The trend of multisided platforms (MSPs) in the travel industry: reintermadiation of travel agencies (TAs) and global distribution systems (GDSs)
Journal of Tourism Futures, vol.6, no.3, pp.271-279, 2020 (ESCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 6 Issue: 3
- Publication Date: 2020
- Doi Number: 10.1108/jtf-10-2019-0121
- Journal Name: Journal of Tourism Futures
- Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, CAB Abstracts, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Page Numbers: pp.271-279
- Keywords: Distribution channels, Intermediaries, Disintermediation, Travel agency, Multisided platforms (MSPs), Global distribution system (GDSs), COMMERCE
- Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the remarkable trend of multisided platforms (MSPs) in the travel industry with the help of which travel agencies (TAs) and global distribution systems (GDSs) can reinforce their intermediary roles. Orthodox TAs face the threats of disintermediation because of the ever faster-changing developments in information and communication technologies, such as the emergence of metasearch engines, online travel agencies, direct bookings on airline websites and the widespread of mobile applications for travel related bookings. GDSs face similar threats of disintermediation from low-cost carriers and legacy carriers, as these carriers promote and encourage direct bookings via their official websites or via the new distribution capability.