A total of 3,400 agents from Aberdeen to Plymouth were questioned about their attitudes towards the Internet by travel outsourcing company Headcount.
Almost 40% of staff working for miniples said they saw the Internet as a threat to their job security, followed by 32% of staff working for multiples and 27% of independents.
Not surprisingly, agents who are most afraid of the Internet are the ones without access to the Internet, according to the survey.
Only 11% of staff working in multiple agencies are able to surf the Web, compared to 26% of miniples, 37% of those whose agencies are part of a consortium and almost 40% of independents.
Headcount account director Jane Martin said: “A lot of the fear of the Internet has arisen out of ignorance. Those who have used the Internet have witnessed its limitations so they are less afraid.”
“Although agents recognise the fact that the Internet is here, there may be an element ofnaivety regarding its capabilities and what it can and cannot offer to the travel industry,” she added.