Travel agents are market intermediaries who make their living by gathering, organizing, and dispensing information about

[BTGmoderatorDC]

Travel agents are market intermediaries who make their living by gathering, organizing, and dispensing information about travel-related services that is not readily available to most consumers. Through new information technologies, such as the internet much of this information can now be made directly available to consumers. Therefore, as more consumers gain access to these new technologies, demand for the services of travel agents will be drastically reduced.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

A. Travel agents routinely use the internet and other new information technologies as sources for the information they obtain for their customers.

B. The amount of information available through the internet and other new information technologies is increasing
faster than the capabilities of most consumers to process it

C. Many people use travel-related services, such as airlines and hotels without consulting a travel agent.

D. The people who currently use the services of travel agents are also those most likely to gain access to new
information technologies

E. The internet and other new information technologies are currently used by a relatively small proportion of the
population


OA B

Source: GMAT Prep

[SyedMorales]

Option C most seriously weakens the argument that as more consumers gain access to new technologies, demand for the services of travel agents will be drastically reduced. The fact that many people use travel-related services, such as airlines and hotels, without consulting a travel agent shows that there is still a significant demand for these services that is not affected by the availability of new technologies. This suggests that travel agents may still have a role in the market even as more consumers gain access to new technologies.

Option A is not relevant to the argument because it only states that travel agents use new technologies, but does not address the impact on their demand.

Option B, D, and E may have some impact on the argument, but they do not directly address the issue of whether the availability of new technologies will reduce demand for travel agents' services.