Understanding & Implementing Marketing Information System

within the parameters of Domestic & International Tourism:

In reference to Case Study of Himachal Pradesh Tourism

Introduction

Tourism marketing been heavily oriented towards the promotion function, a tendency that will no doubt continue well into the future.

Tourism occurs when you leave your normal surroundings where you live and work to go to another environment to engage in activities there, regardless of how close or how far it is.

Tourism propagation(marketing) can be expensive, particularly if you want to attract national or international tourists.

Typical funding sources are state tourism agencies and taxes, including hotel taxes.

The marketing plan is a road map and details of attractions in your area. It forces you to set a budget on your promotional spending.

Upgrades to make it more appealing to visitors -- or better advertising. And this is the moment when “Tourism Marketing Information System” kicks in and shows effect.

What is Tourism Marketing Information System?

A marketplace based on information provision and exchange transactions. The most important use of the Internet is related to the exchange transactions (marketing) between businesses that are purchasing and others who are supplying.

Marketing Information Systems are an essential means for effective tourism marketing and improving quality of services of tourism organizations

Tourism organizations that have online presence having marketing information applications or tourism marketing services in place to support online marketing and transactions.

Rise of e-commerce has enhanced the opportunities of domestic tourist destinations and services to increase their audience in a cost-effective way.

Targeting ads towards people who type in search terms related to tourism in your area, you can focus messages on convincing interested parties to choose you over other possible destinations.

The Internet as an Information Exchange System

Internet has become a medium for marketing and ideally for marketing tourism. It allows everyone to access the network.

Potential of using the Internet for marketing activities is derived from its general use as an information exchange system.

Information can be stored, indexed, retrieved, restructured, and redistributed automatically by software and without human intervention thus making more work smooth.

Internet connects organizations with other companies, companies with customers, and people with other people without regard to time, space and hardware/software platforms.

Internet as a marketing media can be of great benefit to virtually all areas of marketing, from marketing research, through market segmentation, targeting and positioning, to the effective use of the marketing mix, and marketing organization and control.

Internet does more than automating online business transaction. It can be “informant” in that it provides a vast amount of information that was previously unavailable.

Internet and marketing strategies can be used to create connections and customer base.

The role of the internet as an information exchange system.

Effects of internet in terms of business.

Website can supply as much promotional information as possible as there is virtually no capacity constraint or advertising space limit on the Web.

Web marketer can create an ultra comprehensive brochure to include everything a user wishes to know

A company website with email links or even telephone numbers and addresses will enable users to contact it for further and often more personalized information

A company’s website has to compete in the clutter of thousands of other websites selling similar products and services, promotion is necessary.

The company’s web address should also be included on all its media messages “to drive consumers to the Web

Major Components of Information Technology in Tourism Marketing.

Some other contributors to Tourism and marketing with an indirect affect on the business.

Case Study Himachal Pradesh

Popularly known as the Devbhumi — “Land of the Gods”,

Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful hill state in India, nestled in the north-west region of western Himalayas. The state is landlocked with the Tibetan plateau to the east, Jammu and Kashmir to the north, and the Punjab to the west. The state stands apart from its neighbours in terms of its sheer topographic diversity.

From vast tracts of high-altitude Trans-Himalayan desert to dense green deodar forests, from apple orchards to cultivated terraces, from snow capped high Himalayan mountain ranges to snow fed lakes and gushing rivers, Himachal Pradesh offers breathtaking pristine beauty.

Himachal and Districts

Tourist information kiosks and Interactive Marketing.

The state government invested INR 22.50 lakhs in setting up IT enabled tourist information kiosks in Himachal Pradesh in 20/Nov/09. The funding was provided by the Union Ministry of Tourism.

Tourist related information such as important tourist destinations; weather, hotel, railway and bus bookings and other related facilities will be provided to the tourists via internet and interactive Kiosks.

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has been using print media to promote tourism in the state.

These include advertisements in newspapers and publishing books like Unforgettable Himachal.

The department has also used interactive channels on the internet for the access and propagation of tourism.

City wise tourism growth after the application of Interactive and virtual publications (2009).

Conclusion Usage of new technology as a catalyst for the

propagation of tourism should be promoted. Information must be available to tourists with the help

of Interactive Kiosks. Smartphone based applications on android and

symbian platforms for quick and mobile access. Newer sources of communication like the internet

must be used effectively to influence and advertise at an international competitor.

Himachal must open avenues for business opportunities, could be tourism related itself, and cash on its vast religious backdrop.

E-marketing is immature and requires major strategic management actions from both the government tourism organizations and private tourism companies.

Pro et Contra

Weaknesses: Inadequacy of transport facilities Funds constraining the development of regions. Inadequacy of information channels. Overcrowding of popular tourist centres. Some places are inaccessible, especially in winter. Inadequacy of marketing. Lack of adequate infrastructural support.

Opportunities:  The concept of holidaying is gaining popularity in India among

various classes of people. Increased disposable incomes of the Indian middle class. Adventure sports and trekking. Eco- tourism is gaining popularity. Himachal contains many unexplored regions.

Threats:  Kashmir is being opened up and could divert a large

portion of tourists to itself. Various other places in India are providing stiff

competition. Environmental factors also impose a threat. 

Recommendations  It must open avenues for business opportunities, could be

tourism related itself, and cash on its vast religious backdrop.

Railways must be given a boost so that long distance travel becomes easy. Low cost airlines and helicopter services also can be used to reach the inaccessible regions depending on the climatic conditions.

Family entertainment facilities must be developed. More playgrounds and parks must be made. Schools can also be targeted for excursions.

Basic necessities must be provided. Water availability has to be catered to. A diverse range of culinary must be provided to cater to the wants of tourists from various places across India and the globe.

Information must be available to tourists at all places. Eco-tourism must be developed and promoted. Exploitation of tourists by locals must be minimized. Facilities for higher education must be improved. Local culture and handicrafts must be promoted.

References A framework for an industry supported destination marketing

information system. Robin J.B. Ritchiea,*, J.R. Brent Ritchieb a Richard Ivey School of

Business, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7b Faculty of Management, World Tourism Education and Research Centre, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 1N4

INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TOURISM MARKETING: NEW CHALLENGES FOR TOURISM BUSINESS SECTOR IN

EGYPT MOHAMMED I. ERAQI* and GHADA ABD-ALLA† *Faculty of Tourism & Hotels, Fayoum University, Egypt †Faculty of Tourism & Hotels, Ismalia, Suez Canal University, Egypt

Himachal Tourism : A S.W.O.T Analysis, Saurabh Rishi*Dr B. Sai Giridhar**AbstractWikipedia Himachal Pradesh

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