what is the relevance of ict in tourism course

Role of ICT in Tourism

Role of ICT in Tourism: The application of ICTs is an appropriate prospect for improvising the tourism industry from an area perspective. Towards the event of destinations economies technology driven systems are very crucial. Precisely, ICTs have the potential to upsurge destination revenue for supporting the economic and social development.

Perhaps, evolving and strengthening the local tourism and tourism oriented activities with application driven mechanisms can offshoot the local entrepreneurship and connected activities. Fundamentally, ICTs consent destinations to progress and expand the web presence with better and global visibility and participation through Internet market. To build efficacy and destination competency, it’s very essential to travel beyond offline connectivity involving collaboration, clustering and inter-sect oral associations among local public and personal tourism and other tourism-related actors. In fact, it’s imperative and highly required to compete in today’s global tourism market. More precisely the advantageous effects of ICTs are to be found within the prospects to condense the traditional drawbacks of SMEs and native operators.

Primarily, ICTs deliver direct, cheap and operative access to the particular and potential customers. along side , ICTs make profitable to use various distribution channels and target niche markets. Beforehand it had been almost difficult for SMEs to spread, attend and even to be recognized. Nonetheless, for this to happen a standard improvement of ICT infrastructures isn’t adequate.

Even an appropriate benefaction of e-skills, as promoted by international organizations is by now an important factor. Towards, every new technology, the overview ICTs cannot create the assured paybacks if it’s not supplemented by balancing modifications within the current organizational settings and structures to right fit them with its typical features. Developmental paybacks of ICTs, and destination’s management activities must be relooked and newfangled ICT-enabled organizational representations are to be developed. However, to usher in change is never easy, and during a disjointed, SMEsdriven business such tourism, it’d be even tougher . Hence what must be re-examined is how traditional destination management structures are often redefined to influence ICTs and the way officious tools, resulting into the new representations and practices are often spread within tourism destinations.

Examining the contextual on the approaching benefits of ICTs towards destination management, one major aspect might be examined because the new role of the organizations responsible of the management of destinations – mentioned as Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) and grants the most features of an ICT-enabled system for the management of destinations denoted as “cybernetic incoming agency”.

At that time critical outlook on the most barriers and pertinent international policy directions connected to the diffusion strategy of integrating e-skills creation, ICT development and native interacting and cooperation projects might be implemented. it’s vital to craft measures for the sensitization tools and initiatives wont to activate ICTs acceptance in local organizations and firms.

Particularly, a radical explanation of the e-business methodology created for diffusion of ICT awareness and therefore the scholastic approach accomplished to supply the essential competencies to endure the agreement and usage of such technologies are going to be presented. ICT responsiveness and competences are often well-thought-out, because it may look very complicated for the appliance of more multifaceted and beneficial ICT enabled models like the “cybernetic incoming agency”. Theoretically watching it identifies a probable progression within the management of destinations prompted by ICTs and a complicated organizational model within the current scenario.

It also deals with wider insights in the way to device this model, not only as a group of guidelines, but with facilitation of a longtime step-by-step approach and interrelated tools developed because the results of continuing field investigations. Correspondingly, a special standpoint within the procedure of technologies, not merely as a tool, but as a framework for erudition and therefore the base of advanced learning methods aimed toward the formation of latest tourism professionals is supported and explained.

Background for the ICT Enabled Systems in commission Sector with DMO

ICTs are in varying archetypes, knowingly the techniques during which traditional destination management activities in terms of designing , Development, Marketing, Management, Coordination and Monitoring of destinations are being conceded out. as an example , within the earlier times, few DMOs were well-found and self-possessed and capable combat marketing research .

Indeed, these initiatives were quite costly consultancies. Nowadays with e-mail or web-based questionnaires the entire process is relaxed and cheap to hold out consumer analysis. Perhaps, with internet sites , it’s promising and can quantify the efficiency of a marketing operation and would examine virtually all the opposite destination management activities.

Therefore, ICTs can create variety of advantages for destination management activities with regard to; dropping costs, reducing the necessity to print brochures, less time for undertaking activities, and at an equivalent time increasing their effectiveness Additionally, ICTs can enhance new-fangled sources of incomes to fund the activities of DMOs like selling of services like; training, design and development of internet sites , consultancy and assistance for e-marketing activities and applications and technologies developed.

The discussed benefits spell out as ICTs can deliver local tourism public and personal actors who are involved in destination management with the implements, the applications and eventually with the prospect to require on these activities in additional cost effective, self-governing, and in additional eligible manner. ICT-driven development is advantageous for tourism not only in rising employment but also in creating the prospects for more high-skilled professions.

ICTs can therefore turn as ultimate drivers for tourism-driven development in developing destinations. to require hold of those benefits, there’s the necessity for a leeway of the role of DMOs beyond the outmoded promotion of the destination, the pool and dispersal of knowledge and therefore the organization of tourism activities within the destination.

In this perception DMOs become the key players within the usage and dispersion of ICT culture and with better responsiveness within the creation of the required organizational capabilities and infrastructures to line in ICTs within the local tourism industry setting.

