve stability, braking, and overall comfort. A car today can contain
a hundred or more microprocessors. Driverless cars, a self-driving car is one that can sense its
surroundings and operate without the need for human intervention. At no point is a human
passenger needed to take control of the vehicle, nor is a human passenger required to be present in
the vehicle at all. A self-driving car can go anywhere a conventional car can go and do all a skilled
human driver can do. Connected cars, this is any vehicle or car that can link to the internet.
Typically, such vehicles link to the internet through a wireless network (WLAN) (Wireless Local Area
Network). A connected vehicle can share internet with devices both inside and outside the vehicle,
as well as data with any external device or service. Connected vehicles can always access the
internet to perform functions/download data when requested by the user.

IT Applications on Various Transportations:

Vehicle Rentals & Taxis
● Reservation Systems
 ● Vehicle Inventory Control
● Car and bicycle-sharing systems
● Ride-sharing systems
Rail Transport
● Web-based computer reservation systems
● GDS connectivity
● Smartphone apps
● Smart cards
● Electronic ticketing systems
● Departure control systems
● Inter-modal booking systems
Water Transport
● Computerized reservation systems
● Cruise booking systems (e.g. CruiseMatch)
● Electronic ticketing systems
● Guest technologies (smart cards, onboard navigation, mobile entertainment, tablets)
● Global Navigation Systems and Maritime Distress and Safety Systems
● Point of sale systems
● Inventory control systems
● Integrated Public Transport Systems
● Intermodal systems
● Smart cards and contactless ticketing using RFID or NFC (e.g. London's Oyster Card)

Chapter 5

Hospitality Information Systems

In the hotel industry, information systems are critical as they help with planning, management, and
overall hotel operations, as well as policymaking. Due to recent technical advancements, today's
hospitality information systems are much more advanced.

Common IT Applications in Hospitality Industry

● Front-office applications: reservation system, check-in/check-out, room status and
housekeeping, in-house guest information, and guest accounting
● Back office applications: personnel, purchasing, accounting, inventory, sales and catering,
and financial reports and statistics
● Guest-related interface applications: call-accounting, electronic locking, energy
management, guest-operated devices, and auxiliary guest services
● Restaurant and banquet management systems: menu management, recipe management,
sales analysis, and forecasting, menu-item pricing and cost control

The following are some of the most widely used information systems in the hospitality industry.
1. Transaction Processing System
Efficient data processing allows the hotel to be more responsive to demand, gain a better
understanding of its customers, and reduce costs. Business transactions involving the compilation,
storage, and alteration of transactional data are possible with the Transaction Processing System.
This system handles data generated by and about hotel transactions. The following are some
examples of hotel transaction process system operations:
● Billing and invoicing
● Sales order entry
● Reservations and booking entries
● Employee payroll
● Product order shipping and sales
and other single-or batch-processing tasks
These systems are important because they ensure that data collected is accurate and timely,
increasing labor productivity. Managers in the hotel industry use it mostly for organizational
purposes.

Information systems are an essential part of the hotel industry's overall IT infrastructure. It is now,
without a doubt, the most effective method for achieving long-term competitive advantages. The
tourism and hospitality industry has taken full advantage, allowing modern travelers to choose from
a wide range of choices.

2. The Point of Sale (PoS) System

The point of sale is the most common type of information system used in the hotel industry. For
example, in a hotel restaurant, bar, coffee shop, or gift shop, this computerized system keeps track
of retail sales. Different versions of the program are also used by the hotel's front desk and
housekeeping departments.

These systems incorporate registers, computers, and any peripheral equipment that make be
established on a computer network. This method is crucial because it keeps track of payroll, labor,
and revenue, as well as creates documents that can be used in accounting. Hotel restaurants, fast
food restaurants, and stand-alone restaurants all use Micros and versions of Micros. Also, hotel
security teams have their point-of-sale system. There is a strong overlap in the hotel industry's
information systems. The shortlists below explain where and how hotel property management
software can be used, as well as why it is useful.

● Financial Reports: hotel property management software that is competitive provides you
with financial and business reports for your hotel. You will read about your hotel's room
occupancy ratios, guest stay durations, payment processing methods, and other statistical
 ●

forecasts.
● Hotel Administration: Hotel property management software aids in the learninç and
execution of marketing exercises, the sending of promotional emails, the organization of staff
training, and the creation of in-house communication systems.
● Food-service management: Hospitality management Software can not only assist in sending
real-time information to kitchen units, but it can also monitor inventory, automatically order
goods, and determine profitability and areas for improvement.
● Accounting: You may calculate income to expense ratios, plan bills, and make payments to
suppliers and travel agencies using the accounting options.

