TITLE:
Tourism Distribution System and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Development: Comparing Data of 2008 and 2012
AUTHORS:
Carmen Berné, María Gómez-Campillo, Víctor Orive
KEYWORDS:
ICT, Tourism Distribution System, Tourism Online Channel
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Economy,
Vol.6 No.2,
February
3,
2015
ABSTRACT: Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the development of the online channel
have transformed the competitive environment of the tourism industry within a
brief span of time. However, our knowledge
about the details of the evolving trend of the distribution system is scarce.
Considering the prior literature, this research analyzes the evolution of the
sector’s structure, the power of tourism operators, the production processes
and products of the tourism sector. The work uses primary information which is taken
from surveys to experts in the sector, within a European context. The results
of the work, based on a comparison between two samples in 2008 and in 2012,
underscore the development of the distribution system and the significant
changes happened in opinions regarding the relationship between the use of ICTs
and value creation, regarding ICTs and product quality, and regarding how ICTs
facilitate the adoption of the best practices in the industry. Multiple and
exclusively online channel strategies are the most involved.