Internet Marketing for Tourism

The Big Three Online Travel Sites are losing market share to direct
online booking. Much like the shift from travel agents to the online
environment, as travellers get more savvy, perhaps they are realizing
that the best rates are to be found with direct booking with airlines
and hotels. Over the past 6 months my personal travel planning has
saved me as much as 30% over advertised rates at Expedia, Orbitz,
and/or Travelocity.

Online traffic at "the big 3" was down 14% year-over-year in February.
Traffic to Expedia decreased by 21%, Orbitz was down 17%
year-over-year and traffic for Travelocity declined 7%.

All the while, total online bookings is up, up, up.

Traffic growth to supplier sites was up 3% year-over- year in
February, with leading hotel sites like Marriott International, Hilton
Hotels and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide up roughly 13%, and
leading air supplier sites such as Southwest Airlines, Delta, American
and United up 4%, slightly outpacing the industry.

Online booking tools that are easy for individual operators to
impliment are the current hot item for growing your business online.