White Paper
Huberht Santos
RIT
Graduating Writing Strategies
Dr. Poteat
November 15th, 2014
Abstract
Although mobile applications are potential revenue sources and information for tourist organizations, the literature has little studied these relationships. Given this scientific gap, this white paper aims to help organizations and companies in the tourism and hospitality sectors to call-to-action on the most demanded mobile applications for tourism in the marketing context and advanced their features. In addition, it will serve as a framework for establishing future comparisons, user consumption trends and mobile applications preferences. Executive Summary
The field of the applications industry is built around a client whose interests are based on value, needs and time. It has been estimated that each additional click a traveler made on his smartphone, reduces the chances of any possible money transaction either for choosing a destination or buying a flight ticket (Durlacher, 2000). Therefore, we can assume that the mobile user behavior rewards accessibility and speed, which establishes some similarities with the quality indicators identified for applications and websites (Lusch, Vargo & Tanniru, 2012).
Mobile applications and the use of smartphones have completely changed the tourists’ habits. Currently, tourists worldwide have a tendency to use mobile applications while visiting a destination. Furthermore, applications have become an indispensable tool for tourists either to resolve any issues or to access banking information before, during and after their trips. Furthermore, applications along with other areas of mobile technology help in the process of booking and travel planning for tourists (Lusch, Vargo & Tanniru, 2012).
In addition, the increasing tendency to use mobile applications allows tourists to share more information through reviews and online surveys about their experiences; this provides a tremendous value for new travelers at the moment of buying a flight ticket or booking a hotel
Lusch, Vargo & Tanniru (2012) argue that tourists would rather prefer using applications to solve any problems during the trip. They allow instant access to contact either the travel agency or hotels via mobile if an issue happens. To a further extent, for tourisms companies, they also take advantages of mobile applications. For instance, companies can send and receive push notifications to current and potential customers with news of interest directly through the mobile app.
Thus, it is clear that mobile applications have revolutionized the tourism industry, by offering a great opportunity for the sector. However, one major drawback I see is the need for the current web pages are adapted in format to its mobile version or app. In this sense, since most of the websites of companies in the sector are already created, it is difficult to adapt to its app counterpart for a smartphone.
Analysis
The relationship between the mobile applications market and the tourism industry
The evolution of the Internet should be conceived as a network in continuous motion capable of moving the physical to the virtual environment and once is in it; it must distribute the pattern of information to a mobile through a program (application). Therefore, the network involves moving to online environment relationships established by individuals, as both physical and virtual (Wellman, 1999). It is precisely to know how to articulate, manage these relationships which causes continuous changes in the virtual social networks and what subsequently leads to wireless networks.
Parallel to the development of social networks, the traditional way of making business in tourism has suffered the same mutations, from the classical conception, moving towards electronic commerce (e-commerce) to the currently called mobile commerce (m-commerce). The change has led to new ways to deliver tourism products where physical travel agencies lose prominence compared to