DMOs can combat another revolution, from crucial actors to only among the multitude of actors intricate in destination’s management. This foreseen repositioning requires an enhancement of resources and capabilities mainly the event of managerial and technological competences, the capabilities to elaborate and manage complex processes and to scout for the required funding, both within the public sector and within the market. Accordingly, the cohesive ICTs Systems are actuality wont to upkeep cybernetic incoming agency to uphold and commercialize destination offering on a worldwide scale.

1. Describing Governance within the Tourism Sector

The uses and solicitation of ICT based approaches in tourism may be a answer based upon the normal way in tourism. Societies from across the world , with different magnitude are the potential tourist, so complete domain is that the marketplace for tourism. The tourism industry is assorted from micro level to global bounds.

Several means of ICT like Computer Reservation System (CRS), Global Distribution System (GDS) and knowledge System (IS) are used now days. the foremost imperative feature of ICT based tourism is that the supply end and unrestricted information to the patrons at their seats. Information is known by sizable amount of clienteles.

The supplementary drive of ICT based tourism is that it incapacitates the dissociated and geographical obstacles. the buyer and vender from anywhere of world are competent enough to share information. Travelers can access all information which is translucent.

Technology based tourism is extremely thoroughly associated to economy growth. Going deeper it’s a sort of industry where services are rendered to customers or tourist. it’s a completely interrelated business which is interlinked with food and transportation industries. it’s various activities involved in it.

Technology and tourism has revealed the transition within the industry as a results of ICT impact and have explored its possibility and potential. the main challenges facing tourism industry are immensely explored and outlined by some experts and therefore the nexus between tourism and ICT are clearly indicated.

The rapid shift-taking place between ‘traditional tourism sector’ and ‘new tourism industry’ is quiet studied. Technology features a premeditated role in restructuring the worth chain within the industry and within the process, customers are regularly acclimating to the new values, lifestyles and new tourism products, which has re-assessed by the new technologies. albeit a number of the technologies designated are now outdated, the implied missive is pertinent and provides an overall review of the changing face of the tourism industry.

Examining the core features of the industry structure and therefore the operation of the new technologies in it, ICT applications in several sectors like airlines, hotels, tour operators, road and rail transport etc. are dealt intimately . a number of the world’s largest GDS (Global Distribution System) namely Sabre, Galileo, Amadeus and World span are examined.

Besides analyzing the telecommunication technologies within the industry, the hospitality sector, entertainment sector, transport sector, management sector and other intermediaries are diligently explored. Information Technology, information management, intelligent applications and system integration etc. are examined carefully. Additional information on business strategy exploring the connection between ICT, strategy and organization is additionally articulated.

2. Tools for Governance

There are two tools especially that ought to be utilized in the tourism sector with reference to ICT and its implications: Virtual Incoming Agency Model and therefore the creation of integrated ICT system. Developed as a results of variety of research projects undertaken globally, implies a virtual incoming agency (or VIA) model which is conceived as an evolution of the concept of DMO.

Explicitly, as per the considerations beyond the virtual incoming agency is conceptualized because the organization responsible of the promotion and coordination of an integrated tourism system within a tourism destination – along side the establishment of the essential cultural, organization and technological conditions to make sure its effective implementation – that reality relates with applying the graphic organizer technique with an ICT enabled mechanism to undertake its functions . It is a technological and organizational (ICT-enabled and ICT-native) representation for the management of tourism destinations. These mechanisms are often considered with the appliance of virtual incoming agencies with all the general public or public private destination management organizations that comprehends a mission to form use of integrated ICT system.

The objectives of innovative ICT enabled systems are:

• To effectively propose the advantages of tourism for the local economy (incomes, employment, investments • To systematize the local tourism supply chain to be attention for visitors and meet their expectations while maximizing their spending and its distribution • To maintain tourism consultants in increasing the standard of their offerings and their profitability.

Consequently the integrated ICTs Systems are getting used to support virtual incoming agency within the achievement of these objectives and especially . the method is systemic and deducts iteration and indicates mechanisms to captivate on infusion of technology within the concurrent context.

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Designed and realized during a modular manner, to create and enrich progressively as per the requirements and capabilities of current and potential users. the thought underneath the platform is to make an open and scalable system, with a coffee porch in terms of costs and complexity, which permit access to actors at different levels of ICT system and technological capabilities. The platform is made to support the increasing in time, number and typologies of operators, users and services.

The platform has as purpose to take care of the consolidation of tourism information, attractions and services providers in solitary rational point of access. An actor (a public authority, consortia of public and personal tourism operators or a public-private company) need to have the accountability to function as a value-adding mediator between local tourism services providers and potential customers, on condition that the facilities are to distribute and sell offerings to the purchasers .

ICT-Enabled Models for the Management of Destinations

The convention of ICTs in tourism, the dissemination of ICT tools and practices in institutions, enterprises and destinations as an entire is way to be automatic, and therefore the results of this process aren’t certain. Therefore, through effective strategies for enabling ICT, tourism can perform well within the global market and emerge very successful.

