Intel develops solution for tourism companies

The service, called "Amazing i-Business for SME", offers computer hardware, broadband Internet, Web hosting, an e-marketing training course, and access to Google AdWords and other Google applications.

Intel Microelectronics (Thailand) country manager Accharas Ouysinprasert said the collaboration aims to enable SMEs in the tourism industry to leverage the Internet to improve their marketing strategies and to create new value-added services. The project targets all tourism businesses, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, spas and souvenir shops.

Under the collaboration, Intel will provide computers assembled by its 77 resellers located across the country, TT&T will provide broadband Internet connections, TAT will conduct the e-marketing training course and Google will provide the e-marketing tools to participants.

"It is a comprehensive programme for helping SMEs establish an Internet-corner service or an in-room Internet service for their customers. This can not only help generate new business but also increase revenues," Accharas said.

All computers under the campaign are powered by Intel Core 2 Duo processors with Intel Platform Administration Technology 4.0 to enable manageability functions for network management.

TAT deputy governor for policy and planning Surapol Svetsreni said the move will enable the tourism industry to generate new business through the Web, and will also encourage companies to develop their own websites and leverage e-marketing as a key business tool to attract more tourists, especially foreigners.

"Going online is the latest trend in the tourism industry. Most tourists use the Internet to arrange trips. Thus, Thai tourism businesses have to adopt new technologies to enhance their competitiveness. Each year, about 16 million tourists from all across the world visit Thailand. Most of them plan their trips online, usually searching for desired packages and destinations on Google. Therefore, e-marketing becomes an important marketing tool for these businesses," Surapol said.

All participants will be given training by Google, free of charge, on how to advertise through Google AdWords in order to reach potential customers internationally. Participants will also be able to use Google Apps to operate e-mail, calendar, communication, word processing and website-development applications.

Accharas said the project aims to assist about 5,000 tourism operators in 20 provinces in enhancing their business competitiveness through this collaboration by the end of the year.