In a simple language IT is the modern way oI using computers to communicate and get

inIormation through research, about the knowledge oI what we are short oI. It is the best
way oI communication. IT relates to tourism in many ways hence the only option beIore
the advent oI IT globally iI you wanted to travel any where you have to walk Irom your
house down to the street to get the local agency either as outbound and inbound tourist.

At the agency oIIice you might searched endlessly through the brochure without
immediate success and this can take you Iew days to do and get you Irustrate. But with
the advent oI IT this can be done online, sitting on your bedroom as a tourist you can get
all the necessary inIormation without stress, this is just a matter oI settling down with
your laptop in your house and log into your desire website. So IT opens up the
possibilities Ior tourism.

The tourism industry has proved particularly suitable Ior the adoption oI inIormation
technology because oI its dependence upon the supply and exchange oI inIormation
throughout the production and distribution chain. As an extremely inIormation intensive
industry, tourism is undergoing rapid and radical modern changes. A wide range oI
opportunities discover on daily basis through the use oI inIormation and communication
technology. Now inIormation technology is being used Ior a variety oI Iunctions in the
tourism industry, ranging Irom an internal organization role to external communication
between diIIerent parts oI the industry. The continuous development oI inIormation
technology has proIound implications Ior the whole tourism industry.

Today, a wide range oI tourism sectors is taking the advantage oI the inIormation
superhighway. Technology Iacilitates the speed and eIIiciency with which inIormation oI
the tourism industry is processed, stored, retrieved, distributed and otherwise
manipulated. InIormation technology can reduce costs oI inIormation handling, increase
speed oI inIormation transIer and retrieval and increase customer involvement in the
control oI transactions. It has Ilexibility oI product speciIications and greater reliability oI
inIormation transIerred.

According to Tunkara 'in Iew other areas oI activity are the generation; gathering;
processing; application and communication oI inIormation are as important Ior day-to-
day operation as they are Ior the travel and tourism industry. The most important role oI
inIormation technology is the development oI competitive advantages by both reducing
cost and enhancing diIIerentiation. The most area that inIormation technology improves
tourism most are in Iour main areas, the delivery oI tourism services; tourism
management, marketing oI the industry; with the relationship between the producers,
destinations and consumers, tourists.

InIormation technology has radically altered the way in which inIormation is transmitted
throughout the tourism industry. Hence, it changes the way in which tourism services are
delivered. Because consumer expectations are rising rapidly, the move towards more
independent and Ilexible holidays away Irom package holidays, with the emergence oI a
computer literate generation, requires the service providers to Iind new ways to satisIy
tourists` needs. Thus, it oIIers new opportunities Ior inIormation technology and the
tourism industry.

Talking about the beneIits oI this in the industry we have airlines, tour operators, travel
agencies hotels; car rental, destinations and tourists who always need the inIormation.

Booking Ior your holiday or hotel reservation is now easier since you can do them online.

Equally payment can be done online by issuing credit cards and other means oI latest
remittance oI Iees or charges without stress like in Europe, where some people use
Eurostar system when they are travelling. You can search Ior all the airlines by going
through their websites beIore you Iinally make a choice. Also Irom a thousand miles you
can locate your destination when you are still at your doorstep.

IT has makes all this easier. The introduction oI IT in the Gambia has bring a lot oI
changes to the industry and it has tremendously exposed the country to the world tourism
market because majority oI people visiting the Gambia now get most oI their inIormation
about the country on the website.

InIormation technology has really brought big and tremendous changes to the industry
because using the technology has no limitation.` ThereIore talking about the impact oI
tourism in the Gambia, the country is gaining more.

For eIIective communication and customers attraction grand cable is the best. Wi-Ii is the
best Ior the hotels. Wi-Ii is the wireless access, wherever you are accommodated, you
can use your laptop, mobile phone, among others to log online and do your work as you
wish without qualm. This type oI service is in used at Kairaba Hotel and some hotels
across the country ,they were excellently installed by QuantumNet ,who always look Ior
new things in the world oI inIormation and communication technology.

