The Growing Popularity of eTourism
Wednesday, Jun 18, 2003
A New Way to Get Away
Summer is finally here and during this time of year many people turn their thoughts to getting away from it all. Yes, from packing your suitcase to buying too many overpriced souvenirs, the summer vacation is an annual tradition. But before you do any of those things you have to decide on several things such as where to go, how to get there, and where to stay. In the past this was accomplished by sifting through piles of outdated brochures and guidebooks, folding and unfolding impossible maps and frantically calling every hotel in a fifty mile radius of your destination in order to find a vacancy. However with the Internet and the rise in eTourism, planning and booking your summer vacation is much easier than ever before.
The Internet has become a valuable tool for travelers whether it is used for research or for purchase. It can be used to view photographs or videos of the location you are considering visiting or even the inside of the hotel room where you will be staying. However, its most popular use is to find the lowest rates on everything you will need on vacation from hotel rooms and airline tickets to rental cars and restaurants. According to CyberAtlas, a leading resource for Internet trends and statistics, current research finds that half of all U.S. Internet users, equaling roughly 59 million individuals, have made a travel purchase online. Also, a recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, a non-profit initiative of the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, measured a considerable increase in the amount of online travel buyers in 2002, up from 36 percent (about 31 million Internet users) in 2000, representing a 90 percent growth rate.
Dogwood Productions has accomplished several projects for clients in the tourism industry. They have all profited from several of our Internet applications such as online booking and reservations, virtual tours, digital video, and other advanced Internet services.
Contact us today to discuss your eTourism needs!
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