3. Property Management Systems (PMS)

This is a comprehensive software framework that is used to achieve specific objectives such as the
coordination of front-office workers, organizational tasks, sales, and planning. Important functions
such as guest booking, guest information, online reservations, as well as sales and marketing, can
all be automated with property management systems.

The PMS aims to manage the hotel's various operations an i to streamline data.
Management Information Systems (MIS), which provide the information needed by the hotel for
proper staff and facility management, are also included in these hospitality information systems.
This system is used functionally in a variety of fields to assess and promote organizational and
strategic operations. It includes aspects such as:

• Online Bookings and Reservations: You can monitor your hotel website, sell room rates to guests,
post new offers and promotions on the internet, and book rooms for your customers based on pre-
deposit policies using online booking and reservation options. The framework includes the following
components:
> Hotel Websites
● Generate direct sales and provide greater control over inventory than other electronic
booking channels
● Avoid commissions
● Features of successful hotel websites:
● interactive and easily navigable
● quality information
● online booking capability
● price comparison features
● maps
● multiple language support
● links to local points of interest
● Electronic Hotel Reservations
● Online travel agents (OTAs)
● Metasearch engines
 ● Specialized accommodation search engines
● TripAdvisor
● Google Hotel Search
● Channel managers
● Mobile apps
● Guest Applications
● Customer relationship management
● Guest history systems
● Guest room amenities
● Electronic locking system (ELS)
● Guest information and entertainment devices
● Guest services technology
● Check-Ins and Check-Outs: You may handle customer check-ins and check-outs with hotel
management systems or software. With a single piece of software, you can assign spaces,
print check-in cards, accept online payments, and extend your customers' stays.
● Housekeeping: You can create check-in and check-out lists, as well as maintain their
housekeeping. You can communicate with your housekeeping workers using the app. Before
and after the housekeeping service, you can assign rooms to maids, create work lists for
them, and check room status.
With all of the innovation in hospitality aimed at providing a better customer experience, these
advanced hotel information systems aid in enhancing the overall experience of both guests and
employees.

4. Decisions Support Systems

The decision-making process is supported by decision support systems. Based on the hotel's
operating model, each hotel develops a decision-making support system. This system is especially
crucial for ensuring that the hotel's operations run smoothly and that decisions are taken quickly.
The following are some examples of decision support structures in hospitality operations:
● Price Management of food items
● Rate management of Hotel Rooms
● Dynamic pricing
If you want to run a successful business, you must keep track of your prices. You can make plans
and provide discounts to your customers as well as flexible room rates.

● Demand Planning of Hotel Rooms:

● Electronic Hotel Room Distribution
● Hotel Communications:
● Private Branch Exchange: control the connections of hotel telephone calls to the outside
world for guests and employees

> Call Accounting System (CAS): allows the hotel to route and track calls without using the local
telephone company
•Energy Management System
● Monitor, control and optimize energy consumption in a hotel
● Can link to ELS to determine whether a room is occupied and can automatically adjust the
air conditioning, lighting, and heating
● Infrared body scanners
● Electronic bedside control panels and mobile apps
●

Visitor Experiences with IT

Attractions
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where visitors go for recreation and entertainment, usually
because of its intrinsic or demonstrated natural or cultural value, historical importance, natural or
constructed beauty. Natural attractions appeal to tourists because of the nature of the landform or
the beauty of the landscape in which the attraction is set. While travelers will see and experience
mankind's physical and intellectual inventions at cultural attractions. For example:
Attracting Visitors
● Visitor Information Centers
● Mobile apps
● Media Walls
● Twitter feeds
• Information kiosks
Tablets
● Sales and Distribution
● Electronic ticketing

