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ABSTRACT
Online Travel Management system is a web-based application that allows travelers check for bus ticket availability, book a ticket, book a hotel and also hire a car. At Faith Motors, the traditional method of travel management system is presently in use which involved the use of papers for storing traveller’s information. With this method there is always long queue, loss of data, incomplete traveller’s information and inaccuracy. An online Travel management system was implemented for Faith Motors to solve the existing problems. Tools such as MySQL, PHP and WAMP server were used to develop the online travel management system.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
With the rapid advancement of internet based technology, online booking services has come as a great relief to most bus travellers. Most bus travelling agencies as well as other companies that are engaged in bus travelling business now have on their website online bus ticketing booking portals. From this web page one can easily book and pay for bus tickets online. Travel management system (TMS) is an online system which utilizes the advantages of the internet to provide travel services ranging from bus tickets ton conveyance and hotel booking for customers from their homes. TMS provides a simple web interface to make the travel request and services booking process easy. All users have access to a web form to book their travel in a few mouse clicks. Booking transportation online with TMS saves one from a lot of difficulties and waste of money. Customers will not have to go all the way to the travel company, wait in long queues and wait for the travel agent to inform them about the available bus and fares. Ordinarily if the passengers wants a pick and drop services from the bus stop to the hotel, the agent may charge exorbitant fees for all the transportations that will be provided during the passengers stay in the desired destination. Sometimes, the transportation provided in such cases is not the one that was promised, and sometimes it is simply not available, which is a very frustrating situation. As the result of the survey conducted, due to the intense number of human traffic, purchasing a bus ticket manually is not merely a ten or twenty minutes task, but in fact, it can even takes up
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Prior to the invention of the internet, the only option for travellers was to sought out travel agents or book bus seating, car rental and hotel accommodation through the operator, this manual system which is being carried out by Faith Motors transport company has the following problems: i. The manual system requires the passenger to contact the company’s travel agent, go to their office and wait for their turn just to get information about travel times and charges. ii. There is risk of not getting the transportation which was promised or it not being available at all. This can cause a huge problem. iii. If a passenger decides to buy travel tickets and arrange for the needed transportations at the spot every time they travel, buses may not be available. iv. Pick and drop service from the company’s park to the hotel will cost even more in addition to the transport cost of the actual trip.
1.3 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
This project develops a system which provides a real time bus reservation for customers including hotel and car; it involves developing a website for the various branches of Faith Motors Transport Company across the Nigeria where the company has its presence.
The traveller will be able to utilize this online travel management system web portal to perform the transactions of purchasing tickets, booking conveyances which will be needed at their destination and make necessary payment at their own free time. The travel agents are the
administrators of the system. They are able to add, edit and retrieve information and generate reports to assist them with their daily operations.
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY:
This project eliminates the use of paper for storing records and passengers request. With this system, apart from deciding to make payments at the company counter, payments can also be done online and Faith Motors Transport Company can then handle all aspects of travel management easily.
1.5 LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT
There are some limitations in this project. These include
i. It was difficult to obtain relevant materials for the programming aspect of this project, but after serious research, we were able to get some of the needed materials. ii. Initially it was difficult to obtain relevant information from the travel agent at Faith Motors which would be needed for the project.
1.6 METHODOLOGY USED
To accomplish the objective, a systematic process was followed. The research process begins with the identification of the research topic (Travel Management System) where studies was carried out to obtain enough information on the topic. In addition to this, numerous interviews with Faith Motors travel agents were conducted to gather more information on their daily
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 TRAVEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
These days, means of travelling by bus is one of the easiest options. Generally, people prefer to travel through bus. There are two types of buses available in Nigeria, government based and private based. Masses of people use the bus service to travel from one city to another or one state to another. Buses are frequently used for the purpose of tour and travel.
Many luxury buses are also provided by the travel service provider. The main thing that traveller need to know is the destination or route of various buses that completes their destination and how to get the bus ticket for the same in easier manner. The travel technology market has grown to such a dynamic level than ever. To complete with the fast running market, travel companies of all sizes must have access to simple technology that can make the daily activities more simple and efficient which is internet booking.
Online booking (e-booking) takes many forms and is often classified dependent upon the degree of digitalization of three dimensions – the product/service sold, the sales process and the delivery agent (Turban et al, 2002).
Among all the public transportation systems buses are the most popular and most commonly used ones because of their inherent flexibility, adaptability to changing, employment, residential patterns, and low capital costs. As shown in figure 1 buses account for highest ridership (nearly 60%) than any other modes of transit according to federal road safety commission (FRSC)
Bus ticket booking has been a bigger problem in Nigeria for common people that preferred to travel from one state to another by bus; because it has not been very easy to book bus ticket in quick way or in less time. But in the present situation as technologies emerges, we have a comfortable way of booking bus tickets online.
In earlier days when internet facility does not provide online bus ticket booking then people used to go in order to book bus ticket but now, the only thing that passengers have to perform is to simply search for those companies and then schedule their travel online.
