The material in Chapter 5 summarizes the material provided in the previous sections and provides superb guidance on resources available to persons of all roles in the government travel management system. Although the ETS for the government is not as user-friendly as the commercial booking systems, there are many training classes available online and in-person so each person understands how the system works and what their roles entail. Further, the information contained in this, as well as previous chapters, clearly summarizes and delineates what the various regulations concerning travel cover. What may also be added to the material is perhaps information regarding government use of technology in communications. Along with the expansion of technology in travel is the competition that technology presents to travel itself. The U.S. Post Office has felt this competition most keenly with the advent of email, however with the introduction of such real-time interactive programs such as Go To Meeting to connect persons in disparate places, travel may also be feeling the crunch of competition sooner rather than later. A recent Freakanomics article indicated that the trouble with the airlines is not so much increased taxes and fuel costs, but lowered demand. If this is true, then traditional travel providers will need to start re-thinking business models and how they provide service. Additionally, the government will need to either re-design or lift regulations that were based on the old business model to ensure the survivability of the industry in general. For example, the TSA intrusion on airline passengers is centered on the potential for a passenger to hijack a large scale aircraft to use as a weapon. Personal searches being deeply unpopular, travelers may start to turn to small aviation as a solution to transportation that has twice as many airports available closer to their destination and far less intrusion into their personal space. The airlines may have to slough off large airbuses in the hub-spoke model in favor of smaller aircraft and more flexibility. Also, while most business in the past had to be conducted in person or over the phone, no doubt real-time internet based meeting technology will also require greater justification for government personnel to travel. It will also be interesting to see how government travel and government regulation of travel will change as the industry changes in the future.
By Olivia Tautkus