Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012. / The reason for conducting this research was to evaluate the impact of information technology in the tourism industry, focusing mainly on tourism intermediaries, which include selected travel agencies and tour operators in Cape Town, and their awareness levels of the negative and positive impacts, as well as disintermediation that occurs owing to information technology developments. The research methodology for this thesis comprised a literature search and an empirical survey, which evaluated the impacts of information technology on tourism intermediaries in Cape Town. This research sought to establish whether disintermediation has occurred amongst travel agents and tour operators, whilst recognising strategies, which these tourism intermediaries can use to ensure survival in the competitive tourism industry. Relevant sources were referred to in the literature search. A number of appropriate normative measures were taken from the literature, followed by an empirical survey where randomly selected tourism intermediaries in Cape Town, namely small, medium to large companies were chosen to participate in the research questionnaire. The questionnaire responses were captured by the registered CPUT statistician in the form of frequency distribution analyses, and these were statistically analysed by the researcher and the registered statistician. The interpretations and findings of the statistical analyses were presented in tables and charts and were explained individually according to the statements' similarities, differences and verifications, as per the research questionnaire. A number of recommendations emanated from the literature sources and empirical survey, followed by concluding remarks in the form of conclusions.

The effectiveness of tour destination selection is dependent on pre-visit information sources. As competition increases in the tourism industry, destination organisations need to improve current destination selection processes. Research on current processes indicate that information sources accessed by potential tourists when making travel decisions may not be a true reflection of what the destination is offering. Any negative difference between perceived images during pre-visit and real images during the actual visit may result in poor destination reputation and dissatisfied customers. This research addresses this gap by improving the process of destination selection using a real-time data streaming mediation technique as an additional pre-visit information source. The researcher adopted a social-technologist research paradigm and a design-science approach. The research process was executed in three phases; the first phase focused on gathering knowledge on destination selection and pre-visit information sources. The findings in Phase 1 were used in Phase 2 to develop and test the performance of a prototype. Phase 3 involved the evaluation of the prototype tool in a real-world setting. One of the main outcomes of this research is the development of a destination selection framework using real-time data streaming mediation and a tool (http://www.tourcamportal.com) as proof of concept. This research has shown that real-time images are valuable pre-visit information sources when making travel decisions. Real-time images authenticate destination attractions, provide real-time availability of destinations, reduce speculations on destination attractions, and provide actual representations of destinations. The findings of this study contribute the body of knowledge and practice in the tourism sector and provide new areas for further research. / Computing / D. Phil. (Information Systems)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Tourism is emerging as one of the most important socio-economic sectors for developing as well as developed countries. Tourism incorporates features of the information society such as globalisation, mobility, and information reach and richness. A national Tourist Office or as commonly referred to Destination Marketing Organization is the core tourism product of any nation. The new forms of ebusiness are offering major opportunities for all tourism destinations and suppliers, whether large or small, to improve their business and remodel such in a more cost-effective manner. The study discusses the impact and existing relationship between ICT and tourism as an emerging ecommerce sector in the Zambian tourism industry. It focuses on the tremendous changes in consumer expectations for the Zambia tourism sector caused by the impact ofInternet revolution. The World Wide Web through Information and Communication Technology (lCT) is the driving force that is changing the tourism landscape and affecting the production, distribution and consumption of its products. This symbiotic relationship existing between ICT and the tourism sector provides an opportunity for the Zambian tourism industry to create a competitive advantage for the 21st century. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toerisme kom as een van die belangrikste sosio-ekonomiese sektore in beide ontwikkelende sowel as ontwikkelde lande voor. Kenmerke van die inligtings-gemeenskap soos globalisasie, mobiliteit, inligtings-toegang, -reikafstand en -rykheid word ook in toerisme aangetref. Die kern toerisme-produk van enige nasie is 'n nasionale Toeriste Buro of, soos algemeen verwys word, 'n Bestemming Bemarkings Organisasie (BBO). Toerisme bestemmings en verskaffers, klein of groot, word vele geleenthede aangebied om ten middele van nuwe vorme van e-handel hulle besighede op koste-geskikte manier te verbeter en te hervorm. Die studie bespreek die impak van en die bestaande verwantskap tussen Inligtings en Kommunikasie Teknologie (IKT) en die toerisme-bedryf in die Zambiese toerisme industrie as 'n ontwikkelende e-handel sektor. Daar word hoofsaaklik op die geweldige impak van die Internet-revolusie op verbruikersverwagtinge in die Zambiese toerisme bedryf gefokus. Deur middel van IKT word die Wereld-Wye Web (WWW) die dryfkrag wat die toerisme landskap verander en die produksie, verspreiding en verbruik van sy produkte beïnvloed. Die wedersydse verwantskap tussen IKT en die toerisme sektor verskaf 'n geleentheid vir die Zambiese toerisme industrie om 'n mededingende grondslag vir die 21ste eeu te skep.

