GOTHERE is a large central multimedia database populated with tourist information and with the electronic versions of major tour operators' brochures. Each travel agency participating in the project received a local PC with modem and a colour printer to allow agents to browse multimedia brochures and to print selected subsets of information, thereby configuring a personalized brochure for each customer. Additionally, a self-service multimedia kiosk with access to the same database with a modified user interface was installed in selected travel agencies and in some public places to test the acceptance of such a system.
GOTHERE's implementation and exploitation represented an added value from the perception of the travel agencies and promoted growth in the Tourism industry. This was particularly important for the EU member countries represented in the project as tourism is one of the most important sources of revenue for these countries.
GOTHERE achieved the following objectives:
- converted the perceived threat of the Internet into a source of competitive advantage for the travel agencies,
- demonstrated the achievable cost reductions in information dissemination by introducing the concept of the electronic multimedia catalogue with on-site printing capabilities,
- improved the existing 'last-minute offer' distribution system,
- improved personnel productivity and reduced training costs for the travel agencies through the introduction of specialized browsing and package-selection software,
- generated a baseline on the issues related to multimedia introduction in the tourism business value chain,
- obtained detailed information on the tourists' response to multimedia self-service terminals,
- tested the advantages of multimedia systems as a tool for the promotion of tourism sponsored by the public administrations,
- created a framework of multimedia tourist information that can be easily used for the creation and promotion of cultural tourism packages.
Project URL : http://www.gothere.org