Technology in Tourism Marketing

The proliferation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) coupled with sophisticated network protocols have unveiled new avenues for enterprises and organizations and the hospitality industries cannot be left out. Technology-based systems stand in a pivotal position to offer better service to the populace. Hospitality industries such as hotels can take advantage of the pervasiveness of ICT vis-à-vis technology-based systems to advance some of their operations. This paper seeks to assess the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in a front office operation of chain hotels in Ghana. The paper determines the extent of the use of information technology in a front office operation of chain hotels in Ghana. The paper continues to assess the effect of the use of information technology in the front office operation of chain hotels in Ghana, thus if the use of ICT has any effect on chain hotels’ front office operations. The paper further makes recommendations to chain hotel operators and the Ghana Tourist Authority (GTA) and policy makers on the use of information and communications technology in front office operation in chain hotels. Three chain hotels in Ghana were assessed.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are spreading rapidly and affecting almost all aspects of daily life, including businesses. The tourism and hospitality industry have been largely affected by advancements in ICTs. ICTs offer both opportunities and challenges for SMEs in the tourism and hospitality industry. Although large companies have been quick to adopt ICTs with rich resources, SMEs have been slow to adopt these technologies in general for various reasons, especially in developing countries. In this article, the authors explore the factors affecting the adoption of e-commerce by small hotels. To attain this purpose, a comparative case study was conducted in two small hotels, and their use of the Internet and the Web was explored. Conclusions derived from this study provide a meaningful contribution to the understanding of e-commerce adoption in small businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Actuality of the conducted research is practically oriented character. Without the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the field of higher education, it is impossible to carry out qualitative training of specialists in engineering, the results of which are necessary for the implementation of a national strategy for modernizing the economy and forming a progressive state of European type. Formulation of the task - the specificity of the use of ICT in the system of higher education has not been studied sufficiently. ICT form a complex environment, which includes a lot of information objects and the links between them. It can be argued that the structural and functional analysis of the use of ICT in higher education is the basis of the theoretical justification in the formation of technical professionalism of future engineers. ICTs form a complex system, which includes not only technical and software-hardware capabilities, but also psycho-pedagogical, organizational, methodological. Without taking into account all of these components, as well as the needs of the subjects of the educational process, the use of ICT tools (especially centralized) may be accompanied by risks and negatively affect the quality of high education. An analysis of recent research and publications-is actively exploring the experience of using ICT in high school, it is possible to distinguish the work of foreign specialists D. Stevenson, G. Reinhold, E. Wenger, S. Papierta, I. Zakharova, E. Patarakina, A. Khutorskogo, E. Polat The founders of this scientific direction in our country were M. I. Zhaldak, Y. I.Mashbits. The recent significant increase in the number of studies, the subject of which was the use of information and communication technologies in the educational process. Tsitemi in Ukraine is dedicated to the study of such scholars as V. Yu. Bykov, Ya.V. Bulakhova, O.M. Bondarenko, V.F. Zabolotny, G.O. Kozlakova, O. Moiko, O. Naumenko, Yu.Burovitskaya, I. Stavyts'ka, O.P. Pinchuk, O.V. Shestopal and others. Selection of unexplored parts of the general problem. The use of information technologies in the educational process is the foundation of innovative development of the educational system. The rapid development of ICT provides not only significant pace of innovative progress, but also requires the definition (limitation) of information resources that guarantee the quality of learning, the choice of techniques that are in line with the general strategy for the formation of professional competences. Therefore, the problem of choosing an approach to the process of learning with the use of ICTs remains one of the main tasks of education. Research methods. In theory and practice, the study of the application of information and communication technologies (ICT) in high school uses empirical methods of collecting and analyzing information based on the results of the survey of 120 students. Presenting main material. The essence of professionalism of future specialists of the technical direction is revealed. The scientific point of view on the professionalism of the engineer is presented. The peculiarities of formation of the basis of technical professionalism of future engineers in the process of studying at a higher school are theoretically grounded. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the results of empirical researches of this problem is presented. The practical significance of the research topic is that the innovative approaches to the training of specialists in engineering specialties are differentiated, which differentiate in the educational concepts of teaching in higher educational institutions of European countries

