The Impact of communication and information technologies on tourism distribution channels: A research for determining the effects of communication and information technoşogies on performance of travel agencies in Antalya

IX SUMMARY In today's changing and developing global business environment, many companies in tourism industry like companies in other industries are searching new ways and strategies for achieving competitive advantages and increasing their profitability. Tourism as a labour intensive industry needs to understand, interpret and adapt technology to its special requirements. In last years, Technology is very important concept for tourism companies to form politics of competition. In recent years, while the approach of tourism executives towards technology is previously deliberate, afterwards, they endeavour to catch technological opportunities along with improvement of technology to increase market share. Development of micro-electronic, invention of transistor and widespread usage of computer facilitate arranging, storing, processing, and reaching information. Besides, appearance of digital transmission methods along with computer technology reveal new concept called as internet. Internet is actually started to be used in 1968 and nowadays it is being used in every area and very important for activities of people and companies. Submitting of information on internet is chipper than traditional distribution channels. Opportunity of conveying of the information to large crowd of people in very short time and absence of time and place limitation revealed the concept of electronic commerce. Tourism industry is one of the industries which is affected from technological developments mentioned above. Especially tourism distribution channels have been shaped by development of telecommunication and information technologies. Change in tourism distribution channels also has been affecting intermediaries. Although dense effects of telecommunication and information technologies in tourism distribution channels have been accepted, in tourism industry, there is few practical research for determining effects of telecommunication and information technologies to tourism distribution channels. From this point of view, the focus of this thesis is to examine new applicable technologies in tourism distribution channel along with development of telecommunication and information technologies and analyse its effects to intermediaries in distribution channels.