| Title: | Platformization in Tourism : Typology of Business Models, Evolution of Market Concentration and European Regulation Responses |
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| Authors: | ID Turnšek, Maja (Author)
ID Radivojević, Vladimir (Author) |
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| Files: |  Turnsek_2024_Platformization_in_Tourism.pdf (1,55 MB)
MD5: ECA5C585291E3600B09B01E97F545639
 https://doi.org/10.3390/platforms3010001
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Scientific work |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: | FT - Faculty of Tourism
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| Abstract: | The paper serves to discuss the evolution of platform business models in tourism, the dynamics of market concentration, and regulatory interventions. We present the historical timeline of digitalization in tourism distribution models, starting from the Global Distribution Systems (GDS), and continuing with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and their market concentration in the duopoly of Expedia Group versus Booking Holdings Group. We continue to discuss the slow, yet uncertain, breaking of the global duopoly in the travel platforms market. On the one hand, the duopoly is challenged from the “bottom up”, where Airbnb is the most successful example, riding on the wave of popularity of the ideals of the “sharing economy” and the aftermaths of the 2008 global financial crisis. On the other hand, the duopoly is challenged from the “top down”—the most powerful digital players have started to extend their operations to tourism. The second section of the paper identifies three current areas of platformization in tourism operations—distribution, promotion and HRM. We analyze available industry and public statistics indicators in Europe for each of the three dimensions. Finally, we discuss the regulatory responses to the market concentration of travel distribution platforms. Although the challenge of market concentration is a global issue, and the threats are the same in many countries, we limit the discussion of regulation to the European context. In conclusion we discuss the possibilities of future development, and point to the threat of the further acceleration and interconnection of platformization and market concentration in the travel business. |
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| Keywords: | travel platforms, market concentration regulation, online travel agencies, Global Distribution Systems, Expedia, Booking.com, Airbnb, Tripadvisor, Google Travel, algorithmic management |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 31.10.2024 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 03.01.2025 |
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| Publication date: | 08.01.2025 |
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| Publisher: | MDPI |
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| Year of publishing: | 2025 |
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| Number of pages: | Str. 1-19 |
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| Numbering: | Letn. 3, št. 1, št. članka 1 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DKUM-93485  |
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| UDC: | 338.48 |
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| ISSN on article: | 2813-4176 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 221985795 |
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| DOI: | 10.3390/platforms3010001 |
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| Publication date in DKUM: | 14.10.2025 |
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| Views: | 259 |
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| Downloads: | 17 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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| Categories: | Misc.
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