Purpose Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is a controversial bill passed by the State of Indiana and signed into law in March 2015. The purpose of this paper is to look into whether there is empirical evidence that the political shock of RFRA had a negative empirical impact upon the hotel industry in Indiana’s major city, Indianapolis, and investigate how DMOs and other organizations in the tourism and hospitality industry worked in ways to counteract the threat of a great deal of loss of business caused by the national furor caused by the passing of the original bill in March 2015. Design/methodology/approach To fully examine the impact of RFRA on hospitality business in Indiana, secondary data were used in this study. The researchers used the Trend Market report created by Smith Travel Research (STR) (2016b) with a focus on the greater Indianapolis area, which include Indianapolis South East, Indianapolis Central Business District, Indianapolis Airport/Speedway, Indianapolis North Loop, and Indianapolis small towns. In the Trend Market report, hotel operation performance results are listed including occupancy percentage, average daily rate, revenue per available room, supply, demand, and revenue. Findings The findings from this investigation illustrate that there is no empirical reason to believe that the political shock of the RFRA controversy in Indiana in 2015 had a meaningful impact upon the hospitality and tourism industry in Indianapolis, despite concerns that it would make a big and negative impact upon the industry. While event planners may have a negative perception of the city of Indianapolis and the state, these perceptions do not seem to be enough to make a difference in terms of impacting upon the hospitality industry in Indianapolis. Originality/value There are lessons that could be learned from this, as many states in the USA continue to pass similar laws to RFRA, laws that are perceived as being problematic for those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. The most noteworthy lesson is that the passing of laws that seem to threaten people of the LGBT community will bring a national response and will likely be accompanied with threats that are economic in nature. There is a great deal of evidence to show that passing any legislation that may be interpreted as infringing upon the rights of members of the LGBT community will result in substantial responses that may be negative in nature.

Information and communication technology (ICT) has changed and continues to change almost every aspect of our daily lives. Our personal lives, social interactions, educational systems, business atmosphere, and corporate culture-everything has changed in one way or another due to advances in the field of ICT. The construction industry is no exception. ICT provides an unprecedented opportunity as well as enormous challenges to the construction industry.

The purpose of this article is to analyze the introduction and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the special disciplines of higher education, to teach teachers how to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning through information and communication technologies (ICT). This article discusses the issues of improving the knowledge and skills of students through the use of modern information and communication technologies in the preparation of designers, increasing students' interest in the educational process and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice in the future. The focus is on the need to develop appropriate strategies for a new educational role and, in addition, to enhance the role of learners in integrating information and communication technologies (ICT) into the educational process. The role and perspective of the teachers was very important, highlighting them as key players in the process. The data show that there is a belief that the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the educational process will help increase the effectiveness of education and facilitate the organization of the educational process. In particular, it shows that the contribution of information and communication technologies (ICT) to the improvement of the educational process in educational institutions, where information and communication technologies (ICT) is an innovative factor, is high. Achieving this high level means that the educational institution must not only modernize technological means, but also change the models of teaching.

BackgroundSelf-rated health is associated with information and communications technology (ICT) use among older adults. Non–US born, older Asian American individuals are more inclined to rate their health as fair or poor compared to individuals from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. This population is also less likely to use ICTs as compared to White older Americans. Furthermore, cognitive decline may impact technology acceptance. In a previous adaptation of the technology acceptance model for low-income, Asian American older adults, perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), age, educational attainment, ethnicity, and English proficiency were significant predictors of ICT use. However, the association between health and technology acceptance has not been explored among Asian American older adults.ObjectiveThis study examined the role of self-rated health and subjective cognitive decline in the acceptance and use of ICTs among low-income, Asian American older adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey included Asian American individuals aged ≥62 years living in affordable housing for older adults (N=392). Using hierarchical multiple regression, we explored the association between self-rated health and ICT use and technology acceptance model mediators (PU and PEOU) while adjusting for demographics, English proficiency, and subjective cognitive decline. Contrast statements were used to estimate contrasts of interest. To further examine the separate and joint association between age and subjective cognitive decline and the dependent variables, we examined scatterplots with locally estimated scatterplot smoothing lines, revealing that the relationship between subjective cognitive decline and ICT use varied in 3 age segments, which led to updating our analysis to estimate differences in ICT use among age categories with and without subjective cognitive decline.ResultsSelf-rated health was not significantly associated with ICT use (β=.087; P=.13), PU (β=.106; P=.10), or PEOU (β=.062; P=.31). However, the interaction terms of subjective cognitive decline and age significantly improved the model fit for ICT use (ΔR2=0.011; P=.04). In reviewing scatterplots, we determined that, in the youngest age group (62-74 years), ICT use increased with subjective cognitive decline, whereas in the older age groups (75-84 and ≥85 years), ICT use decreased with subjective cognitive decline, more so in the oldest age category. Through regression analysis, among participants with subjective cognitive decline, ICT use significantly decreased in the middle and older age groups as compared to the youngest age group. However, among participants without subjective cognitive decline, the difference in use among age groups was not significant.ConclusionsThis study contributes to the understanding of the complex relationship between health and ICT acceptance among low-income, Asian American older adults and suggests the need for tailored interventions to promote digital engagement and quality of life for this population.