A scientific application of ICT system can largely enhance the general effectiveness of the destination. Low responsiveness of the advantages and usefulness of ICTs particularly in decision-makers is beneath the inadequate attitude to endow the required time and money. A noteworthy insight among the travel consultants and tourism operators, of being untrained to the organizational changes are desirable from the prologue of ICTs, and thus to endow with the essential competences to use productively such tools. The conception of a constructive background towards innovation is essentially by incorporating the event of ICT solutions and promoting interoperability and therefore the definition of standards.

Therefore sensitization, competences development, organizational change and collaboration, are complementary elements for the diffusion of ICTs and related ICTenabled models in destinations, but also necessary factors for the creation of the specified ‘human’ and ‘social’ infrastructure for the amalgamation and competitiveness of local tourism supply.

These factors, along side the usage of technologies and context/laboratories for the creation of human and social capital and therefore the recognition of the indissoluble link between digital and organizational innovation, are the pillars of the strategy found out for the diffusion of ICTs and therefore the integration of local tourism offering in an integrated supply system.

For competent destination management and technology contribution tourism destinations is in synthesis an integrated strategy, being realized through a series of initiatives focused on: • The design and development of applications and solutions enabling advanced ICT services for the management of destinations • The usage of an equivalent ICT applications and solutions for the event of competences necessary to their productive usage, also as for the belief of local cooperation projects for his or her diffusion adoption in firms and institutions, and therefore the integration of the local tourism system. This strategy is predicated on the convention of ICT solutions’ development projects, for instance the event of a Destination Management System is to trigger the creation of competences and therefore the necessary organizational changes to start-up a process aimed toward fostering interactions and collaboration dynamics among local actors, with the ultimate aim to make the required prerequisites for the mixing of the local tourism system.

Preliminary from these premise, ICTs and especially the projects associated with their comprehension and diffusion, are conceived because the mechanisms necessary to the formation of the cultural collaboration attitudes and behaviors), organizational (business and ICT management competences) and technological (infrastructures and applications) environment for the effective implementation of pioneering models for the management of destinations. This strategy is articulated in three main phases which is portrayed by specific initiatives with defined objectives and roles.

The aim of those initiatives is to make local public and personal tourism operators conscious of the necessity to cooperate within the development of comprehensive propositions which will attract tourists to the destination and therefore the benefits of ICT solutions in doing so.

The intention of this segment is to interact a primary nucleus of actors, interested but not necessarily equipped, within the realization of an e-business cases that demonstrates the advantages within the usage of ICTs for local tourism institutions, enterprises and therefore the destinations overall. The e-business case will then be used for further and simpler sensitization initiatives and within the next phases. The focus is usually on increasing local ICT and e- Business competences (e-skills creation). Second, an ‘evaluation’ phase through the experimentation of ICT applications and solutions Identified previously with the aim to possess people ‘touch with their hands’ the potential benefits of such technologies; to gather the wants for the belief and/or the implementation of the technological platform and to check the business model defined. the target of this phase is to understand a pilot program for the event and implementation of an ICT platform for the management of the destination ICT development and diffusion).

The pilot program are going to be the tool for involving all the opposite relevant stakeholders, on the idea of local experiences and documented leads to the launch and realization of a virtual incoming agency (local networking and cooperation projects) within the destination. this is often the third phase, the ‘implementation’ phase.

During this phase research institutions leave the initiative to non-public enterprises – for the event and therefore the industrialization of the experimented solution – and to local public and personal tourism operators, which will use and manage the answer realized for his or her activities of organizing, promoting and commercializing the destination.

So, as previously highlighted, the event and diffusion of ICT applications and solutions aren’t the top , but rather the means of an overarching innovation policy, aimed toward facilitating the evolution of destinations’ tourism supply systems from fragmented towards integrated configurations.

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• Open access
• Published: 24 October 2018

Integration of ICT and tourism for improved promotion of tourist attractions in Ethiopia

• Mekonnen Wagaw   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9367-7528 1 &
• Feven Mulugeta 1  

Applied Informatics volume  5 , Article number:  6 ( 2018 ) Cite this article

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Information and communication technology (ICT) is revolutionizing the lives of people and operations of organizations. ICT has become a major driver of touristic sectors to effectively promote tourist attractions and services. As a result, many countries have succeeded in using ICTs and more precisely the internet to develop their tourism industries. However, the use of ICT in promoting tourist attractions in Ethiopia is still low. Hence, this survey research empirically studied the factors affecting the integration of ICT and tourism. The findings show that social influence, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, cost effectiveness, competitive advantage, and facilitating conditions such as experience, ICT resources and skill significantly affect behavioral intention to use ICT in the tourism sector of Ethiopia.

Information and communication technology (ICT) is revolutionizing the lives of people and operations of business organizations. Business organizations use ICT to process, store, disseminate, and promote their products and services globally. Beginning from the introduction of the internet, people have been accessing any information at anytime from anywhere. Hence, it is becoming inevitable to live without the aid of ICT.

Being the world’s largest economic endeavor, tourism is enhancing economies of countries. It accounts for 10% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) and 8.7% of the world’s jobs (Meriague 2014 ). Furthermore, due to globalization, strong tourism sector is considered to be a sign of a country’s social development, evolution, and progression (Meriague 2014 ).

