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Technology (IT) developments over the past two decades have
revolutionized the functioning of business all over the
world. Its impacts have been most felt in the information
dependent industries. Tourism is one such industry. This
article examines the penetration of Information Technology
in Indian Tourism Industry. It has been found that the country
does not lag behind in IT developments from rest of the
world yet evidence suggests that its acceptance in the industry
is slow. The entrepreneurs and managers are aware about
facilities available and their benefits yet doubt the appropriateness
of systems for their purposes. A number of apprehensions
seem to cloud their perception. Even the fact that businesses
in other countries have experienced the same has little
impact and a cautious approach is adopted in acceptance
of IT. The study has found differences in usage of IT and
attitudes towards it depending upon size of organizations.
Large companies were more open to its use and cited need
and affordability to be the main reasons for the same. In
case of smaller companies even the low cost access to Internet
and on-line systems was viewed as an expensive investment.
However all the surveyed travel agencies were open to the
use of IT if other barriers of high cost, lack of trained
manpower and little financing facilities could be removed.
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