Companies in the travel and tourism industry are to have their own internet address.

The '.travel' top level domain (TLD), which should launch in the second quarter of 2005, will provide a new variation to the continuing demand for new web addresses.

The global desire for TLDs is strong and there are about one million new '.com' and '.net' registrations every month.

'We are creating a unique space for the travel and tourism industry to conduct better business,' said Ron Andruff, president and chief executive of the Tralliance Corporation, the company managing the roll-out of the .travel domain.

He says there are about 45,000 travel and tourism web sites that will produce over $150bn in online transactions this year.

National travel associations will authenticate potential members and applicants for a .travel domain will have to be associated to the travel industry.

The TLD will serve 18 sectors of the travel industry, from bed and breakfast to international airlines.

And the .travel registration system will include a system that checks for the authenticity of applicants.

'We're also providing an information repository for consumers and the travel trade who will be able to find information effectively and quickly,' said Andruff.

As they register, every travel company will tell Tralliance specific features of their business.

And this will allow Tralliance to create an indexed catalogue of registered travel companies that can be searched by consumers.

Andruff revealed details of the .travel TLD at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN's) annual meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.

'The migration will take place over time and we're very enthusiastic that the industry will approach this initiative wholeheartedly,' said Andruff.

The .travel domain is one of 10 TLDs currently being considered by ICANN.

Andruff hopes to sign an agreement with ICANN in January next year before launching the domain in spring.