In the context of rapid growth in the tourism industry and increasing attention to sustainability issues, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) standards have become an essential benchmark for the hospitality sector worldwide. As Ukraine moves toward integration into the global tourism market, adopting the Global Sustainable Tourism Council standards is crucial for maintaining environmental, social, and economic sustainability within the industry. The subject of the study is the Global Sustainable Tourism Council standards and indicators of sustainable tourism and hospitality development. The purpose of the article is to analyze international standards and indicators of sustainable tourism and hospitality development, particularly the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and to determine their significance for the Ukrainian tourism and hospitality industry development. The objectives of the study are: to analyze the structure and content of international standards and indicators for sustainable tourism and hospitality development, with a focus on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria; to determine the significance and practical implications of applying GSTC standards for enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of the Ukrainian tourism and hospitality industry. Research methods: generalization and systematization (to identify groups of criteria and indicators of sustainable development in the tourism and hospitality industry); systemic and comprehensive analysis (to determine the importance of applying global sustainable tourism council standards for the Ukrainian tourism and hospitality industry development); graphical method (for visual representation of theoretical material). Results. A comprehensive review of the standards and recommended indicators of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) for tourism and hospitality has been carried out, with a focus on their structure and key thematic areas. A detailed analysis of the four main blocks of GSTC criteria – effective sustainable management, socio-economic benefits, cultural heritage preservation, and environmental protection – has been conducted. The review demonstrates how these standards align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and serve as a universal basis for assessing the sustainability of tourism enterprises and destinations. The necessity of applying GSTC criteria for the Ukrainian tourism and hospitality industry has been substantiated, emphasizing their role in enhancing competitiveness and sustainability. The strategic importance of these standards for post-crisis recovery, shaping a positive image of Ukraine as a sustainable tourism destination, and ensuring long-term resilience through responsible practices has been highlighted.

The article examines the main directions of the modern development of enterprises in the hospitality and tourism industry in Germany after the abatement of the coronavirus pandemic and the recovery of international travel volumes. This made it possible to formulate an idea of modern trends and possible promising directions for the development of the field of hospitality and tourism in Germany. The field of hospitality and tourism is studied in the context of the economic growth of the country, employment and education of the population – as a key factor in the development of the national economy of Germany, which is especially important for improving the attractiveness of structurally weak areas of the country. In particular, the trends are considered as positive impulses for the growth of the hospitality and tourism industry, extending to other sectors of the economy, such as trade, crafts or agriculture. From the analysis of the latest trends in the development of the hospitality and tourism industry, it can be stated that international tourism in Germany in 2023 and at the beginning of 2024 almost recovered to the pre-pandemic level: there was a dynamic growth of inbound tourism, an important stimulus for this process was the organization of EURO-2024 , the market for international business trips recovered particularly quickly, the process of introducing innovations was intensified, a pilot project was launched with an influential face in the field of AI, new programs for the development of barrier-free tourism were developed, the focus of global marketing was on the problems of developing cultural tourism, in the largest outbound markets new city travel programs were presented, new proposals for the sustainable development of tourism were proposed, and there was an extremely dynamic recovery of inbound tourism from China. This work will help researchers in the analysis of new post-pandemic trends in the development of the travel and hospitality industry; to carry out comprehensively substantiated forecasting for the long-term perspective of the sustainable development of international tourism and hospitality; to study the problems and new competitive advantages of enterprises in the hospitality and tourism industry. The prospects for further scientific research in this direction is the development of proposals for the strategic development of the domestic hospitality and tourism industry on the basis of the introduction of effective German practices.