Today, inIormation technology (IT) is one oI the important resources Ior increasing the
economic growth. It causes companies to use their input resources as much as possible in
an eIIective way. As investment in IT capital accounts Ior an ever-increasing share oI
capital investment, it is important to understand how these investments might pay.

Generally, there has been much debate on whether or not the investment in IT provides
improvements in productivity and business eIIiciencies. IT investment may make little
direct contribution to overall perIormance oI business industry until they are combined
with complementary investments in business activities, human capital, and company
restructuring.

ThereIore, according to role oI QuantumNet as IT Iacilitator and enabler, it is valuable
and advisable Ior companies to increase the impact oI IT on overall perIormance oI
companies. On the other word, your investment in ICT will not been in vain ,instead it
will improve productivity with good dividend.



In a simple language IT is the modern way oI using computers to communicate and get
inIormation through research, about the knowledge oI what we are short oI. It is the best
way oI communication. IT relates to tourism in many ways hence the only option beIore
the advent oI IT globally iI you wanted to travel any where you have to walk Irom your
house down to the street to get the local agency either as outbound and inbound tourist.

At the agency oIIice you might searched endlessly through the brochure without
immediate success and this can take you Iew days to do and get you Irustrate. But with
the advent oI IT this can be done online, sitting on your bedroom as a tourist you can get
all the necessary inIormation without stress, this is just a matter oI settling down with
your laptop in your house and log into your desire website. So IT opens up the
possibilities Ior tourism.

The tourism industry has proved particularly suitable Ior the adoption oI inIormation
technology because oI its dependence upon the supply and exchange oI inIormation
throughout the production and distribution chain. As an extremely inIormation intensive
industry, tourism is undergoing rapid and radical modern changes. A wide range oI
opportunities discover on daily basis through the use oI inIormation and communication
technology. Now inIormation technology is being used Ior a variety oI Iunctions in the
tourism industry, ranging Irom an internal organization role to external communication
between diIIerent parts oI the industry. The continuous development oI inIormation
technology has proIound implications Ior the whole tourism industry.

Today, a wide range oI tourism sectors is taking the advantage oI the inIormation
superhighway. Technology Iacilitates the speed and eIIiciency with which inIormation oI
the tourism industry is processed, stored, retrieved, distributed and otherwise
manipulated. InIormation technology can reduce costs oI inIormation handling, increase
speed oI inIormation transIer and retrieval and increase customer involvement in the
control oI transactions. It has Ilexibility oI product speciIications and greater reliability oI
inIormation transIerred.

According to Tunkara 'in Iew other areas oI activity are the generation; gathering;
processing; application and communication oI inIormation are as important Ior day-to-
day operation as they are Ior the travel and tourism industry. The most important role oI
inIormation technology is the development oI competitive advantages by both reducing
cost and enhancing diIIerentiation. The most area that inIormation technology improves
tourism most are in Iour main areas, the delivery oI tourism services; tourism
management, marketing oI the industry; with the relationship between the producers,
destinations and consumers, tourists.

InIormation technology has radically altered the way in which inIormation is transmitted
throughout the tourism industry. Hence, it changes the way in which tourism services are
delivered. Because consumer expectations are rising rapidly, the move towards more
independent and Ilexible holidays away Irom package holidays, with the emergence oI a
computer literate generation, requires the service providers to Iind new ways to satisIy
tourists` needs. Thus, it oIIers new opportunities Ior inIormation technology and the
tourism industry.

Talking about the beneIits oI this in the industry we have airlines, tour operators, travel
agencies hotels; car rental, destinations and tourists who always need the inIormation.

Booking Ior your holiday or hotel reservation is now easier since you can do them online.

Equally payment can be done online by issuing credit cards and other means oI latest
remittance oI Iees or charges without stress like in Europe, where some people use
Eurostar system when they are travelling. You can search Ior all the airlines by going
through their websites beIore you Iinally make a choice. Also Irom a thousand miles you
can locate your destination when you are still at your doorstep.

IT has makes all this easier. The introduction oI IT in the Gambia has bring a lot oI
changes to the industry and it has tremendously exposed the country to the world tourism
market because majority oI people visiting the Gambia now get most oI their inIormation
about the country on the website.