The final contribution of the study of Neuhofer, Buhalis, and Ladkin is the development of an
experience hierarchy and discussing its relevance for experience enhancement in tourism research
and practice.
This classification suggests that the integration of ICTs leads to enhanced experiences and an
increase of value. Considering the difficulty to create the highest levels of experiences and their
limited evidence in practice to date, it can be argued that the numbers of companies realizing high-
level experiences are still low. However, with technological developments and the penetration of
ICTs into everyday life, especially for young generations, it is evident that tourism organizations will
be progressing through the different levels in the hierarch and gradually integrate technology into
all aspects of their business for the enhancement of experiences. As the constant increase of value
for the tourist is the utmost prioriy in experience creation, it is crucial for tourism organizations to
evaluate their current experience and value created in seeking to progress to the next level. In this
process, ICTs will play a key role. Emerging technological developments, such as near field
communications, SoLoMo, augmented reality and gaming will provide a range of innovative
technologies that will drive more adoption of technology for the creation of fully technology-
empowered experiences. The contribution of this hierarchy is that it provides a valuable instrument
for company experiences and competitiveness, as to understand the current and future experience
levels and value propositions alike. (Neuhofer et. al., 2014)

Staging Experiences: Roles of Technology

Technology as a/an...
Enabler. It improves the wider socio-economic conditions for travel, boosts productivity, and frees
workers from tedious tasks. Travelers are able to have movement with the help of technology and
have convenient access to travel details. It is widely used in the manufacture and delivery of goods
and services.

Creator. CAD software is used by engineers, architects, and other practitioners to design tourism
facilities. Jet boating, jet skiing, Segway tours, simulators, roller coasters, and ski runs are examples
of technological infrastructures and machines that generate new possibilities for tourist
experiences.

Attractor. Science and technology museums (e.g. EPCOT), manufacturing sites (e.g.
Guinness Brewery), working farms (e.g. Dole Pineapple Plantation), technology expos and car
shows, theme park rides, audio-visual effects, augmented and virtual reality, and other technical
attractions can be the focus of the experience that draws tourists.

Educator. When visiting new places, particularly foreign ones, it is essential to gather information.
Digital guides, audio guides, and podcasts, mobile technology (QR codes, geo-fencing, wearable
technologies), special effects, virtual and augmented reality, holographic projection, 3D printing,
robots and mechatronics, and immersive surfaces all help to target perception and edutainment for
travelers today.

Protector. It has the potential to protect both travelers and resources. Emerging technologies such
as electronic locking systems, monitoring systems, security screening, mobile warnings, water
treatment, and food protection ensure the safety of travelers while also providing convenience and
ease to these customers. Climate control systems, documentation of historical and natural objects,
wildlife monitoring and management, and energy and waste management with the aid of machines
and devices all contribute to the preservation and protection of a destination's natural resources.

Enhancer. These information technologies can improve visitor orientation, communication,

translation, preparation, and scheduling for the actual vacation.

Substitute. Technology may re-enact or replicate situations, activities, or events to provide

replacement experiences for fragile or unsafe locations, expensive experiences, and attractions and
artifacts that no longer exist, as well as provide opportunities for visitors with disabilities or mobility
restrictions.

Facilitator. The position of technology as a facilitator benefits primarily business operators. It is

responsible for marketing and distribution, visitor management, business intelligence, facilities
management, back-office processes, staff, and automation, all of which have their technology.

Reminder. Picture and video sharing, geotagged videos, social media, product reviews, and blogs
are just some of the ways visitors can use technology to document, capture, and share their
experiences.

Destroyer. Technology may also bite back, causing unpleasant encounters, inconvenient situations,
or even more severe consequences. Technology failure, noise, and visual pollution, and resource
degradation are all possible scenarios.

Destination Management and Smart Destinations

Destination Management
In the past, only a computer database of the destination's facilities supplemented traditional
information delivery methods such as brochures and visitor information centers. Today, the tourism
industry's destination management is handled by highly complex, web-based platforms that
support broader functionality and communication through a variety of online channels. By reflecting
a wider range of goods and services in a destination, it filled a void left by GDSs.

Definition
● A dynamic web-based platform that brings together a variety of knowledge about a
destination's tourism items.
● It also offers an infrastructure to support various forms of e-commerce in the destination
(e.g., B2B, C2B, and G2B).
● Additionally, it enables contact with various stakeholders (such as suppliers and visitors), as
well as data collection and visualization.

Functions
Content, promotion, and eCommerce are the three primary roles of Destination Management. To
show the informative content of a specific location, the framework includes information features
such as search functions and a listing of tourism facilities, attractions, and services. There are
strategies for attracting traffic from other platforms, such as search engine optimization and ads on
other websites, in order to promote.
Finally, the transaction-related functionality for electronic commerce targets visitor behavioral
outcomes.