The web changes commercial activities such as information gathering, shopping, trading, collaboration, and distribution to which companies need to adapt their strategies. The importance of information and communication technology (ICT), especially of the internet in the travel and tourism industry has increased tremendously over the past few years. The travel and tourism area is one of those industries, which are able to gain enormous synergy effects from use of the internet. The research projects at the ec3 focus on the tourism area from different perspectives. This paper provides an overview of the work within the xCom project in this research area by looking at trends and developments within the eTourism area. We give an overview of the travel and tourism industry and the changes caused by ICT. These changes lead to several threats and opportunities which will be outlined in our 'competitive advantage in eTourism' framework.

Background. Life expectancy is an important health status indicator based on average number of years a person at a given age may be expected to live given current mortality rates. Given this significance, it would be necessary to probe into the factors affecting the life expectancy. Ensuring that information and communication technology (ICT) services are properly used could contribute to development and achievement, as it represents an important issue for the countries moving toward knowledge-based and information-based societies. Therefore, this study explored the impact of the information and communication technology on life expectancy. Methods. This study covers annual data from 2008 to 2018 for a group of countries in the Middle East. Data were retrieved from the Annual Reports such as World Bank and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) data sets. The effects of ICT on life expectancy are estimated with the Panel model. We also used the Hausman test to investigate fixed versus random effects. The data were analyzed by Stata 14 software. Results. The core findings of this study confirm the significant impact of ICT on life expectancy in the Middle East. The calculated Coefficient of the regression was 0.551 indicating how much life expectancy changes when ICT variable increases by one unit. Moreover, the rho (intraclass correlation) was found to be 0.975 showing that 97.5% of the variance is due to differences across panels. Conclusion. Considering the effect of ICT on life expectancy, policymakers of the Middle Eastern countries should integrate the use of ICT with the existing programs and systems. Technology is not an end in itself but merely the means to reinforce the existing system and to meet the locally determined goals. It can be used as a tool to attain broader health and development goals. Background Life expectancy is an important health status indicator based on average number of years a person at a given age may be expected to live given current mortality rates. Given this significance, it would be necessary to probe into the factors affecting the life expectancy. Ensuring that information and communication technology (ICT) services are properly used could contribute to development and achievement, as it represents an important issue for the countries moving toward knowledge-based and information-based societies. As ICT affects everyday lives, it also impacts the macroeconomic growth, which in turn further affects everyday lives by allowing improvements in infrastructures and a higher standard of living. ICTs inherently entail the economic development of countries, regions and cities, while also improving social inclusion, well-being and therefore quality of life. Therefore, this study explored the impact of the information and communication technology on life expectancy. Methods This study covers annual data from 2008 to 2018 for a group of countries of in the Middle East. Data were retrieved from the Annual Reports such as World Bank dataset and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) data set. The effects of information and communication technology on life expectancy were estimated through the Panel model. First, stationary tests were performed with the Fisher’s generalized unit root test. In the Fisher test for panel data, the null hypothesis of a unit root was rejected at the 5% level of significance. The cross-section correlation test was performed with the Freeze test. The null hypothesis of no correlation was rejected at the 5% level of significance. We also used the Hausman test to investigate fixed versus random effects. The null hypothesis of no fixed effects was accepted so the random effects model was used. The Hausman test detects endogenous regressors in a regression model. Endogenous variables have values that are determined by other variables in the system. The data were analyzed by Stata 14 software. Results The core findings of this study confirm the significant impact of information and communication technology on life expectancy in the Middle East. The Coefficient of the regression was 0.551 indicating how much life expectancy changes when information technology variable increases by one unit. The coefficient of ICT shows that 1% increase in ICT variable causes 0.551 % incline in life expectancy and this result is significant at 5% level of significance. Regarding control variables, we found that all have expected statistically significant effects on life expectancy. The intra-cluster correlation coefficient (rho) is a measure of the relatedness, or similarity, of clustered data. Values of rho range from 0 to 1 in human studies, and as the rho increases, more individuals within the clusters resemble one another. The rho (intraclass correlation) was found to be 0.975 showing that 97.5% of the variance is due to differences across panels. This research recommends that human development programs need to focus on polices which foster digital inclusion. Conclusion Considering the effect of information and communication technology on life expectancy, policymakers of the Middle Eastern countries should integrate the use of information and communication technology with the existing programs and systems. The digital citizen is happier and values living in regions with technological capacity, investing in research & development, and committed to achieving sustainable growth. ICT use leads to improved assessments of the efficiency and management of the public administration by more technological users, underlining the importance of an understanding between users and public services in the virtual sphere. Technology is not an end in itself but merely an instrument to reinforce the existing system and to meet the locally determined goals. It can be used as a tool to attain broader health and development goals. The findings from this study provide key insights that explain how life expectancy may be enhanced through ICTs. Practical Implications of Research According to the influence of information and communication technology (ICT) on life expectancy, policymakers should provide ICT infrastructures and adopt strategies integrating ICT policies with human life criteria such as education, health and work to improve life expectancy. Ethical Consideration The paper reflects the author’s own research and analysis in a truthful and complete manner. Conflict of Interests This study was an independent research and the author declares no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Acknowledgement I would like to thank Dr Marzieh Ronaghi for her guidance and assistance throughout this research.