Since tourism is one of the major sectors in today’s world, many countries are competing to attract tourists through all means of communication, and such communication has become a major driver of touristic sectors all over the world. The role of communication is to inform prospective tourists and influence their choices regarding touristic destinations and the type of touristic products they purchase.

Many countries have succeeded in using ICTs and more precisely the internet to develop their tourism industries. For example, Malaysia and Australia have been very successful in attracting many tourists through these means (Mohsin 2005 ). On the other hand, countries such as Iran have not been able to increase their number of international visitors, largely due to a lack of ICTs and internet development (Salavati and Hashim 2015 ).

Although Ethiopia possesses numerous natural, religious, historical, and cultural tourist attractions, utilization of tourism as a sector of the country’s economy goes five decades back. Considering the economic contribution of tourism to Ethiopia, the first tourism office was established in 1962 during the imperial regime (Ali 2017 ). During the military regime, the sector’s contribution reduced drastically but beginning from the 1990s, the number of tourists increased. Among Ethiopia’s fascinating tourist attractions, nine of them are UNESCO world heritage sites (Ali 2017 ). However, the tourism sector’s economic contribution and its potential are incomparable. According to research findings, unless a country promotes its tourist attractions to the rest of the world, it is impossible to increase the number of visitors. Hence, the integration of well-crafted ICT solutions is needed, and since we are living in a digitized world, it is necessary for the tourism industry to rely on ICTs and especially the internet as tool of international communication.

Problem statement

Since tourism is one of the major sectors in today’s world, many countries are competing to attract tourists through all means of communication and such communication has become a major driver of touristic sectors all over the world. The role of communication is to inform prospective tourists and influence their choices regarding touristic destinations and the type of touristic products they purchase.

To attract prospective tourists in this digitized world, modern ICT strategies are needed, and it is necessary for the tourism industry to rely on ICTs and especially the internet as tools of international communication.

Ethiopia has been attracting a huge number of foreign tourists visiting a variety of magnificent natural, cultural, historical, and religious heritages found in the country. However, the potential of those tourist attractions and number of visitors are incomparable. Moreover, provision of sufficient information to tourists and promotion using modern ICT services is very low. As a result of this, the sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP is insignificant. The sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP was 4.1% in 2015 (WTTC 2016 ).

Hence, this research has the objective of investigating the integration of ICT in the tourism sector for improved promotion of the Ethiopian tourist attractions so as to enhance the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP. To empirically measure the factors affecting the integration of ICT and tourism, this research work adopted the Unified Technology Acceptance Theory (UTAUT) developed by Venkatesh et al. in 2003 and two additional constructs were included from related literature.

To investigate the integration of ICT in the Ethiopian tourism sector for improved promotion of the Ethiopian tourist attractions so as to enhance the sector’s contribution to the country’s development.

This research work empirically investigated sample tourism organizations to answer the following research questions: (1) what is the current status of the integration of ICT in the Ethiopian tourism sector? (2) What are the factors affecting the integration of ICT and tourism in the Ethiopian context? and (3) To what extent do these factors affect the integration of ICT and tourism in Ethiopia?

Theoretical framework

The fundamental theoretical framework of this research arises from a body of research in integration of ICT and tourism. With the objective of identifying determinants that affect integration of ICT and tourism for improved promotion of tourist attractions in Ethiopia, highly related and relevant literature on the issue are reviewed.

There are many theories on technology acceptance. For instance, Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) developed by Fishbein and Ajzen ( 1975 ) predicted that subjective norms and attitudes determine our behavioral intentions. Then, in 1989, Davis et al. came up with Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). As stated by this theory, intention to use a technology is determined by individual’s perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use and intention to use determines actual use of a technology. Next, diffusion of innovation (DOI) was created by (Rogers 1995 ). This theory states that “Individuals are seen as possessing different degrees of willingness to adopt innovations and thus it is generally observed that the portion of the population adopting an innovation is approximately normally distributed over time. Breaking this normal distribution into segments leads to the segregation of individuals into the following five categories of individual innovativeness (from earliest to latest adopters): innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards” (Rogers 1995 ). Besides, Task Technology Fit Theory (TTF) was developed by Goodhue and Thompson in 1995 . According to this theory, if information technology is capable to match with the tasks of users, IT is more likely to have positive impact on individual performance. Moreover, the Unified Technology Acceptance Theory (UTAUT) was developed by Venkatesh et al. in 2003. This theory states that users’ technology acceptance and subsequent usage behavior is determined by performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. According to Venkatesh et al., this theory used gender, experience, age and voluntariness of use as moderators for intention of use and behavior.

On the basis of UTAUT, the researchers of this study included two more constructs to increase the study’s scope. Hence, this research hypothesized that integration of ICT and tourism in promoting tourist attractions is affected by perceived usefulness, social influence, perceived ease of use, cost effectiveness, competitive advantage, and facilitating conditions, see Table  1 .

Based on the theoretical propositions of UTAUT and related relevant literature, this study proposed 11 hypotheses with regard to the integration of ICT and tourism for improved promotion of tourist attractions.

This research work is proposed to measure the following 11 hypotheses so as address research questions and achieve the stated objective. Table  2 summarizes these hypotheses.

Study design

In this empirical study, organizations in Ethiopia working at tourism were surveyed in consideration of positivist philosophical assumptions.