Core Dimension
● Information
● Communication
● Transaction
● Relationship
● Technical merit
Key Advantages
● Make it easier for the destination to coordinate and integrate with suppliers
● Reduce the need for intermediaries and increase revenue
● Give the destination a stronger market presence

Smart Destinations
The technical capabilities of a specific destination, attraction, or tourist are used to describe smart
tourism. Many destinations are now upgrading their operations to incorporate more smart
technology, ranging from payment methods to interactive events. The ultimate goal of smart
tourism is to boost resource management performance, increase productivity, and improve
sustainability through the application of technical technologies and practices.
In essence, for something to be "smart" it must possess advanced technical capabilities that allow
the collection and analysis of a wide range of data that can then be used to inform product creation
and operation. While the average visitor might be unaware of what goes on behind the scenes, there
is almost certainly a great deal of effort put in to ensure optimum efficiency and competitiveness.
The following are five of the most popular smart tourism implementation methods:
● smart accessibility options
● smart sustainability initiatives
● smart information sharing
● smart research and management tools smart tourist experiences.
In terms of the situation on the tour, Gretzel et al. (2015) suggested shifting from e-Tourism to
Smart Tourism to exploit information by using operational, near-real-time real-world data,
integrating and sharing data, and using complex analytics, modeling, optimization, and
visualizations.

Knowledge-based Destinations
To identify a knowledge-based destination, it includes features such as ubiquitous access to new IT
technology for all stakeholders (including local people, companies, and visitors), instruments to
make knowledge and information accessible to stakeholders systematically and efficiently, a culture
that promotes the creation of creative products and services for stakeholders, as well as processes
to ensure that each stakeholder community has a chance to participate in the innovation process.
Learning Destinations
Destinations need to create a soft infrastructure to become learning destinations.
This includes:
● local knowledge
● learning and creativity
● trust
● networks
● conversion of tacit to explicit knowledge
● collaboration and cooperation
These features necessitate the use of IT infrastructure. Keeping track of events, documenting
findings, creating databases, and tracking performance indicators are all examples of soft
infrastructure.

Crisis and Risk Planning

Governments, private businesses, and societies may use knowledge and information technology to
help them avoid, prepare for, and recover from different forms of disasters and crises. There are
three steps of disaster recovery:
● Prevention and planning: IT systems can store policies and databases with pertinent
information.
● Strategic implementation: IT and data networks help stakeholders communicate during a
crisis.
● Evaluation and feedback: IT offers contact services, blogs, and mobile sites.

Chapter 6

Tourism is one of the world's biggest sectors, with much of it focused on pristine natural
ecosystems including coastal and marine protected areas (MPA). International tourists, as well as
local residents, are becoming increasingly interested in MPAs.
Tourism can benefit local communities and MPAs through revenue generation and employment.
Tourism has a major effect on natural resources, consumption habits, emissions, and social
structures as more regions and countries expand their tourism industries. As a result, tourism can
endanger MPA resources by destroying habitat, disrupting biodiversity, and affecting water quality,
as well as endangering communities through overdevelopment, crowding, and cultural disturbance.
Although not everything depends on tourism, tourism depends on almost everything. The need for
long-term/responsible planning and management is critical for the industry's overall survival. It's all
about refocusing and changing when it comes to sustainable tourism. It reduces the costs of
tourism while increasing the benefits to natural habitats and local communities, and it can be
carried out indefinitely without causing damage to the resources on which it is based. A
compromise between limits and use must be sought so that tourism can be handled by constant
change, monitoring, and planning. This necessitates thinking in terms of the long term (10, 20+
years) and understanding that change is often cumulative, gradual, and irreversible.

