Online Booking Increasingly Is Way to Go

Last week, the California Division of Tourism, under pressure from travel agents and tour operators, placed a 60-day moratorium on its Internet and telephone program that allowed travelers to make their own reservations.

But a new report, released Saturday by the Travel Industry Assn. of America, shows that millions of people are making travel arrangements online. Revenue from online reservations tripled last year to $827 million, and will balloon to $4.7 billion by 2000, according to the report, “Travel and Interactive Technology: A Five-Year Outlook.”

Airline tickets accounted for nearly 90% of sales and will continue to be the leading travel-related product sold on the Internet. Other travel components, such as hotel and car rental bookings, are growing rapidly.

While most bookings will be made by Americans, the fastest growth among those making their own leisure and business travel plans online is expected to occur in Europe and Asia. The report acknowledges that with so many more people making their own reservations, traditional travel agents will “feel the pinch.”

That’s the point being made by businesses fighting the state’s new program. Their advocate, Coranne Gibson, who owns an Orange travel agency, also is president of the California Coalition of Travel Organizations, a statewide representative of travel groups.

The state’s Division of Tourism will offer a report that includes more input from those small travel businesses affected by the program.

Daryl Strickland covers tourism and small and minority business issues for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-5670, and at daryl.strickland@latimes.com