The impact of the Internet on the distribution value chain - The case of the South African tourism industry

The Internet is an important new channel for commerce in a wide range of in dustries. While the opportunities afforded by this phenomenon seem readily apparent, there ? still much debate and speculation on exactly how the use of the Internet and in particular the World Wide Web will affect establishe d industries. In this article we analyse the value chain of the tourism ind ustry, using as a case study the tourism industry in South Africa. Specific ally, we examine the roles played by intermediaries in the distribution cha in and explore the threats and opportunities that the emergence of the Inte rnet, and other associated trends, present for the industry. Based on this, a profile is made for successful new intermediaries and, finally, we asses s the implications of this profile on the control of the electronic channel .