Figure 1
Technology innovations and ICT developments, 1990-2020 Ã . Ã Time scale positions indicate when technologies/ICTs became widely available to consumers, not when these were invented. The most recent tech & ICT developments have not as yet become relevant for mass-markets.
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The digital information age has changed global tourism in profound ways. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are pervasive, and they have become inextricably linked with contemporary consumer cultures. ICTs represent affordances: to apprise, plan, order, network, socialize, stream, transact and rate. These are remunerated with concessi...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... of the technology and ICT innovations people take for granted have been introduced rather recently (Figure 1), bearing evidence of an acceleration in the development of sociotechnological systems. The World Wide Web was made available in 1993, a period also characterized by an expansion in personal computer use. ...
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The focus of this article is to contextualise information communication technology(ICT) development within the global information arena through reference to a particularcase study where an ICT was implemented in various areas in South Africa. The articlesheds light on often-conflicting ideologies relating to the effect of informationtechnology in d...
Citations
... In the midst of technical innovations, online communication and relationship building have become our goals, and ICT is developing new methods for visitors to participate via social media (GÖSSLING 2021). Social media research began in 2008, and social media has drawn greater numbers of people to seek information, exchange experiences, and interact with others (LITVIN et al. 2008). ...
Recent research highlights the vulnerability of tourism to external factors, such as rampant viruses, a volatile world situation, and an environment threatened by human activity. The emergence of Travel Live Streaming (TLS) not only offers a new way to spend time in people’s daily lives, but it also seems to offer a new way to alleviate problems. Academic interest in this industry is growing, although literature on this topic is currently limited, and does not offer meaningful advice to those involved in TLS. The purpose of this study is to evaluate Chinese viewers’ opinions and attitudes regarding live tourism, and, based on the results to offer guidance for sponsors and live streamers from other nations who already use or plan to use TLS. The study employed a questionnaire, and correlation analysis was used for the assessment of the results. Further, semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain deeper insight into the topic. The study proved the relationship between the Real-time interaction experience and viewers’ impressions of the product/service in TLS, as well as the relationship between the quality of the TLS and viewers’ decisions. Viewers shared their own attitudes towards the over-promotion of product/service in TLS during the interviews.
... Considering that the adoption of technology by the hotel sector is increasingly intense, it seems relevant to assess how this dynamic manifests itself in places that do not yet have consolidated infrastructure and technological capacity. For Gössling (2021), ICT makes it possible to navigate tourist life. This is because, according to the author, these technologies make it possible to understand tourist behavior in greater depth. ...
This study aims to analyze the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as a competitiveness factor by hotel companies located in Inhambane and Macaneta, Mozambique. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. For data collection, a semi-structured interview script was used, which was applied to ten hotel managers from Inhambane and Macaneta (five participants in each case). The data was analyzed using categorical content analysis. The results showed that the interviewees recognize the importance of technology for the hotel's competitiveness, but do not use software, limiting themselves to simpler programs. It was found that Wi-Fi services and the use of social networks are perceived as sources of competitive advantage in the context investigated. The research points to practical contributions that shed light on the need to make resources available for the application of ICT in the hotel sector.
... Satisfaction is positively related to the experience of the meaning of life [48,50,51], that people who actively seek meaning in life have greater satisfaction, however, the relationships of meaningseeking to experience and well-being are complex [50]. Studies by Gössling [52,53] reveal that technologies and ICT innovation have made a strong contribution to human development. In fact, studies reveal that ICTs play an important role in tourists' behavior and expectations when planning and making a leisure trip, promoting the satisfaction of their tourist experiences [29,54,55]. ...
E-tourism has revolutionized the way people plan and experience travel, making it easier and more convenient to research and book trips, and enabling travelers to share their experiences and connect with others in new ways. There is rich literature concerning adopting and using information and communication technologies (ICTs), but the satisfaction achieved with these tools is still underexplored. In this sense, the present study aims to present the development/adaptation of a scale that evaluates subjective satisfaction of consuming with ICTs by responding to 5 items on a Likert-type scale. A survey was applied, and the Information and Communication Technology Satisfaction Scale (TTSS) was (re)created, with an adaptation of the items and the Life Satisfaction Scale. Participants included 598 individuals with an average age of 43.38 years, having taken at least two leisure trips in the last five years. The results reveal that most participants almost always used ICTs in their daily lives and said they had taken at least one trip during the SARS-CoV-2 period. They assured almost always use social networks during leisure trips and use dedicated APPs. The results revealed that the scale developed is psychometrically robust for assessing consumers’ subjective satisfaction with ICTs, and there is no gender variance. Technology providers face significant challenges in the face of the constant innovation of technologies in tourism. The present instrument presents a practical contribution to assessing subjective consumer satisfaction, assisting in developing innovative technologies by portraying consumers’ satisfaction with the ICT solution.
