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Distribution channel, tourism

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Encyclopedia of Tourism

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A tourism distribution channel is a network of intermediaries that facilitates the sales and delivery of products and services specifically related to tourism from suppliers to consumers (Buhalis and Laws 2001; Kracht and Wang 2010; Longhi 2009). Tourism distribution channels can be distinguished from the ones of tangible goods in that goods are conveyed to consumers whereas tourists, in most cases, are conveyed to the products and/or services they purchase and consume (Buhalis and Laws 2001).

Evolution of tourism distribution channels

The information and communication technology has facilitated the evolution of tourism distribution channels. This evolution has involved the introduction of additional layers and categories of emerging intermediaries, which has transformed the structure of tourism distribution channels into an increasingly complex one.

A milestone in the evolution of the structure of tourism distribution channels occurred in 1993 when the commercialization of the...

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References

  • Buhalis, D., and E. Laws 2001 Tourism Distribution Channels: Practices, Issues and Transformations. London: Continuum.

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  • Buhalis, D., and P. O’Connor 2005 Information Communication Technology Revolutionizing Tourism. Tourism Recreation Research 30(3):7-16.

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  • Kracht, J., and Y. Wang 2010 Examining the Tourism Distribution Channels: Evolution and Transformation. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management 22:736-757.

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  • Longhi, C. 2009 Internet and Organization of the Industry in Tourism: A Focus on the Distribution of Travel and Tourism Services. International Journal of Leisure and Tourism Marketing 1(2):131-151.

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  • Werthner, H., and S. Klein 1999 Information Technology and Tourism – A Challenging Relationship. Vienna: Springer.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida, 9907 Universal Blvd., Orlando, 32819, USA

    Youcheng Wang & John Kracht

Authors
  1. Youcheng Wang
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  2. John Kracht
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Correspondence to Youcheng Wang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Hospitality Leadership, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin, USA

    Jafar Jafari

  2. School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

    Honggen Xiao

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© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Wang, Y., Kracht, J. (2014). Distribution channel, tourism. In: Jafari, J., Xiao, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Tourism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_60-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_60-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-01669-6

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