Applications of Logistics and Supply Chain Management in Travel and Tourism Industry

Lakshmi. G.
School of Management Studies CUSAT, Kochi - 22 E-mail:get_lakshmi165@yahoo.com
Abstract: Logistics is the driving force of Development of today's industry. Modern logistics industry to the tourism industry has a certain role in safeguarding and promoting the tourism industry six elements in the food, shelter, transportation, travel, shopping and entertainment are all embody the contact with the objects. Thus, the modern logistics Technology to go into the tourism industry is bound to promote the development of tourism. So as the Supply Chain Management, From Information management, process management, capacity management, performance management and tourism co-design aspects of transportation, supply chain describes the operation of tourism services; that the establishment of effective tourism service supply chain can promote the Development of tourism Industry and to enhance tourism the competitiveness of enterprises. Key Words: Logistics, Modern logistics, Tourism industry, Supply chain management, service supply chain, Travel services revelation, Tourism supply chain management (TSCM).

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1. General Information

Logistics is the management of the flow of the goods, information and other resources in a repair cycle between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet the requirements of customers. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and occasionally security. Logistics is a channel of the supply chain which adds the value of time and place utility. Building a

responsive, integrated supply chain that operates in real-time with suppliers, partners and customers is a highly complex proposition that requires a unique combination of consulting, technology and services skills. An integrated information system providing value added logistical services on travel and tourism. This system will be focused on providing decision support to the users on a threefold basis: i) access to real time, dynamically updated information, ii) access to travel and tourism information on the move, and iii) provision of customized information. Travelers, whether leisure -tourists- or business travelers will want on top of the attractions that a given destination offers, a fast, flexible, and convenient transport mean(s) to reach it, as well as local weather information, accommodation options and availability, recreational and cultural activities and other value added information services.

2.0. Logistics
As the industrial Structure of the high-class, global economic integration, the tourism industry is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Professional logistics companies can not only provide cargo transportation, distribution, circulation and processing of physical services, but also provide logistics solutions design, logistics Information system management, intangible services, relative to the production process, the modern logistics industry to create the time value of and space value is an important component of product value. In respect of the tourism industry, tourism is the way people use their leisure time, traveling across space. Therefore, logistics to the tourism industry also has a certain degree of protection and facilitating role.

2.1. Modern Logistics Industry

Modern logistics Industry is the driving force of Economic Development of today's industry. Modern logistics industry is in the national economy of the arterial system, for other industries to provide more comprehensive and diversified services.

2.2. Modern Logistics and Tourism - Industrial Relations

Modern logistics industry and the tourism industry, in essence, there is a certain degree of commonality and differences. Similarities between the two determines the close ties between them at the same time that the modern logistics industry can have a certain role in promoting the tourism industry, determine the difference between the two they have not integrated side, by identifying the differences between them, and adopt coping strategies in order to create conditions for truly become a modern logistics industry, tourism development, power and protection. The tourism industry of tourism enterprises is increasing profits is to maximize the effectiveness of the tourists, so regardless of the logistics business, or tourism enterprises, the interests of the two to be the essence of survival. Logistics through the integration of Transportation and large-scale objects can reduce transportation costs. The purpose of modern logistics is to complete the kind of products from producer to consumer in the flow of an object to overcome the obstacles to mobility in the process of space and time

barriers, and tourism will have to complete the tourists from the origin to the destination of the displacement, both of which can be Choose planes, trains, automobiles, ships, etc. as a means of transport, which constitute the elements of the common means of transport. Modern logistics is the physical product flow and storage of the planning, implementation and control of the entire process. The tourism is for tourists from the point of origin to destination and the residence time of the planning and implementation process. From an abstract point of view, logistics and tourism is mainly transported goods are mainly transported and that they are using vehicles to transport objects from the origin transported to the destination, the completion of the transport object location on the transfer process. The differences between the modern logistics and tourism are - The difference service level requirements, the differences in modes of transport demand, Supply and demand in the direction of differences.

2.3. Logistics role in promoting the Tourism Industry

Tourism is a process, which runs through the main body of tourism - tourists, tourism, intermediary - tour operators travel agents as the core business, and tourism objects , with the performance of passenger traffic - tourists travel routes and arrangements, information tourism development planning, marketing, and logistics -material supply and distribution, unity. Six elements of the tourism industryy Food, y Housing, y Transportation, y Travel, y Shopping and y Entertainment Of which row and swim as the core and periphery from food, housing, shopping and entertainment formed support elements and the formation of large-scale systems. People's demand for tourism products would constitute a tourism economic activities, namely tourism economy refers to the development of the full development of commodity economy based on tourism activities took the form of market exchange formed by a variety of economic phenomena and the sum of economic activity, it by the tourists and the tourism product operators of mutual constitute. Tourism products identified from the qualitative aspects of tourism activities in the tourism product is consumed in a variety of physical goods and services combined, which consists of tourism resources, tourism facilities, tourist souvenirs, travel services and other elements of composition. Following are the six elements from the tourism industry to clarify the role of logistics. y 'Fresh' so that visitors relish. Food is a cultural, Almost all tourist attractions, there is always food eponymous exist side by side, attracting tourists. Now a lot of tour operators, through their own resources in order to specialty cuisine

