Tourism Portal

A case study on Assam Tourism Development Corporation

Organization Overview

Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), the apex body for promoting tourism in Assam. ATDC runs several hospitality services (Stay in hotels) in major tourist centers of Assam. It also has a number of tourist information offices within Assam and in other States. ATDC's drive for computerization of services was to extend the facility of online booking to tourists to improve the occupancy of its lodges as well as to accommodate tourist's requirements, Collation and dissemination of key information to various levels of management both to monitor and aid decision making thus improving the overall efficiency of ATDC.

Problem

ATDC has a total of 5 offices, 8 information centers, 142 rooms and about 20 dormitories all these were to be connected so that tourist's may access all the services and carry out their transactions over the Internet. Application software has to be developed, connectivity had to be established between all the information points, hardware and networking facilities had to be provided. In all, it's a classic end-to-end solution involving all aspects from Hardware, Software, Networking and Training.

Solution

Pioneer provided an end to end integrated solution including Solution Consulting, Hardware, Software, Networking and Training services. The solution was firmed after an exhaustive system study and analysis as part of the consultancy.

Pioneer offered an integrated solution using OSI-Reference Model, which divides the system into manageable layers consisting of Data-transfer layer, Networking layer, Database layer, Application layer, and Presentation layer. This approach has the merits of dividing the work into logically integral and manageable proportions of pieces. By dividing the problem into logically distinct pieces, different experts can work together in arriving at the optimal solution. The fundamental aspect of the layered approach is that there is common agreement about the protocol to be followed at the boundaries of the layers; but as long as this protocol is followed, what happens within a layer does not affect other layers.

Pioneer built a platform using which not only ATDC operators but even the private operators can make the best use of the application with a joint venture approach. The primary reasons for this are, firstly ATDC is the apex body to promote tourism in Assam, not merely intended to build its revenues through its lodges; Secondly, since ATDC is already investing in building a platform, the private parties can participate in it for a far lesser amount at the same time allowing ATDC to recoup some of its investment in the platform.

ATDC portal consequently will get transformed into Assam Tourism Market Place allowing participation of private parties on both the supply and demand sites. This is quite appropriate because a body like ATDC alone can make such a market place a success, and using technology, the efficiencies of the industry will increase manifold.

The solution was well equipped with the communication, presentation and reporting layers both for the management as well as the operators.

Advantages

• One stop information service for tourists
• Single window clearance
• Improved efficiency and better customer service
• Optimum occupancy rate
• Maximum utilization of resources
• Increased revenues with private operators also contributing to the cause
• Effective communication and 24x7x365 access
• Cut down mis-utilization of resources and effective decision making