InIormation technology has really brought big and tremendous changes to the industry
because using the technology has no limitation.` ThereIore talking about the impact oI
tourism in the Gambia, the country is gaining more.

For eIIective communication and customers attraction grand cable is the best. Wi-Ii is the
best Ior the hotels. Wi-Ii is the wireless access, wherever you are accommodated, you
can use your laptop, mobile phone, among others to log online and do your work as you
wish without qualm. This type oI service is in used at Kairaba Hotel and some hotels
across the country ,they were excellently installed by QuantumNet ,who always look Ior
new things in the world oI inIormation and communication technology.

Today, inIormation technology (IT) is one oI the important resources Ior increasing the
economic growth. It causes companies to use their input resources as much as possible in
an eIIective way. As investment in IT capital accounts Ior an ever-increasing share oI
capital investment, it is important to understand how these investments might pay.

Generally, there has been much debate on whether or not the investment in IT provides
improvements in productivity and business eIIiciencies. IT investment may make little
direct contribution to overall perIormance oI business industry until they are combined
with complementary investments in business activities, human capital, and company
restructuring.

ThereIore, according to role oI QuantumNet as IT Iacilitator and enabler, it is valuable
and advisable Ior companies to increase the impact oI IT on overall perIormance oI
companies. On the other word, your investment in ICT will not been in vain ,instead it
will improve productivity with good dividend.