Thesis (DTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Prior studies have shown that the information communication technology sector worldwide is perceived as a transformative and enabling tool for the other economic activities to improve citizens’ lives. In a Rwandan context, information communication technology integration in economic sector activities such as tourism, with the adoption of a value chain approach, is thought to be an answer to a number of social and economic challenges, including unemployment, customer care services, and poor information knowledge. In combination with the tourism sector, it is possible that job creation opportunities could benefit unemployed Rwandans, particularly the young, where information communication technology is identified as a business in itself, and an enabling tool to improve inter-economic and crosscutting activities in a growing economy. Despite mixed results from various studies, information communication technology for a tourism village could be an enabling tool for national and regional development, if priority focus on ICT and tourism quality infrastructures is maintained. Research on the evolving nature of the information communication technology sector, through tourism activities in Rwanda, could yield many off-farm jobs besides solely agrarian activities. The study was conducted on an extensive scale, in order to facilitate the generalisation of the results, employing 720 tourism stakeholders’ surveys, ten interviews with government tourism officials, and ten focus group discussions to garner both quantitative and qualitative data. A mixed research method was used to minimise possible research bias and maximise the accuracy of the findings in the four provinces and Kigali City in Rwanda. Of the 720 questionnaires distributed, 615 were usable. Regarding the interviews with government officials, focus group discussions, field observations and secondary data analysis, the researcher found that the information communication technology contribution to tourism stakeholders’ economic lives was at variance with residents’ perceptions in the provinces and districts, and contradicted the information communication technology benefits of connectivity, internet accessibility and usability in their locality. It was also confirmed that information communication technology contributions to tourism stakeholders were at a very low level, where the contribution was limited to telephone subscriptions and their uses, for example for mobile money transfers. The future of information communication technology contributions to tourism stakeholders is positive, if integrated value chain approaches are adopted to benefit poor communities at a tourist destination being visited. A model of an information communication technology village for the development of a tourism village is proposed. This could serve as a catalyst to measure the impacts on both the information communication technology and tourism sectors discussed in this study. More importantly, it was clearly found that the culture of approaching local communities in the process of policy drafting, or any developmental programme, is not present in Rwanda, and this was shown as a critical issue because of the costly nature of implementation of changes. Consequently, this study found that there was potential to support projections for information communication technology policies to achieve the objectives of sustainable development through tourism, promoting rural development, and a reduction of poverty in general / Rwandan Government, through the Ministry of Education

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Management Science: Tourism and Hospitality Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The advent of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) coupled with sophisticated network channels and applications have unveiled new avenues for small organizations and those in the hospitality industry must be included. However, there is limited industry specific research activity on the impact of adoption and utilisation of ICTs on business specifically with regard to the hospitality industry in developing countries. This report records the findings of an analysis into ICT and e-commerce adoption and use in small remote hospitality establishments in the Natal Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The research used a mixed methods approach involving questionnaires, observations and interviews. The participants were drawn from three case areas namely Curry’s Post, Nottingham Road and Lions River. From each case area, two restaurants, two wedding venues, two lodges and two curio shops participated. The findings indicate that most establishment acknowledged the need to adopt and utilise ICT and e-commerce. The links between ICT adoption and level of business success were marked. The challenges to adoption and utilisation of ICT were found to centre on cost, owners’ lack of familiarity with ICTs, and a corresponding lack of ICT skills amongst staff. The inability of imported software packages to suit local needs also emerged as a significant issue. Recommendations involve targeted sponsorships of ICT courses, language accessibility initiatives, and adaptation of software packages to local needs, along with advantages in starting small and adopting more sophisticated ICT as the business grows. / M

The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation of U.S. domestic air travelers and patterns of air travel purchase within the U.S. air travel industry. Influences on the patterns of air travel purchase involved 1) demographic characteristics of travelers 2) benefits to the customer 3) customer attitude toward service providers' (defined as airlines, web-based travel agents, and traditional travel agents and 4) information sources used to select and book a flight for business and leisure trips.