Tourism 2.0

eTourism: Critical Information and Communication Technologies for Tourism Destinations

by Professor Dimitrios Buhalis

Buhalis, D., Leung, D., and Law, R., 2011, eTourism: Critical Information and Communication Technologies for Tourism Destinations, in Wang, R., and Pizam, A., (eds), Destination Marketing and Management, CAB International, ISBN 9781845937621, p.205-224

The information and communication technologies (ICTs) diffusion to the tourism industry has recently increased at an... more The information and communication technologies (ICTs) diffusion to the tourism industry has recently increased at an unprecedented rate. This chapter overviews the recent developments of ICTs on eTourism in recent years and demonstrates developments for destinations. Drawing on a wide variety of sources, it discusses and analyzes key trends in the context of Internet applications to tourism and hospitality. Grouping the findings into the categories of consumers, technologies, and industries, it projects future developments in eTourism and demonstrates critical changes that will influence the tourism industry structure. The chapter also demonstrates how Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) use ICTs to facilitate the tourist experience as well as for coordinating all partners involved in the production and delivery of tourism.

Keywords: Internet, Information and communication technologies, eTourism, tourism management and marketing

From Paradigmatic to Syntagmatic Communities: A Socio-Semiotic Approach to the Evolution Pattern of Online Travel Communities

by Stefano Tardini

Traveling Through the Web: A First Step Toward a Comparative Analysis of European National Tourism Websites

by Antonios Giannopoulos

Traveling Through the Web: A First Step Toward a Comparative Analysis of European National Tourism Websites. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 20(07), pp. 718 - 739.

Inspired by the evolution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), the present study describes the way ICT... more Inspired by the evolution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), the present study describes the way ICT are used by destination marketing organizations during the destinations' website design (incorporating several website features). Relevant descriptive analysis is conducted, based on a number of case studies from the European tourism market (Official National Tourism Sites-ONTS). Following a qualitative research design, the study aims to provide a platform (consisting of a set of website characteristics) upon which a comparative analysis among various ONTS may be applied. Finally, some preliminary findings are presented and implications pertaining to destination marketing strategies are also discussed.