to attract tourists have become a major tour operators highlight the process. This will request the supply of these foods. Logistics in the distribution, circulation, processing, handling, packaging and other functions preservation of food is able to play a role, the use of modern logistics to improve the efficiency of goods transport. 'Live' so that visitors on the file to upgrade. 'Live' main address is the tourists in the tourist accommodation for the course, each of tourists want to travel during their stay to enjoy the comfortable environment, which will be made to the hotel a higher demand. From the hotel's original construction, to the hotel will be put into use and Modern Logistics has maintained close ties. Early in the hotel building, transportation of raw materials is inseparable from the construction of modern logistics, which will greatly reduce processing time to ensure timely supply of raw materials. 'OK' Let visitors safe and comfortable. Tourists from the point of origin to destination, from destination to the original starting point of the process is 'OK' in the process, in this process, visitors must not do without means of transport, cars, trains, ships, aircraft will be with the is closely related to the travel of tourists. In the process of tourist travel, whether on foot or riding public transport, the road had to allow tourists to feel safe and comfortable. Logistics and the tourists 'line' has played a role in advance, tourists and transport facilities in the carrier under construction are completed in the logistics. Perhaps you did not notice that in the absence of these logistics support activities, visitors travel process is difficult to accomplish. Because the 'OK' throughout the entire travel process, only the line was so that tourists could access to other tourist areas, 'OK' is built on the basis of logistics, which allows every visitor to Experience the 'OK' value for. 'You' Let visitors Liulianwangfan. Travel during the most important aspect is the 'tour', because each visitor trips are aimed at 'tour' of the pleasant tour through the travel is always a process, starting from the tourists get on public transport, tourists began to the travel process. It can be said of logistics in the process of travel embodied in a more comprehensive and tourism in each element are under the influence of travel in order to reflect their value, food, housing, transportation, purchase, entertaining, are inseparable from the Tour , but also inseparable from the modern logistics as safeguard. 'Buy' so that visitors a rewarding experience. Shopping can increase the sense of satisfaction of tourists in the tourism process, but also tourism operators to obtain a major source of profits. Whether it is to eat with, or travel souvenirs, visitors will be buying on the part of the gift, or friend, or the Retention for personal use, manufacturers took advantage of customers such as shopping psychology, will be a large number of local specialties, or national best name Special merchandise display to the visitors in front. Of logistics for the supply of these items has provided a guarantee, from the initial processing of materials, to finishing, to packaging, transportation and sale of all embodies the role of logistics. It can be said to compete in the modern enterprise, which made full use of logistics will come to take the lead to seize the business opportunities, tourism and business is no exception.

'Entertainment', to make rich and colorful tourist activities. The course in tourism visitors often want more entertainment, many tourist sites are built recreational facilities and activities will be held from time to time in order to attract more visitors to, especially in the tourist season, such as art exhibitions, flower show and various performances. Natural art exhibition, flower show, the preparation of a variety of performances, such as props, all kinds of equipment, exhibits and other related things to ensure timely and good quality to be transported to designated locations in order to protect the business activities carried out smoothly. For example, the flower show, the logistics operators in that message need to quickly get from the flowers, flower vendors, of course, cannot simply be flowers directly to the destination, but in the flowers during transport of flowers to please someone conservation, to ensure the perfect flowers.

3.0 Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management encompasses the planning and management of all activities involved in sourcing and procurement, conversion, and all logistics management activities. Importantly, it also includes coordination and collaboration with channel partners, which can be suppliers, intermediaries, third party service providers, and customers. In essence, supply chain management integrates supply and demand management within and across companies. Supply chain management is an integrating function with primary responsibility for linking major business functions and business processes within and across companies into a cohesive and high-performing business model. It includes all of the logistics management activities noted above, as well as manufacturing operations, and it drives coordination of processes and activities with and across marketing, sales, product design, finance, and information technology.