Travel management system is a unique solution for Travel Management that comes complete with comprehensive online reservation system of one-way trips and also combines Travel, Hotel & Car rental reservations in a single request. Once a customer have finished the search for seat and specified other needed option (car rental and/or hotel booking) then he/she are booked and then the traveller will only have to take out the print out of ticket and make the journey on the booked date.
If one has observed recently, online bus ticket booking services are rising like never before. Now, travellers can book their next bus trips online with various facilities like online bus ticket cancellations. Many days before, bus ticket booking was very difficult but now technology offers comfortable way of communication. Today, internet has changed the whole face of travel services. From anywhere and anytime, one can use this service for booking a ticket to their requirements. They do not have to waste precious time standing in a queue of bus ticket counter. Many travel agencies are also coming forward to provide this service to the passengers in a very simple manner.
ride, as well as those who have other choices of transportation. For many people, especially low income and welfare dependent families, public transportation are the only source of mobility.
Government and the private sector have been successfully working together to fund, develop and upgrade the public transportation network. This chapter emphasizes the importance of TMS for public transportation.
2.1.1 EVOLUTION OF THE ROLE OF GOVERNEMT IN THE BUS SECTOR IN NIGERIA
The recent history of urban public transport in Nigeria provides a good illustration of the various visions regarding urban transport policies and the reasons behind the changes that have occurred regarding best practice in this field. This history can be divided into three distinct periods. The first, ending in 1979, was characterized by heavy state intervention, both as a service provider and as regulator of prices, routes, and permits for private operators. During this period, there was a chronic shortage and low quality of services. The social costs of this insufficiency were in the form of long waiting times for bus arrival and congested buses.
The second period began in 1979 when the sector was liberalized with the introduction of free entry, freedom to establish routes and, beginning in 1983, freedom for each operator to set tariffs. The rationality for these reforms laid in the conviction that a free market would generate an optimal level and quality of services. Competition, it was thought, would guarantee an efficient level of prices. Unfortunately, in practice things did not turn out as expected. During this second period there was a significant increase in the number of buses and the geographical coverage of the system.
The increase in the number of buses, their reliance on diesel fuel and the increase in the average age of buses with lower technological standard transformed the bus sector In one of the main generators of congestion and air pollution externalities in Nigeria. The bus industry was not the only source of air pollution but it was one of the leading contributors.
As a source of congestion, the fact that 80% of bus routes pass through the main arteries of any city in Nigeria has clogged the main roads of the central urban area (malbran, 2001). Among the problems also are that operators still earn their revenue from ticket collection. This generates strong incentives for buses to compete head to head on the road. Besides the difficulty, this creates for an orderly bus-stop design.
Buses stop anywhere thereby generating more frequent stop, increasing travel times and thus further undermine the economic efficiency of the transport system as a whole. The greatest problem relates to safety. In 2001 there were 7393 accidents in the transport system. On average, there is one death every three days in an accident involving a bus of the transport system. Although comparative international data are hard to obtain, these figures seem dramatically high.
2.1.2 NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT
Throughout Nigeria, public transportation is undergoing a renaissance. A steady increase in transit investment have dramatically improved and expanded public transportation services providing Nigerians with increased freedom, choice, opportunity and access. This suggested by the following facts from federal road safety commission.
important benefits by incorporating public transportation as explained by the federal road safety commission (FRSC) discussed as follows:
I. Stimulates economic development: According to FRSC every naira taxpayers invest in public transportation generates 900 naira or more in economic returns. II. Saves money: It is more cost efficient to use public transport, particularly in business and urban areas because of increased congestion and high parking rates. According to federal road safety commission the estimated cost of driving a single-occupant vehicle is very huge compared to annual average cost for public transportation for a single adult based upon mileage, time of day, type of vehicle or service. III. Creates jobs: Increase in public transport creates thousands of job in the related areas like engineering, manufacturing, construction, retail, etc. For every ₦10 million invested in capital projects for public transportation, more than 300 jobs are created and ₦30 million gains can be realized. It also helps in getting more people to work who does not own cars. IV. Decreases traffic congestion: Nearly half of all Nigerians especially in lagos feel that traffic is a serious problem where they live and do not feel that it will improve over the next three years. Public transport helps to alleviate a nation’s crowded network of roads by providing more options for commuting. V. Fosters more livable communities and boost real estate values: Public transportation facilities are focal points for economic and social activities. These activities help create strong neighborhood centers that are economically more stable, productive and safe. This in turn has a positive impact on local property values.
VI. Improves air quality and reduces energy consumption: Public transportation helps promote cleaner air by reducing automobile use. Also it can significantly reduce dependency on gasoline, reducing auto fuel consumption by 1.5 billion gallons annually.
2.1.4 HOW “UNSAFE” IS THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM?
Public transport is an integral part of community infrastructure, providing access to mobility for both business and social purposes.
However, public transport does attract its share of crimes against persons and property, often accentuated by the media, which creates a poor perception of this facility and reinforces a sense of fear. The result is that people make less use of public transport, and either have to abandon journeys they might have made or have recourse to often more expensive and less convenient modes of transport (Dasai, T, 2002).
It is important to put the issue of safety to public transport in context. In 1990 there were approximately 690 crimes against persons on the public transport system. The figure of 690 crimes against person should also be considered in the broader context of more than 300 million passenger journeys in the same period (FRSC, 1990).