Positivist epistemology assumes that knowledge is measurable and it is objectively described (Heyman 2009 ). Thus, this survey research used quantitative approach throughout the data collection, analysis, and interpretation phases.

The primary data collection instrument was standardized questionnaire which constituted structured questions for each of the constructs using a 5-Likert scale ranging from 1 “strongly disagree” to 5 “strongly agree”. From the distributed 453 questionnaires, 429 were filled and returned back, yielding a response rate of 94.6%.

The research participants were selected based on stratified sampling technique. This is because the tourism sector encompasses varied institutes such as national and regional tourism and culture organizations, tour operators, travel agents, and destination marketing organizations. The criteria for stratification were (1) type of tourism enterprise, (2) service type, (3) experience, and (4) location.

The research population included all tour and travel operators in the country, and federal and regional tourism and culture offices were included. From this population, a sample of 429 samples was studies. The data analysis process started immediately after measuring the validity and reliability of the collected data. Since this research work deployed quantitative research, deductive data analysis method was used. The theory-based quantitative data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software.

The data were collected from research participants after getting informed consents from study participants using an attachment on the research questionnaire. Their privacy and the information they provide were kept confidential. Most of the study participants were male and between the age of 35 and 45 whom account 73% and 33%, respectively (see Table  3 ). About 68% of the study participants were selected from privately owned tourism organizations. Most of these organizations have spent between 6 and 10 years (34%) providing tour and travel services which accounted 32% (Fig.  1 ).

Proposed research model

The analyzed data showed that a higher number of both computer and internet skilled workers were found in private touristic service providers than governmental providers (see Fig.  2 ). Most these workers have basic computer and internet skills than intermediate and advance skills in private and governmental touristic sectors. Study participants in private touristic organizations had better computer and internet skills than their counter parts.

Basic Computer and Internet Skills (n = 429)

Only 16% of the study participants working in touristic organizations reported that they had know-how of advanced computer and internet use skills. This implies that most of the employs do not know the intermediate and advanced services of their computers and the internet.

According to the respondents’ responses, touristic organizations use some promotional mechanisms to promote tourist attractions and touristic services (see Fig.  3 ). They use magazines, newspapers, flyers, websites, social media, and television and radio. However, flyer (31%) and magazine (26%) are the dominant tools. Although websites, social media, and television/radio have higher capability to be accessed by higher number of tourists globally, the percentage of these tools being used by participants low. According to the analysis result, website users are 23%, while social media and television/radio users are 8% and 2%, respectively.

Promotional Mechanisms (n = 429)

Reliability and validity of the model

Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was used for measuring the validity of the study. As per the Psychometric Theory (Nunnally and Bernstein 1978 ), the acceptable Cronbach Alpha value has to be greater than 0.7. The analyzed data of this study revealed that the seven constructs had above 0.7 (see Table  4 ). Similarly, although an acceptable composite reliability has to exceed 0.7, the result of this study showed that the seven constructs scored above 0.7. Furthermore, Average Variance Extracted (AVE) was used to evaluate convergent validity. Assuming that 50 or more of the variance of the indicators ought to be accounted, a study’s AVE result has to exceed 0.5 (Fornell and Larcker 1981 ). All constructs in this study resulted in AVE above 0.5.

The Pearson Product-momentum correlation coefficient ( r ) was used to test the hypotheses of this study. According to Kothari ( 2004 ), in case of measuring association between variables, Karl Pearson’s coefficient of correlation is the widely used measure. In correlation analysis, if the correlation coefficient exceeds 0.5 ( r  > 0.5), it shows significant relationship between variables.

To measure factors affecting ICT integration in the Ethiopian tourism, this study empirically analyzed eleven hypotheses. Subsequently, the analysis result showed that positive relationship between the variables at a significance level of 0.05 (see Table  5 ).