... The demand for a skilled workforce in the tourism sector is driven by the need to meet evolving consumer expectations, technological advancements, and the imperative for sustainable tourism practices (Chen & Yu, 2023;Gössling, 2021;Sharpley, 2021). In this context, the concept of literacies becomes critically important. ...
... Literacies, academically defined, extend beyond the traditional understanding of reading and writing skills to encompass a broad set of competencies, knowledge areas, and capabilities. In the tourism sector, literacies encapsulate not only the basic skills of communication and numeracy but also include digital literacy, cultural and environmental sensitivity, language proficiency, and interpersonal competencies (Apelt et al., 2023;Caldevilla-Domínguez et al., 2021;Gössling, 2021;Johnson, 2014;Makandwa et al., 2023;Zheng et al., 2020b). Literacies are essential due to the complexities of tourism, technological innovations and digitalization, engagement with diverse cultural backgrounds, and the need to contribute to sustainable tourism practices (Jeong et al., 2023;Sharpley, 2021). ...
This book chapter conducts a comparative bibliometric analysis of literacies in the tourism labor market, drawing from the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases. The objective is to assess scientific outputs and identify key patterns of scientific collaboration. Findings suggest a statistically significant difference between the two databases with an overlap level of 35.71%. However, there is a gradual and correlated increase in the number of publications over time. Scopus stands out for its broader impact and enduring citation relevance, suggesting its academic contributions have a longer-lasting effect. Conversely, WoS is characterized by a focus on more recent influential publications and exhibits a marginally more intense collaboration network.
... Additionally, cultural exchange is pivotal, fostering connections between tourists and local communities (Iversen 2022). Ethical and responsible tourism, economic leakage, health and well-being in tourist behavior, and the interplay of technological and cultural sustainability are also vital dimensions, as emphasized in previous studies (Torres-Delgado and Saarinen 2017; Shafiee et al. 2019;Gössling 2021;Tuan and Rajagopal 2019). These dimensions collectively form a comprehensive framework for sustainable tourism that addresses both environmental and socio-cultural facets. ...
The rising opportunities of sustainable tourism have brought many policies to control the exploitation of the environment and increase the reach of luxurious, safe, and authentic experiences to the different segments of tourists. This study seeks to prioritize the variables influencing the development of sustainable tourism and pinpoint key success factors that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It adopts a tri-dimensional framework encompassing economic, social, and environmental aspects, further delineated into eleven sub-dimensions, to provide a quantitative evaluation of sustainable tourism. We conducted interviews with 26 tourism industry experts hailing from eight countries, analyzing their responses using interval type-2 fuzzy sets. The results underscore the critical role of specific components in advancing sustainable tourism. In the economic dimension, “financial resources and tourism costs” emerge as vital factors. In the social dimension, “health and safety” takes center stage, while “green infrastructure” plays a pivotal role in the environmental dimension. These findings underscore the significance of these aspects in promoting sustainable tourism. Furthermore, this study explores the strategic importance of sustainable tourism equity in shaping tourism planning and development for emerging markets.
... El imparable desarrollo y expansión de las TIC especialmente de Internet y del comercio electrónico, presenta desafíos y oportunidades sin precedentes en la industria turística. La popularidad de la tecnología, en especial la alcanzada por Internet, se evidencia a la vista del número de transacciones online que se realizan a diario, así como por el número de usuarios conectados diariamente y se considera un valioso instrumento a través del que la comunicación entre consumidores y proveedores se simplifica, así como las compras online y la difusión de la información (Gössling, 2021). ...
The future projection of brick-and-mortar travel agencies is addressed based on the perspective of both online and traditional
travel agency users. The study aimed to investigate if traditional agencies are technologically prepared to meet the requests
of online consumers, finding out how travel agency consumers value their shopping experience both for the virtual and faceto-
face channels and to determine the future of traditional agencies in Spain. After the literature review, a quantitative survey
was conducted, and 879 survey forms were collected from travel agency consumers who during 2019 had purchased at
least one product and/or service using a travel agency in Spain. After performing statistical data analysis using IBM SPSS;
it is concluded that brick-and-mortar agencies should consider all existing sales channels so as not to be displaced and
should develop omnichannel strategies. Regarding the evaluation of the consumer’s shopping experience; the personalized
treatment, the advice and the degree of comfort and security that traditional agencies provide are decisive; without considering
the economic cost. Although OTA booking has become the most used booking channel; brick-and-mortar travel
agencies have a future projection if they implement technology, specializing in niche markets to meet new consumer profiles.
