Exploring success and failure factors in operating online travel business

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I certify that the work presented in the dissertation is my own unless referenced

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First of all, it would give me great pleasure to show my gratitude to my professor, for his propositions, remarks, understanding and patience. It would also be an honour to express gratitude to my parents, my mother, my father, my sister and my brother for their endless support in my life and allowing me to make all my decisions. I would also like to take the opportunity to show appreciation to my co-workers for their expert cooperation on every occasion. I would also like to be grateful to the Department, managers of the university, instructors and students who have supported me throughout this research.

DECLARATION

I declare that the content presented in this thesis/dissertation is, in my understanding and opinion, original and has not been presented for scholarly assessment in the past, either completely or partly, for an academic degree at this educational institution or elsewhere. I would also like to admit that I have studied and understood the principles, prerequisites, processes and guidelines of the University regarding the higher academic degree research award and to my dissertation. I would also like to declare that I have abided by the University's principles, prerequisites, processes and guidelines.

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ABSTRACT

Advancements in the field of information technology and communication have not only facilitated commerce and business online but have also put this revolution on boom. The drivers are numerous and increasing day by day. Companies today with the objective of winning the maximum share of the global market want to do this with minimum cost possible but also making convenient for consumers. The global race more over seems to be like not only acquiring new markets but also to make them loyal. The requirement for the business has become essential to built new markets. Shopping online is relatively new phenomenon and was never so simple. With the rise of information technology and as a part of cost saving technique along with proliferation in the concept of direct selling we now have flourishing numbers of online merchants. Online retailers like e-bay and Amazon have introduced many value added features to help the customers to decide what to shop for. A complete virtual market place experience is attempted here to be enjoyed by the consumers. Consumer information sites like price comparison and product or service review sites are some supporting services which cannot be provided in the virtual market place.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.1Research Aims and Objectives1

1.2Background of the Research1

1.3Significance of the Research2

1.4Structure of the thesis3

1.4.1Chapter I: Introduction3

1.4.2Chapter II: Literature Review3

1.4.3Chapter III: Methodology3

1.4.4Chapter IV: Data analysis and Discussion4

1.4.5Chapter V: Conclusion4

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW5

2.1Information Technology6

2.2Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Tourism9

2.3E-business10

2.4Rapid Growth of the Internet and E- Business12

2.5What Makes E-Business Different?13

2.6Importance of e-business14

2.7Conceptual Overview16

2.8Electronic tourism (etourism)17

2.9The Internet and Travel and Tourism18

2.10E-Tickets, automated check-ins and “e-Airlines”19

2.11E-Tourism: Supply and Demand21

2.12eAirlines21

2.13eTour operators22

2.14eTravel agencies23

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHOD25

3.1Qualitative Research26

3.2Quantitative Research26

3.3Sample27

3.4Data Collection27

3.5Underlying assumption27

3.6Explanation of the rationale for your proposed ...