Tourism and the Internet

Traveling has become more affordable in terms of cost and time, and the tourism industry is rapidly booming. According to the report of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, international tourist arrivals grew by 4.6% in the year 2015 to 1,184 million, and the figure was forecasted to reach 1.8 billion by 2030. This growing business has become an important economic force around the world, with trade volume surpassing that of oil and food products. The rapid development of information and communications technologies (ICTs), such as search engines, high-speed Internet and networks, smart devices, and social media, has largely transformed the tourism industry.

Travel arrangement has become one of the most popular purchases and search activities performed online. ICTs have become an impartible essential in consumers’ ...