Sustainable development must consider the economic, social, and environmental interests of all
stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, local communities, tourists, businesses, and
government. Local governments, NGOs, and the tourism industry must all work together to develop
sustainable tourism enterprises that are both economically viable and beneficial to the local
community.
The following terms below can be defined as follows:

Sustainable Development
• development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs (WCED, 1987)

Sustainable Tourism
● tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental
impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host
communities (UNEP/UNWTO, 2005)
● environmentally responsible travel and visitation to natural areas, in order to enjoy and
appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features, both past, and present) in a way
that promotes conservation, has a low visitor impact and provides for beneficially active
socio-economic involvement of local peoples.
(World Conservation Union, 1996)
Three core components of sustainable tourism are often referred to as the "triple bottom line":
(International Ecotourism Society, 2004):
. Environmentally the activity has a low impact on natural resources, particularly in protected
areas. It minimizes damage to the environment (flora, fauna, habitats, water, living marine
resources, energy use, contamination, etc.) and ideally tries to benefit the environment.
. Socially and culturally the activity does not harm the social structure or culture of the
community where it is located. Instead, it respects local cultures and traditions. It involves
stakeholders (individuals, communities, tour operators, government institutions) in all phases
of planning, development, and monitoring, and educates stakeholders about their roles.
3. Economically it contributes to the economic well-being of the community, generating sustainable
and equitable income for local communities and as many other stakeholders as possible. It benefits
owners, employees, and neighbors. It does not simply begin and then rapidly die secause of poor
business practices.
Applications of IT in Sustainable Tourism
● Carbon Calculator
● Community Informatics
● Computer Simulations
 ● Destination Management Systems (DMS)
● Economic Impact Analysis
● Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
● Gamification
● Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
● Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
● Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
● Location-Based Services (LBS)
● Virtual Tourism
● Weather and Climate Change Systems

Conventional Tourism
-in addition, conventional tourism often does not benefit the local community when tourist revenue
"leaks" to outside operators. As a result, tourism has the potential to deplete the very capital that it
relies on. Sustainable tourism, on the other hand, is purposefully designed to help local
communities, value local culture, protect natural resources, guide a greater percentage of income to
the local community and MPA, and inform both visitors and local residents about the importance of
conservation.

Conventional tourism is not always designed to promote conservation or education, does not help
the local community, and can quickly degrade an already fragile ecosystem. As a consequence, it
has the potential to kill or irreversibly change the tools and societies on which it relies. In contrast,
sustainable tourism is purposefully designed from the start to help local people, respect local
culture, protect natural resources, and educate both tourists and locals.

Sustainable tourism can generate the same income as traditional tourism, but most of the profits
remain in the community, and the region's natural resources and culture can be preserved. Owing to
a lack of management controls and appropriate planning processes, conventional tourism activities
in the past have posed a significant challenge to marine conservation in many cases. Sustainable
tourism, on the other hand, aims to reduce tourism's detrimental effects while also contributing to
conservation and the community's economic and social well-being. Tourism rarely provides funds
for both conservation programs and local communities, while also offering incentives to protect
areas from activities and construction that threaten the natural beauty of the region.
Only by well-planned and managed sustainable tourism can opportunities and issues be managed.

Twelve Aims of Sustainable Tourism

Figure 6.1 depicts the twelve goals of sustainable tourism, which use information technology (ITS)
to address various aspects of tourism (ITs).

● Resource Efficiency. Information technology can be used to minimize aviation fuel

 ●

consumption and achieve flight route optimization through systems, scheduling of arrival and
departure times to reduce hold-ups caused by delays, continuous descent systems, and the
design of lighter and more fuel-efficient aircraft. Hotels can also save energy and waste by
using energy management systems and monitoring water usage.

● Environmental Purity & Physical Integrity. Computer technology monitors and manages
efficient resource use with the use of DMSs to maintain access to natural resources,
including:
● water (low-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads)
● energy (solar power generators, energy-saving light-bulbs)
● pollution (noise, air, and visual pollution)
● recycling and waste management
Location-based programs for sustainable education and interpretation, carbon footprint calculators,
and the use of CAD tools to design more effective buildings are only a few examples of other
systems and technologies.

● Biological Diversity.
● Citizen scientists: visitors may use their digital devices to track animal and bird species, as
well as other environmental phenomena while traveling.
● Tourist scientist: combining tourism, research, conservation, and computers to identify and
track flora and fauna (e.g. Earthwatch, Cyber trackers)
● Voluntourists: make a significant contribution to the ecosystems and habitats in the
destinations they visit

● Social Equity & Community Wellbeing.