When these figures are considered in context, it becomes clear that in reality the problem is small. But it is also clear that there is a major perception problem (FRSC, 1991). Many passengers travel, at times, in fear for their own safety. A number of factors have contributed to this sense of fear:
I. The unclean condition of vehicles, stations, and bus/tram stops; II. The intimidating effect of graffiti on the system;
2.3 FAITH MOTORS SERVICES
Formally the only service provided by the company was the provision of bus tickets to customers manually. Recently faith motors offer advice on destinations and make arrangements for transportation, hotel accommodations, car rentals, and tours for their customers.
The company spends most of their time behind a desk conferring with clients, completing paperwork, contacting hotels to make travel arrangements, and promoting tours. They also spend a considerable amount of time either on the telephone researching travel itineraries or updating reservations and travel documents. Their agents sometimes have to face great deal of pressure during travel emergencies or when they need to reschedule missed reservations. They are especially busy during peak vacation times, such as Christmas and other holiday travel periods. The company has a large fleet of cars at their disposal, and seeks to see that they use best transport for their customers, and provide them a good value for their money. Also, the company offers customers the opportunity to book for return tickets by specifying their return date.
2.4 THE MAJOR MODULES OF THE SYSTEM
Booking through the travel management system provides access to supply arrangements for:
I. Bus reservation II. Car hiring III. Hotel accommodation
2.4.1 BUS RESERVATION
Online bus reservation has made buying the bus tickets easier and thus made the buses a lot more popular. There is availability of seat in the bus almost at all times. It is not like the trains or
the air planes that are most of the times busy. Nigerians prefers buses as they can easily get the tickets at any time they want to travel.
The TMS online bus reservation facility is a great advancement for making the ticket booking easy for one and all. Now, one can save the time and energy which he/she would need to invest in going to the company and booking the ticket. One thing that one has to do is to search for the website of the travel company that provides the services necessary to travel. This has made the online bus reservation easy for the customers. On the website, customers will be asked to fill up a form for online bus reservation. On the website itself, the information about what all the fares and the services are gotten. As the booking and the transaction are online, the payment has to be done with debit card. Commuters can also change their plans and cancel the tickets online. Travel portal companies charge reservation prices from the commuters.
2.4.2 CAR HIRING:
Travel is a leisure activity that is enjoyed by most of the people of the world. Most of the people enjoy the trips and tours that they plan with their near and dear ones. But, sometimes one has to transfer for professional reasons and had to visit the place alone or with any of the colleagues. But in order to travel at each and every corner of the destination city/state, one must have a proper means of transport within his reach because having your own conveyance or Car rental gives an assurance for comfortable journey through out the travel. It enables visitors to tour round the area at their own time and leisure. Being able to get from one place to another without the hassle of looking for public transport is ideal, and most people are finding car rentals to be the perfect solution for transport dilemmas.
(such as facilities and rates) is also located on each hotel’s web page. Travellers can also make reservation for a hotel when they book their bus tickets on TMS.
Before one can actually decide on something, he ought to consider first things first. Likewise when travellers are planning for a vacation, it’s important to consider where they are going to stay. It is essential to always consider the place where they will stay during the rest of your vacation to prevent hassle and inconveniences. Hotel reservation and booking of some is time consuming. For them, doing such is very tiring, that is why they usually have a hard time dealing with these things. Usually, customers may contact the hotel directly 24hours after they have made their online booking, to confirm that the booking has appeared in the travel agents local computer system.
The ultimate service provided by TMS to the hotels and the online travellers is that it provides a single database from which all reservation sources draw immediate room availability and rates. Travellers need to understand that hotel room rates vary. So to get the best, they will need to spend some time researching and may need to negotiate price when making reservations.
Whether the hotel is booked along with the travel ticket or separately at another time, yhe destination and travel dates is filled to see a list of available hotels.
After making reservations, the traveller will always receive a confirmation e-mail with all the details and contact information for the booked hotel.
2.5 THE NEED FOR TRAVEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
I. TMS offers direct access to variety of choices including bus, hotels, car hire companies, prices and destinations. This allows one to see any deals and alternatives available, and gives the opportunity to choose the best package according to available budget and travel needs.
II. For travellers to be able to tweak their own travel plan to suit their personal needs is particularly important. This is something that Faith Motor explicitly recognises and conveniently works to provide for their customer. With offline manual bookings, this is not the case.
III. One of the greatest benefits of using TMS is the ability of a traveller being able to arrange trips in his/her own time, at their own pace and without any sort of pressure or human influence. Another beneficial aspect of the system is the flexibility offered to customers which collocate with the service offered by faith motors. Faith motors is restricted to office opening hours, but there are no time constraints with TMS. One can book your ticket any time of the day, any day of the week (24/7).
2.6 ONLINE PAYMENTS
If travellers need to book online bus ticket, then they have to log on to the website and provide the necessary personalized information and destination, date of journey, class of accommodation and number of passengers. After entering this data, the system asks for payment. Travellers can make a payment if they hold a debit card or else they can decide to make the payment when they get the company