... The importance of online platforms in creating the impression of tourist destinations has become more apparent and obvious in an ever-expanding digital ecosystem [1]. When it comes to MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention, Exhibition) tourism, most destinations also rely on various online platforms in order to communicate effectively and efficiently to their target audiences [2]. ...
In the current competitive landscape, promoting the image of a MICE destination through the Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) website is imperative. The primary goals of such activity in particular are to enhance the destination image and to attract the presence of various MICE events at the destination. Numerous studies show that visual elements projected through an online platform, such as a website, can have a significant impact on the image of a destination. However, such a study has never been conducted in the setting of CVB websites, particularly in the context of Southeast Asia destinations that compete with one another and share relatively similar destination attributes. The main purpose of this study is to identify and compare the different image categories projected by the CVB official websites within the context of three major MICE destinations in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand). In doing so, this research uses a free image downloader application (Imageye) which enables us to download all the images on a particular website. After that we also applied two data collection methods sequentially, namely visual content analysis and correspondence analysis. This study suggests that there are differences in destination image categories projected online through their CVB websites. Moreover, other conclusions for research and practice are also formulated.
... Nevertheless, this revolution is not without its challenges. Increased reliance on technology raises questions about privacy, data security and ethics (Gössling, 2021). Moreover, beyond concerns about privacy and security, there is a risk that the rapid deployment of technological innovations in tourism will reinforce existing inequalities rather than alleviate them. ...
This paper aims to shed light on the opportunities offered by
smart tourism while also highlighting the potential challenges that lie ahead. This
issue focuses on three main sub-topics to help us catch a glimpse of the tourism of
the future. The first concerns digitalization, social media, and their economic impact
on tourism, the second focuses on tourism experiences in the digital age, while the
third looks at how territories are adapting to digitalization and new tourism trends.
... This recognition has propelled the growth of tea tourism, providing individuals with the opportunity to delve into Chinese tea culture, and fostering cultural identity [6]. Cultural ecosystem services are defined as intangible benefits arising from social media [29], hotel mobile app [30], gamification in online travel agencies [31], and digital media usage [32,33]. The integration of affordance theory into the initial perception of tourists from cultural ecosystem services remains relatively limited. ...
... Following its development by eco-psychologists, the concept of affordances swiftly found application across diverse research domains. These encompass product design [40,41], environmental design [42,43], communication [44,45], tourism [33,46], and information system [24,47]. environmental design [42,43], communication [44,45], tourism [33,46], and information system [24,47]. ...
... These encompass product design [40,41], environmental design [42,43], communication [44,45], tourism [33,46], and information system [24,47]. environmental design [42,43], communication [44,45], tourism [33,46], and information system [24,47]. Previous research has predominantly focused on distinct dimensions of the affordance framework, which can be categorized into three main groups: delineating diverse manifestations of affordance within different tourism contexts, adopting affordance theory as a methodological approach, and elucidating the mechanisms underlying the perception of affordance and its impact on specific behaviors. ...
Tea tourism has gained prominence recently, particularly with the recognition of traditional Chinese tea processing techniques as an intangible cultural heritage. Nevertheless, as a niche form of tourism, knowledge gaps persist regarding the understanding of tea tourists’ perceptions of the tourism environment and their subsequent impact on behavior intentions. Underpinned by affordance theory, this study aims to investigate the role of tourism environment affordance in shaping behavior intentions through emotional value and cultural identity. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was employed to analyze survey data collected from 296 online responses provided by tea tourists. The key findings are as follows: (1) tea tourists primarily visit sites like a tea village, tea garden, and tea house, typically once or twice annually, with visits lasting 2–4 or 4–8 h; (2) convenient transportation and facilities, educational opportunities, and well-designed environments emerge as the most influential aspects of tourism environment affordance; and (3) tourism environment affordance significantly influences emotional value and cultural identity, and these in turn act as mediators between tourism environment affordance and behavior intentions. Therefore, this study expands the application of affordance theory to tea tourism by elucidating how perceptions of tourism environment affordance impact tea tourists’ behavior intentions and it deepens our understanding of the flow of cultural ecosystem services. Additionally, it underscores the pivotal role of tourism in providing cultural ecosystem services for preserving intangible cultural heritage and nurturing cultural identity. Practical implications for promoting tea tourism as cultural ecosystem services are also gleaned from our findings.
... The evolution of digital tourism can be traced to the rise of online travel agencies and the pervasive adoption of the Internet. The study conducted by Gössling (2021) offers insight into the evolution of virtual and augmented reality in tourism. The article explores how elements such as smartphones, augmented reality, virtual reality, big data, and AI/ML have transformed the virtual tourism experience. ...
