One the biggest challenges I see working with tour and activity operators everyday is the challenge of payments.

In order to move this cash laden, on site dependent business sector into one where advanced bookings and electronic distribution is the norm, we need to face this challenge in earnest. 

In my latest post on Tnooz titled "The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly of Tourism Payments" I look at some of the challenges and some of the opportunities in payments for the tourism sector.

In my opinion, there is a lot of opportunity in the SME payments sector.  Innovators like Stripe, Braintree, and Square are excellent examples of finding credit card payments solutions for small business, the issue is that these systems are only available to merchants in the U.S. 

The greater challenge, and opportunity, exists in finding solutions for small businesses in emerging markets, those in Asia, South America, and Africa.

The innovator who provides a quality solution for small business in those markets will do very well.

Take a read of my latest post and let me know what you think.  Leave your comments on Tnooz, or feel free to leave them here too.

www.tnooz.com/2012/05/29/news/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-the-truth-about-payments-for-tourism-businesses

Stephen A. Joyce has been working as a travel & tourism technology consultant since 1995. In 2005 Stephen and his company, Sentias Software Corp., began development on Rezgo.com, a next generation Web 2.0 tour and activity booking engine for SME travel suppliers and tour operators.

In June of 2007, Rezgo.com was officially released and now boasts a user base of 900+ companies. Stephen is also very active in fostering tourism technology and is co-chair of the Board of Directors of the OpenTravel Alliance, a non-profit organization whose mandate is to develop and foster messaging standards for travel e-distribution.

http://tourismtechnology.rezgo.com