The first hypothesis (H1) states that there would be a significant positive association between social influence (SI) and behavioral intention (BI) to use ICT in the tourism sector. The correlation coefficient between these two variables is r  = 0.80 at p  < 0.05, which shows strong positive correlation. The second hypothesis (H2a) states that there would be a significant positive association between perceived usefulness (PU) and behavioral intention (BI) to use ICT in the tourism sector. The correlation coefficient between these two variables is r  = 0.84 at p  < 0.05, which shows strong positive correlation. The third hypothesis (H2b) states that there would be a significant positive association between perceived usefulness (PU) and social influence (SI) to use ICT in the tourism sector. The correlation coefficient between these two variables is r  = 0.85 at p  < 0.05, which shows strong positive correlation. The fourth hypothesis (H3) states that there would be a significant positive association between perceived ease of use (PEU) and behavioral intention (BI) to use ICT in the tourism sector. The correlation coefficient between these two variables is r  = 0.79 at p  < 0.05, which shows strong positive correlation. The fifth hypothesis (H4a) states that there would be a significant positive association between cost effectiveness (CE) and behavioral intention (BI) to use ICT in the tourism sector. The correlation coefficient between these two variables is r  = 0.78 at p  < 0.05, which shows strong positive correlation. The sixth hypothesis (H4b) states that there would be a significant positive association between cost effectiveness (CE) and perceived usefulness (PU) to use ICT in the tourism sector. The correlation coefficient between these two variables is r  = 0.83 at p  < 0.05, which shows strong positive correlation. The seventh hypothesis (H5a) states that there would be a significant positive association between competitive advantage (CA) and behavioral intention (BI) to use ICT in the tourism sector. The correlation coefficient between these two variables is r  = 0.75 at p  < 0.05, which shows strong positive correlation. The eight hypothesis (H5b) states that there would be a significant positive association between competitive advantage (CA) and cost effectiveness (CE) to use ICT in the tourism sector. The correlation coefficient between these two variables is r  = 0.66 at p  < 0.05, which shows moderate positive correlation. The ninth hypothesis (H5c) states that there would be a significant positive association between competitive advantage (CA) and perceived usefulness (PU) to use ICT in the tourism sector. The correlation coefficient between these two variables is r  = 0.68 at p  < 0.05, which shows moderate positive correlation. The tenth hypothesis (H5d) states that there would be a significant positive association between competitive advantage (CA) and social influence (SI) to use ICT in the tourism sector. The correlation coefficient between these two variables is r  = 0.62 at p  < 0.05, which shows moderate positive correlation. The ninth hypothesis (H6) states that there would be a significant positive association between facilitating conditions (FC) and behavioral intention (BI) to use ICT in the tourism sector. The correlation coefficient between these two variables is r  = 0.82 at p  < 0.05, which shows strong positive correlation.

Furthermore, using multiple regression analysis between the dependent and independent variables, the standardized weights of predictors of behavioral intention (BI) were determined (see Eq.  1 ):

where Y  = variable to be predicted or dependent variable (DV), X  = variable that predicts Y , α  = intercept, β  = coefficient of X , ɛ  = regression residual (error).

The regression analysis revealed that, see Table  6 , standardized weights of the independent variables such as social influence (SI), perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEU), cost effectiveness (CE), competitive advantage (CA) and facilitating conditions (FC), and the dependent variable behavioral intention (BI):

According to McKelvey and Zavoina ( 1975 ), the coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) determines the proportion of variance in the dependent variable which is predictable from the independent variable. High coefficient of determination shows greater explanatory power of a regression model. Accordingly, the coefficient of determination of behavioral intention (BI) to use ICT in Ethiopian tourism is 0.844, which means that the regression model explained 84.4% of the variance in BI. Thus, this high value of R 2 depicts that the regression model is very good and the model statistically significant at F  = 381.1, confidence interval 95%, and p  < 0.001. Figure  4 shows the standardized coefficients or determination weights of the independent variables (SI, PU, PEU, CE, CA, and FC) on the dependent variable (BI).

Coefficient of regression analysis

The empirical demonstration of the proposed model enabled to identify predictors that determine intention to use ICT in tourism. Social influence has significant impact on the study participants’ behavioral intention to use ICT in tourism. As social influence to use ICT in tourism increases, the behavioral intention to use it also increases. There is also strong positive association between perceived usefulness and behavioral intention to use ICT in the tourism. This shows that users are more interested to integrate ICT in their tourism activities when they think that such technologies will be helpful. The finding also showed significant positive relationship between perceived ease of use and behavioral intention to use ICT in tourism. That means tourism organizations are motivated to use ICTs when such technologies are easy to use letting them to have more time for other activities. There was significant association between cost effectiveness and behavioral intention to use ICT in tourism. Cost-effective ICT facilities are more preferable by tourism organizations. Moreover, there is significant relationship between competitive advantage and behavioral intention to use ICT in tourism. This suggests that users’ behavioral intention to use ICT in tourism increases when they believe that the technology will improve their competitive advantages over their counter parts. Besides, the research illustrated significant association between facilitating conditions and behavioral intention to use ICT in tourism. Tourism organizations’ behavioral intention to use ICT increases when facilitating conditions such as users’ experience, resources, and background ICT skill increases.

Implications and conclusions

Using an extended Unified Technology Acceptance Theory (UTAUT), this empirical research found out factors affecting integration of ICT in tourism for promoting Ethiopian tourist attractions. Consequently, the study addressed the three research questions raised in the beginning of the research work. The first question was “What is the current status of the integration of ICT in the Ethiopian tourism sector?”. Although ICT plays significant role in promoting tourist attraction, particularly in the developed world and some developing countries, this research result shows that the integration of ICT in the tourism sector of Ethiopia is low. This shows that major improvements in the integration of ICT in promotion of tourist attractions in Ethiopia is required by the tourism stakeholders such as national and regional tourism and culture organizations, tour operators, travel agents, and destination marketing organizations. The second research questions states that “What are the factors affecting the integration of ICT and tourism in the Ethiopian context?”. The result showed that social influence, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, competitive advantage, cost effectiveness, and facilitating conditions were significantly associated with integration of ICT in tourism in Ethiopia. This implies that the improved model could be applicable to other developing nations that have similar settings or context with Ethiopia. The last research question was “To what extent do these factors affect the integration of ICT and tourism in Ethiopia?”. According to the analysis result, social influence, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, cost effectiveness, competitive advantage and facilitating conditions significant predictors of organizations perceived behavioral intention to use ICT in the tourism sector for promoting Ethiopian tourist attractions. Take a look at the correlation coefficients from Table  5 .

