While ICTs are driving globalization, tourism has been rising to become one of the largest industries worldwide. It can be argued that those deprived of access to ICTs, the world wide web in particular, are also deprived of the opportunity to participate in this global market. Hence, the poor remain poor because of this digital divide. The ICT4D movement (Information and Communication Technologies for Development – I like to say “ICT for socioeconomic Development”) aims to close this digital divide in various ways, such as providing the required tools and knowledge.
Simultaneously, the tourism industry has matured into a powerful global market in which both the public and private sector seek opportunity to participate. In order for them to remain competitive destinations on the long term, they need to act in a sustainable manner.
A new research field now seems to arise, combining ICT, development studies and tourism studies (in which some cross-overs already have emerged, like ICT4D, sustainable tourism and eTourism). Feel free to read my master thesis (Information Science), in which I describe my research on how ICTs can be applied to support small to medium tourism companies in doing their business in a sustainable way.
The full research can be downloaded here (pdf).
