The popularity of the Internet changes the way the travel business is conducted, changing the patterns of traditional distribution of tourism services and products. The Internet represents a tool for travel agencies but can also be a powerful weapon against the traditional distribution. The process of breaking the usual distribution channels is known as disintermediation. Nowadays, in the travel industry, the majority of the travel agencies and tour operators have developed into “brick-and-click” organizations – traditional operators who expanded into the e-commerce area, named cybermediaries. The competition between travel intermediaries is based on the need to reach the clients as directly and fast as possible, and the Internet comes to fulfill this issue. Suppliers attempt to use the Internet as a device to promote their products and services directly to end-users and thus try to avoid the commissions paid to intermediaries.

tourism distribution channels, travel industry, Internet, travel agencies, disintermediation.