The number of intermediaries between travel providers and travellers is reducing according to an online travel study by PricewaterhouseCoopers. New types of websites such as "Infomediaries" sites (price comparison sites, information sites...) continues to see their audience increasing, leading to a rethink of the economic model of online travel agencies.
PricewaterhouseCoopers expects the consolidation and the disintermediation of the travel sector will follow.
Overall the online travel market continues to increase its share of the overall travel market. Online bookings are expected to increase by 0.6% in Europe in 2009, albeit the recession that sees the travel sector is shrinking by 10% overall. In an economic crisis, the internet allows travellers to search for the best bargains, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The European online travel market is expected to recover after the crisis, with a 15% annual growth, according to the research by PricewaterhouseCoopers that was carried out between July and October 2009 in France, Germany and the UK. (L'ECHO TOURISTIQUE, December 2009)
