Opportunities and problems of using information technologies in the tourism and recreation

Abstract

The influence of information technologies on tourism and recreation activities is studied. The conditions of functioning of the tourist services market in modern conditions are determined. The article shows that the possibilities of the Internet have contributed to the emergence of new ways of doing business. The peculiarities of using SMM marketing for the promotion of tourist services are revealed. The specifics of the use of computer technologies in the fields of hospitality, transport services, tourist mediation, entertainment, etc. are analyzed. The creation and development of the most powerful company in online booking, Booking.com, is shown in historical retrospect. Using the example of the tire manufacturer Michelin, the article identifies how the advertising company turned from the distribution of travel guides into a highly profitable business and became the basis for the development of gastronomic tourism in its modern sense. The advantages of using information technologies for travelers and service providers are considered, including a significant expansion of search and offer possibilities, and choice, as well as significant cost savings in the payment of commissions to intermediaries, advertising, marketing, etc. Cases of abuse by travel service providers are presented. The main obstacle to the development of e-tourism is the low level of cybersecurity. The article notes that all the countries of the world, which have come under the influence of e-tourism, are working in various ways to strengthen the security of consumers. The necessity of conducting a comparative analysis of the benefits and costs of tourist activities for territories is emphasized.