Limitations

This empirical study was carried out using data gathered from tourism organizations in Ethiopia. However, it would be better if data from other countries were included.

Future works

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Authors’ contributions

The corresponding author, MW, worked from initiation to close out of the research work. The co-author, FM, also included her valuable contribution to this research particularly in reviewing related literature, data gathering and encoding activities.

Acknowledgements

Our first respected gratitude goes to those research participants who devoted their valuable time and effort and contributed their valuable experiences to this study. Second, our gratitude goes to Bahir Dar University for its financial support and ambitious plan and encouragement of researchers to engage in research. Finally, we would like to dedicate this research work to our families for their love, encouragement, patience, and unconditional support.

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We confirm that this research is an original work and there is no any individual or organization having competing interest on this study.

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Wagaw, M., Mulugeta, F. Integration of ICT and tourism for improved promotion of tourist attractions in Ethiopia. Appl Inform 5 , 6 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40535-018-0053-x

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The Role of ICT in Involving the Tourist and in Sustainability of Tourism Destinations

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• Célia M. Q. Ramos 4 ,
• Georgette Andraz 5 &
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A tourist destination, in addition, to attracting tourists, both national and international, must take care of the interests of the local community in order to obtain economic development, improve the quality of life of the resident and meet the satisfaction of visitors. The quality of experiences perceived by tourists, about a tourist destination, contributes to their satisfaction and to the creation of richer memories. In this context, the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can be the way to improve and add value to the experience, through the involvement of tourists and residents, taking into account the search made by tourists about their tourist destination before and during travel, through the dissemination of its authenticity, values and heritage of the destination by other tourists, residents and by official destination management organizations. The present research intends to analyse the role played by ICT to improve the competitiveness of the destination, in order to meet the needs of tourists, taking in consideration the quality of life of its residents. The methodology used considers descriptive statistical analysis and non-parametric tests applied to research questions. The research concluded that tourists use ICT at any time during their travel, both in planning and in the consumption phase, and that they use the technology in order to find information on the destination, make reservations and share their experiences on the social networks.

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This paper is financed by National Funds provided by FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology through project CIEO (UID/SOC/04020/2019) and project CEFAGE (UID/ECO/04007/2019).

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Ramos, C.M.Q., Andraz, G., Cardoso, I. (2020). The Role of ICT in Involving the Tourist and in Sustainability of Tourism Destinations. In: Ratten, V. (eds) Technological Progress, Inequality and Entrepreneurship. Studies on Entrepreneurship, Structural Change and Industrial Dynamics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26245-7_3

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Importance of ICT Advancement and Culture of Adaptation in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry for Developing Countries

Introduction.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council's (WTTC) annual report, the total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was 4.4 percent of total GDP in 2018, with this sector supporting 3.9 percent of total employment (24, 14,400 jobs) and visitor exports accounting for 0.8 percent of total exports (2018, WTTC). ICT is an abbreviation for information and communication technology used to improve any company or organization. Tourism and hospitality have emerged as one of the most exciting fields of work in recent years. Most tourism and hospitality companies are heavily reliant on information and communication technology (Khatri, 2019). ICT is used for a wide range of tasks, from customer recruitment to higher-level administrative tasks. As a result, there is a strong relationship between ICT and the tourism and hospitality industries. The performance has grown in significance, and it can now be seen as a model for developing countries. This remarkable success can be attributed mainly to implementing information and communication technology (Richard, 2013). Each year, significant capital is invested in developing goods and services and enhancing hotel operations (Paryani et al., 2010). Improving the efficiency of this sector's operation has emerged as one of the most pressing concerns in an increasingly volatile global market, with improvements in distribution channels, marketing services, and customer relationship management serving as critical components. For the hospitality industry, in particular, the Internet not only contributes significantly to the dissemination of information about the provided goods and services on the broadest possible scale, but it also facilitates their merchandising process.

The use of the Internet has brought new products and services, new ways of managing tourism operations and businesses in the region, and even today, determines a continuous optimization of the acquisition and promotion processes for tourism services. Tourism, leisure, hospitality, and the hotel industry all depend heavily on information and communication technology. The incorporation of ICT in the hotel industry is critical to the success of hotels (Bethapudi, 2013). Some academics agree that ICT will help nations grow economically (Aziz et al., 2012; Kamel, Rateb, & El-Tawil, 2009). American and European hotels have successfully integrated systems such as computer reservation system (CRS), customer relation management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management (SCM), project management system (PMS), knowledge management system (KMS), and office automation system (OAS) and are reaping the intended benefits (Li, 2012). Most third-world countries continue to face challenges in effectively administering ICT to improve their industry's operational efficiency (Shereni, 2020). These include a lack of guidance and mechanisms for ICT implementation, a lack of modern ICTs, ineffective organizational methods, the influence of corruption, and unfeasible policies affecting industries such as the hotel sector (Makiwa, 2018). Based on these constraints, many modern hotels in most third-world countries have struggled to mature and contribute significantly to ICT adoption in tourism and HI (Harris, 2019).