● Last-mile connectivity: IT advances have made it possible to connect even the most remote
communities to address information asymmetry
● IT democratizes and equalizes the community by giving all residents and enterprises equal
access to technology
● IT networks allow people to connect to knowledge, education, tourist markets, and
destination management systems
● IT contributes to social equity by attracting the right tourists
● IT supports social enterprise
● IT provides information and access for handicapped travelers
● IT supports the monitoring and reporting of human rights abuses

● Local Control.
● Community informatics strengthens stakeholder and empower communities.
● Remote input to meetings
● Electronic polling
● Scenario-based design
 ● Cultural Richness.
IT can contribute to cultural richness by:
● Disseminating better understanding of customs and traditions to the benefit of tourists and
host communities
● Promoting the visibility of cultural resources - especially new or small ones Monitoring
tourism impacts on cultural resources and visitor flow management strategies
Building partnerships between cultural and tourism operators to strengthen their market
position

● Economic Viability & Local Prosperity

IT can impact local prosperity by building:
● Financial capital: providing online communication with lending organizations
Human capital: providing increased knowledge of new skills through distance learning and
processes required for certification
● Natural capital: providing opportunities to access national government policies online
● Social capital: cultivating contacts beyond the local community
Physical capital: lobbying for the provision of basic infrastructure including data and
telecommunications infrastructure

IT Challenges
● Lack of investment for IT
● Lack of training and expertise
● Lack of financial or technical infrastructure
● Language barriers

● Employment Quality & Capacity Building

● IT can be used to:
● Attract talented employees to the tourism industry
● Improve the quality of training and education
● Examples
● MOOCs
● BEST Education Network
● The International Ecotourism Society
● Rainforest Alliance

● Visitor Fulfillment
● Tourists can experience some benefits of travel by staying home and using technology
to virtually experience the destination, removing any
environmental damage to the destination. Examples:
● 360citles.net
● Google Streetvlew
● Google Earth VR
● Virtualtravelevents.com
 ● Gala360

Disruptive Innovation
The theory of disruptive Innovation has been hugely popular In business circles for the past 20
years, and it's a powerful method for predicting which market newcomers will thrive. Unfortunately,
the Idea has been widely misunderstood, and the term
"disruptive" has been thrown around too casually if a challenger shakes up long-standing
Incumbents.

Clayton Christensen popularzed the concept of disruptive Innovation In The Innovator's Solution, a
follow-up to his 1997 book The Innovator's Dilemma. Clayton M.

Christensen, the creator of disruption theory, and his coauthors correct some of the misinformation
in this paper, explain how thought on the topic has progressed, and explore the theory's usefulness.
Disruptive Innovation Is the process of transforming costly or highly advanced goods or services
that were traditionally only avallable to a high end or more specialized segment of the population
Into products or services that are more affordable and open to a wider audience. This change
causes market disruption by displacing long-standing, well-established rivals. It does not refer to
the method of developing or enhancing goods for the same target group; rather, it refers to the
technology used to make them simple to use and accessible to a wider, non-targeted market. The
launch of digital music downloads, which have largely replaced compact disks, is an example of
technological Innovation (CDs).

They begin by defining classic disruption: a small business targeting underserved consumers with a
novel but limited product and eventually expanding upmarket to challenge Industry leaders. They
point out that Uber, which is often praised as a disruptor, may not fit the mold, and they clarify that
managers who don't grasp the complexities of disruption theory or apply its tenets correctly cannot
make the best strategic decisions. Fallure to percelve disruption as an incremental process (which
can lead Incumbents to disregard major threats), according to the writers, is a common mistake, as
is blindly accepting the "Disrupt or be disrupted" mantra (which may lead incumbents to jeopardize
their core business as they try to defend against disruptive competitors). Disruption theory has
several drawbacks, according to the authors.
However, they are optimistic that when further study is done, the theory's explanatory and
predictive abilities would strengthen.

Diffusion of Innovations Theory

In 1962, E.M. Rogers, a communication theorist at the University of New Mexico, founded the
theory. It describes the passage of an idea through stages of acceptance by various actors by
integrating previous sociological theories of behavioral change. The following are the main figures in
the diffusion of inventions theory:
● Innovators: eager to try new ideas and prepared to take risks such as adopting technologies
that may fail.
● Early adopters: opinion leaders who embrace change but are not as obsessive as innovators.
● Early majority: tend to adopt innovations before the average person but will thoroughly
research an innovation before deciding to adopt.
● Late majority: will only adopt an innovation after the majority have tried it and adoption may
be the result of economic necessity or social pressure.
● Laggards: traditionalists and are the last to adopt an innovation because they are skeptical
of change.