In today’s fast changing world, we must adopt 21st-century skills and knowledge to keep pace with the evolving needs of society and the economy. One of these is the use of ICT, or Information and Communication Technology, in education. This study addresses the identified gaps and effectiveness of ICT training and integration in education. To analyze the concept, the researcher conducted data mining across various countries that have studied common interests. Through analysis and synthesis, we can conclude that ICT is crucial and timely to use and adopt in this technological era for both teachers and students. The study reveals that socioeconomic level (SES) is one of the factors hindering students from accessing the internet and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), particularly those from low-income and rural communities. At the same time, providing consistent ICT training and programs to teachers enhances competency, overall instructional management, and positively affects students' learning outcomes. Students' academic performance has improved as a result of the use and integration of ICT, which also helps them become more engaged and motivated to study in the classroom. The study concluded that while ICT use in schools is essential for improving the teaching and learning process, specific initiatives from the government and other stakeholders are required to close the digital divide and ensure that all students can utilize its potential, such as continuous professional development for teachers, and guaranteed technology access for marginalized students. Such dual-focused interventions, combining infrastructure investment with human capacity building, can transform educational ecosystems into equitable, future-ready learning environments.

This chapter provides an overview of the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the religious tourism industry, evidencing how useful they can be in this specific tourism context, as they are in the tourism industry in general. Deconstructing whether religious tourism is conducted for purely religious motives or not is not the aim of this chapter. Instead, for the purposes of this chapter, religious tourism is a type of tourism that includes a religious site as a destination or a pilgrimage to a religious site or religious event, regardless of the traveler's motivation. The chapter highlights several uses of ICTs in religious tourism contexts and how religious sites, events and pilgrimages can be more effectively managed. Finally, ICTs can contribute to advancing religious tourism research. Indeed, tools such as tracking devices can help researchers and managers gain more comprehensive knowledge of religious tourists’ behaviors regarding, for example, entry/exit times, length of stay and hotspots for crowd gathering.

Microfinance has been a significant means of reducing poverty since the mid-1970s. With the economic, social, and demographic characteristics, Bangladesh has been one of the countries where microfinance interventions are notable. In Bangladesh, hundreds of microfinance organisations have been implementing microfinance programs covering almost one-third of the rural population of the country. Studies show that the proper use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) may help microfinance intervention in different ways. It may help increase operational performance, organisational upsizing, and poverty outreach, and decrease interest rate with many other organisational and social implications. This chapter looks into the Information Systems (IS) of microfinance of Bangladesh, the extent and intensity of the use of ICT, the factors that hinder the use of ICT in microfinance, the approaches to ICT management, and the emerging mobile technology-based operational model of microfinance and perceived implications of the changing landscape of ICT on this development program.

Tourism is a major pillar of the global economy, significantly shaped by modern information and communication technologies (ICTs), including the Internet. These advances have revolutionized information dissemination and spurred innovations within the tourism industry. Known as „electronic tourism“ or „e-tourism,“ this transformation involves the digitization and modernization of industry infrastructure and operations. ICT integration has led to the development of innovative tools and platforms, enhancing efficiency, personalization, and interactivity for both providers and consumers. Technologies such as online booking systems, virtual tours, customer relationship management (CRM), and targeted marketing are now essential for operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and market reach. Moreover, ICTs play a crucial role in strategic planning and decision-making. By analyzing big data and utilizing sophisticated analytics, tourism businesses can gain insights into market trends, consumer preferences, and competitive dynamics, enabling informed decisions and adaptation to the digital age.