3.1. Service Supply Chain for Travel Services Enlightenment

Based on the supply chain and service supply chain understanding, Travel services described in the tourism supply chain applications. From Information management, process management, capacity management, performance management and tourism co-design aspects of transportation, supply chain describes the operation of tourism services; that the establishment of effective tourism service supply chain can promote the Development of tourism Industry and to enhance tourism the competitiveness of enterprises. There are number of tourism enterprises in recent years, increasing year by year, but our tourism enterprises, especially small-scale, most of the problems on the existing system, enterprises lack strategic guidance among enterprises more than a "price war" in the form of disorder, vicious competition. According to the understanding of the service supply chain, consider the integration of tourism resources to collaborate, to travel from the beginning to the end of each step or the scientific coordination of travel itinerary, and expect to increase the competitiveness of tourism enterprises and the promotion of tourism.

3.2. A service supply chain concept

Service products to meet the different needs of customers, the uncertainty of customer demand and the perishable, so the role of information management is critical, it relates to corporate decision-making analysis. The entire service process management is the key to supply chain operations by coordinating all aspects of the work, to achieve the purpose of seamless service interface. Ability to manage the service supply chain services to all businesses with effective management to ensure on time and quantity of each company to complete their tasks is to maintain efficient operation of the fundamental supply chain. Service performance in the short term though is invisible, but it is related to the business can long survive a major factor. Use of existing material and information resources, effective analysis of market demand, to design a good service supply chain to supply chain management is of great significance.

3.3. The service supply chain services, travel services revelation

It is mainly used in the concept of supply chain logistics industry, but its services through the coordination of all aspects of the concept of integration of the value added by the development of the service sector played a significant enlightening. With the people's living standards improve, the tourism industry developed rapidly, the number of tourist travel is also increasing every year. People through tourism and hope to relax on the basis for knowledge, to gain something, which require reasonable travel arrangements. Travel the way, there are independent travel and tourism, with the tour group. If it is a comparatively new city, for the convenience and safety, most people will choose to travel, so the role of travel agencies is critical. Information management needs of customers involved in tourism services, and customers to participate in the hope that the demand be met. Therefore, a clear customer demand is the most important and most difficult part. Information Management primarily by information collection, processing and handling components. The purpose of information management to make decisions for the business and lay a good foundation. Information management application in the tourism services that customers want to know the main purpose of this trip or travel theme, visit the cultural landscape is to understand history, culture, or visit the main attractions and the city's famous commercial centers, etc. . These are very specific requirements. Information management is mainly based on customer requirements and design the best itinerary. Information management is another important role in the supply chain of travel services to ensure the sharing of information each node to ensure seamless service interface, which requires enterprises to respond rapidly to customer requirements (QR). Sharing of information between enterprises reasonable decision for the travel agencies is very important. Process management process management Structure is a kind of standardized business processes end to end as the center of excellence, to continually improve the organization's business performance for the purpose of a systematic approach to meet customer needs for

process analysis , resource allocation, scheduling, quality and efficiency of the process evaluation, process optimization, the sum of a series of operations. Travel services supply chain in the actual operation of the process, process management should vary with changes in customer needs and environmental changes to improve and optimize. Therefore, the enterprises should pay attention to customer requirements, timely adjustment process, ensure that all the seamless service interface.

3.4. Tourism supply chain management: A new research agenda

SCM in the manufacturing industry has attracted widespread research interest over the past two decades, whereas studies of SCM in the tourism industry are very limited. Stakeholders in the tourism industry interact with each other to resolve their divergent business objectives across different operating systems. The potential benefit of considering not only individual enterprises but also the tourism value chain becomes evident. The paper examines the characteristics of tourism products, and identifies and explores core issues and concepts in tourism supply chains (TSCs) and tourism supply chain management (TSCM). Although there is an emerging literature on TSCM or its equivalents, progress is uneven, as most research focuses on distribution and marketing activities without fully considering the whole range of different suppliers involved in the provision and consumption of tourism products. This paper provides a systematic review of current tourism studies from the TSCM perspective and develops a framework for TSCM research that should be of great value not only to those who wish to extend their research into this new and exciting area, but also to tourism and hospitality decision makers. The paper also identifies key research questions in TSCM worthy of future theoretical and empirical exploration.

4.0. Conclusion
Tourism enterprises will be outsourcing of logistics and distribution services are conducive to better focus and enhance core competitiveness. In the 21st century, changes in the business environment have contributed to the development of supply chain networks. First, as an outcome of globalization, Second, technological changes, particularly the dramatic fall in information communication costs, which are a significant component of transaction costs, have led to changes in coordination among the members of the supply chain network. On top of the problems recognized in supply chain management, there will be many more challenges when the scope of supply chains is global. Supply chain management enables companies to improve their overall competencies in the same way that outsourced manufacturing and distribution has done; it allows them to focus on their core competencies and assemble networks of specific, best-in-class partners to contribute to the overall value chain itself, thereby increasing overall performance and efficiency.

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