Face oI consumerism through e-commerce has radically changed in the last Iew years.
Buying or selling through Internet and online shops depending on websites, has become
an ordinary part oI consumer liIe today. Higher expectations, less tolerance, more
demanding and choosy customers are becoming more common. Economic, social and
technological Iactors have created a highly competitive business environment in which
customers are becoming more powerIul, Turban and King (2003, p.25). The highly
proIessional search machines make this possible Ior them. E-Commerce is becoming a
steadily bigger part oI liIe without our realising it. To make e-commerce work well,
constant development and improvement oI adjoining Iunctions is necessary. E-commerce
solutions are varied, and seller, buyer compatibility with it is necessary to work with a
chosen one. Also it should be aIIordable Ior the provider. Online selling is the main
growth area Ior the Internet. Elegant sites, easy requirements, less cumbersome process,
more inIormation sharing, animation, attractive inIormation presented in the most
Iascinating ways are bases oI a sound e-commerce. E-commerce website should oIIer a
stimulating experience with reliable inIormation that could motivate the customer. Easy
Channelling and navigating the customers to Iull portIolio oI all necessary and essentially
correct inIormation is very important. Websites should be searchable, price should be
competitive and eShop inIormation should be easily available.
E-Commerce has brought revolutionary changes in tourism and hospitality industry.
Tourism as one oI the biggest industries is a natural partner oI Internet. It is a major
component oI most economies and community-based tourism is steadily increasing
popularity. Tourism also has potential to induce local development and increase the
income. It is essential to keep in mind the local environmental sensibilities. Applying the
concept oI e-commerce Ior tourism and hospitality has become the most natural outcome
in recent years.
Advantages are many. It Iacilitates local community access to tourism market and
minimises the Iinancial inIormation leakage. It links local communities and hospitality
industry directly with the tourists. It could help building up local Iinance along with the
national Ioreign exchange. It increases small enterprises by directly marketing the local
products and industries anywhere in the world. Local communities get a direct share in
the income while traditional cultures, social structures oI the hosts get appreciated and
extraordinary skills make a come back. Tourism and hospitality mainly depend on the
natural scenes and wildliIe, Ior which locals or governments need not spend much other
than maintaining them, along with eIIective hospitality Iacilities.
Tourism and hospitality industry are interlinked. The hospitality industry and leisure
industries are widely regarded as being extremely competitive and Iast moving. Given
this situation, it is hardly surprising that there are so many examples oI established
organizations acting entrepreneurially, according to Morison et al (2001, p. 68).
Hospitality is a booming industry all over the world today and through Internet, selling
their hotels, Iacilities oIIered, picturesque backgrounds, Iood, comIorts, cultural
attractions, social Iunctions, religious peculiarities are showcased without much expense
or diIIiculty. Tourists have all inIormation through search machines with the current data
and rates. They could directly talk, write, book and pay Ior their stay much in advance,
with all inIormation about reaching, being welcomed, how and where, meeting points,
weather, Iorecasts, dangers, attractions and day-today itineraries intact with them months
in advance. Availability oI souvenirs, Iood requirements, comIorts, access to religious
places, historical sites, internal travelling, places oI attraction, are all managed by people
at hospitality points. Trade opportunities, reservations, tickets, transport, instantaneous
inIormation about any place nearby are provided through hotels.
Travellers pay up Iront Ior travel services and in exchange Ior cash they receive all the
Iacilities. Tourists and business travellers come Irom all over the world on visits and
holidays. Once they have arrived they have to be able to pay Ior the goods and services
which they require. This is done by creating a market in Ioreign currencies operated by
the worlds` banks who are prepared to buy and sell currencies on behalI oI their
customers, Messenger and Shaw, (1993, p.232). Internet can oIIer buyer-seller
inIormation, eliminate expenses, improve business, and can give clear location details,
with other much needed competitive and quality inIormation. Through Hospitality
industry, it develops economies, improves trade competitiveness, expands scope and
arena, and Iacilitates people to have direct access to the marketing destinations. The
marketing process, as indicated earlier, begins with customers. SpeciIically, process starts
with a particular group oI customers, oIten called the target market, Hsu and Powers
(2002, p. 4).
It monitors, evaluates, creates Iaster transactions, empowers the participating
communities, makes inIormation interchangeable through organised and Ilexible web
services. It builds up visions, motivates people to venture into Iar oII destinations,
popularises hotels, inns, and serviced apartments. It romanticizes castles and palaces
changed into hotels, privately owned villas, sells properties or lets them out Ior the
season, Iamiliarizes the tourists with other alternatives like accommodative Iarms Ior real
and actual local liIe. Thinking clearly, using and analysing the best inIormation available,
synthesizing and evaluating it, explicating and articulating are what the real world is all
about, says Lewis, 1999, p. xxviii).
Does that mean that there are no disadvantages at all in applying E-Commerce into
Hospitality Industry? Yes, there are many. It gives unnecessary and complete personal
inIormation oI the tourist, which might not be appreciated in an underdeveloped part oI
the world. A gay man going into a rural area with his partner could create unIortunate
situations in that society where gays and lesbians could be a rarity. It gives inIormation
like home addresses, telephone numbers to all people, who might venture into misusing
them in Iuture in some way or other. It could give easy access to all inIormation to
terrorists. It could spread terrorism and violence by providing inIormation about the
possible targets and their travelling. InIormation gone into Internet becomes public
property. ConIidentiality is never maintained in such cases and this could result in
potential danger Ior tourists. It can create suitable atmosphere Ior killing, vengeance,
robbery, stealing, waylaying, kidnapping and other criminal activities. It is Ioolish to
expect that the inIormation given would be kept conIidential. With a vast number oI
people working on the internet, having access to the same data, and data being transIerred
all the time, tourists become sitting ducks to violence. Hospitality industry itselI could be
a target like in Bali.
Hospitality industry has to be thoroughly aware oI its own labour market and its
problems. It should not happen that there would be an eruption oI unhappiness when
tourists arrive, because the data could be used against the industry itselI. Labour markets
run on inIormation, but they are invariably less than perIect mechanisms. What both
buyers and sellers are leIt with is their perceptions and assumptions oI supply and
demand, Riley, (1991, p.7).
More inIormation leads to more inIlux oI tourists that might result in environmental
imbalance and deprivation oI local livelihood, creating a long-term crisis Ior locals. Over
usage oI Iacilities and nature, historical and heritage spots could result in their perpetual
degradation. The eco-sensitivity oI the region is oI paramount importance. It can also
result in a Ialse and temporary market Ior goods, which might plummet down as the
tourism season vanishes. Over popularising the area could result in local diIIiculties, iI it
is unprepared Ior welcoming hoards oI tourists. II the culture is a hostile one, it could
neither be comIortable Ior the hosts nor the guests. GloriIication oI Iacts could result in
disillusionment oI tourists. Their content bears little relevance to either the realities oI
work experience in the industry or actual labour management practices, Wood (1992, p.
2).