Key Terms in this Chapter

Tourism and Hospitality Industry : The tourism and hospitality industry encompasses a diverse range of businesses, including lodging, restaurants, tourism destinations and attractions, as well as airlines and other modes of transport. They not only stimulate economic activity, but also create jobs, generate revenue, and contribute significantly to development.

Developing Country : A developing country is one that has a less developed industrial base and a low Human Development Index when compared to other nations.

Hotel : A hotel, inn, tourist camp, tourist court, tourist cabin, motel, or any other place where rooms, lodgings, or accommodations are furnished to transients for a fee for short-term basis.

Culture : Culture is a term that refers to the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, and includes language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, and the arts.

Tourism Development : Tourism development is the process of establishing and maintaining a tourism industry in a particular location. At its most fundamental level, tourism development can be defined as the process of developing strategies and plans to increase/develop/encourage tourism in a particular destination.

Marketing : Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes involved in developing, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that are valuable to customers, clients, partners, and society at large.

Information and Communication Technology : Information and communication technologies (ICTs) is a broader term for information technology (IT), which encompasses all communication technologies, such as the internet, wireless networks, cell phones, computers, software, middleware, video conferencing, social networking, and other media applications and services.

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The Emerald Handbook of Tourism Economics and Sustainable Development

ISBN : 978-1-83753-709-9 , eISBN : 978-1-83753-708-2

Publication date: 18 September 2024

The adoption and usage of information and communication technology (ICT) has introduced transformation in the tourism arena with ICT applications extensively used in tourism industry. In addition to ICT, an advanced infrastructure is essential for the development of tourism industry. Thus, the goal of present research is to probe the impact of ICT and infrastructure on tourism development (TD) in 28 Asian economies using method of moments panel quantile regression (MM-QR) model introduced by Machado and Silva (2019) applied to a panel data from 2008 to 2020. Empirical findings demonstrate that there is an asymmetric non-linear effect of ICT and infrastructure through all quantile range. This indicates that ICT has negative effect on TD in poor countries while positive impact in rich countries. Negative impact in poor countries may be due to higher establishment cost and information technology (IT) productivity paradox. However, results confirm the importance of ICT and infrastructure in endorsing the development of tourism sector in Asian nations by lessening time and money costs and facilitating travelers.

• Infrastructure
• Tourism development
• Panel quantile regression

Arsh, S. , Nasreen, S. and Nghiem, X.-H. (2024), "The Role of ICT and Infrastructure in Tourism Development: New Evidence From Asian Economies", Hunjra, A.I. and Sharma, A. (Ed.) The Emerald Handbook of Tourism Economics and Sustainable Development ( Building the Future of Tourism ), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 119-145. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-708-220241007

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The influences of Information Communication Technology (ICT)

The advancement of ICT influences the growth of the travel and tourism industry in every kind of business. First, multimedia is a way to promote the travel industry, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Tripadviser. Second, ICT can create photo and graphic designs which tourism suppliers need to advertise their products. It has Canva, Adobe, and Davinci. Third, it provides GPS which tourists use to find the tourist destination. Mostly, they use Google Maps. Fourth, ICT contributes real-time crowd control in tourist attractions such as alert systems and emergency notification. Last but not least, it developed to track visitor movement by using GPS and smartphone. It is important for tourism suppliers, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Pros and cons of ICT in tourism sector

The advantages of using ICT in the tourism sector. First, it was used as E-commerce to promote tourism through online platforms. Second, in the hotel industry, it was used to manage employee’s productivity and hotel’s revenue. Third, in the tourism industry over the world use ICT for the business transaction by trading and providing information to consumers about the product. Last, ICT helps tourists who have not experienced traveling by providing the information, recommendation and booking information that is related with tourist destinations on online applications such as Booking.com, Agoda, and Google services.

The disadvantages of using ICT in the tourism sector. First, not all the online information is true and efficient. Second, the fake information goes viral very fast through the internet and it will affect the business. Third, not every firm in the tourism business has funds to support the technology device. Fourth, if we implement the high end technology into the natural destination, it will affect natural resources and it seems not to be a natural destination anymore. Last but not least, if everything is replaced with technology, it may affect the number of employees. As we can see some hotel industries in the developed countries are replacing people with robotech.

The strategies to limit the risk by Using ICT

There are a few strategies which can be implemented to limit risk and disadvantages of using ICT in the tourism industry. Firstly, provide what the firm advertises to the consumer without fail, so when tourists meet their expectations they will not share the fake information about your business. Secondly, tourism suppliers have to think about how to implement the technology properly into their company in order to prevent money wasted without getting any profit back. Lastly, limited technology devices in some tourist destinations because not all tourists are satisfied with using technology to guide them. For example when they visit a history place they need a tour guide to describe what has happened in the past, they want to feel naturally, not just listening to the recording devices.

Information Communication Technology can aid the tourism sector in facing the COVID-19 pandemic for 2 reasons. First, social media play an important role to share information which relates to the pandemic very fast and recently update data to everyone to be aware of the virus. Second, due to the internet service provider being everywhere along with the COVID-19 application, it can track people movement and alert them about the safety and danger of where they should go or not.

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