Hyde's comments come at a time when a number of Canadian travel agencies and tour operators are getting ready to join the airlines, hotel companies and tourist offices that are already on the Internet. The rush to the Internet is giving jitters to less progressive agencies who are not yet ready to move into the age of electronic marketing and selling. One of the retail agents' biggest fears is that mass-market tour operators could use the Internet to take direct bookings. That would allow them to save money by cutting out travel agency commissions. Theoretically, it could happen.
Many travelers currently select their annual .
Soon those brochures will be available electronically-complete with visuals or even moving pictures. That means some people will make their holiday plans seated in front of the home computer. By their very nature, tour packages are straight forward. A single price covers flight, hotel, transfers and sometimes even meals and activities. That leaves little room for input from a travel counsellor once a decision has been made.