scholarly journals Business Value of ICT for Small Tourism Enterprises: The Case of Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
U.G.D Lakshila Dilhani Perera Abeysekara
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Integrated Model ◽  
Business Value ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Strategic Integration ◽  
Complementary Resources ◽  
Tourism Enterprises

<p>Researchers and practitioners believe that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) create business value in organisations. However in practice, organisations often struggle to demonstrate the benefits of ICTs. This difficulty in demonstrating the value of ICTs to organisations is not related to the technology itself, but rather the ways in which technology is used, and how it creates business value. There is an extensive body of literature which focuses on these issues. However, it is predominantly centred on large organisations in the context of developed countries. There is a lack of research on how ICTs create business value in small enterprises particularly in relation to developing countries. Hence, the business value of ICTs remains an important research topic for information systems researchers.  The tourism industry is highly information intensive and the use of ICTs in tourism has become so widespread it is almost obligatory. While the benefits that larger tourism organisations gain from ICTs have been well researched, little is known about how ICTs can be utilised to maximise the business value of Small Tourism Enterprises (STEs). Understanding the value of ICTs for STEs is important as they have gained widespread recognition as a major source of employment, income generation and poverty alleviation in developing countries. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore how ICTs can contribute to the business value of STEs.  Using a combination of Barney’s Resource Based View of the firm (RBV) and an integrated model developed by combining the Business value of IT framework by Melville et al. and the tourism production system by Poon and Alford, this study examines how ICTs contribute to the business value of STEs. A post-positivist qualitative multi-case study was carried out using 35 STEs which represent the major tourist regions of Sri Lanka. Semi-structured interviews were the main method of data collection supported by document and website analysis. Data analysis was guided by template coding. The initial template developed using the dimensions identified from the literature was further analysed by integrating the themes which emerged from the research data. Data was analysed across cases, using a cross tabular design to compare categories and analyse within-group similarities and inter-group differences.  The use of technological and human ICT resources alongside complementary resources in key business processes was examined in order to identify how ICTs were being utilised to gain business value for STEs in Sri Lanka. The combination of internal and external factors derived from the focal firm and the external environment proved to have a significant role in determining STEs’ ability to gain business value from ICTs. Further analysis of cases across four major tourism clusters revealed that business motives, strategies, and location were the main reasons for the varying levels of business value gained by small businesses in the country.  The findings of this study indicated that ICTs do contribute to the business value of STEs in Sri Lanka by improving organisational performance in terms of both financial and non-financial gains. In accordance with the claims of RBV, the findings further confirmed that in order to gain business value, ICT resources need to be combined with complementary resources. The findings also identified the significance of strategic integration of online travel agents’ resources in order for STEs to gain the optimum business value from their own ICT resources.  A key outcome of this study is the development of an integrated model of the business value of ICTs for STEs. In addition, this study contributes to the theoretical understanding of IT business value research in the context of small tourism businesses, particularly in developing countries. It also has implications for business owners and governments in terms of effective utilisation of firm resources, prioritization and allocation of resources to key projects and processes.</p>

scholarly journals Business Value of ICT for Small Tourism Enterprises: The Case of Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
U.G.D Lakshila Dilhani Perera Abeysekara
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Integrated Model ◽  
Business Value ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Strategic Integration ◽  
Complementary Resources ◽  
Tourism Enterprises

<p>Researchers and practitioners believe that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) create business value in organisations. However in practice, organisations often struggle to demonstrate the benefits of ICTs. This difficulty in demonstrating the value of ICTs to organisations is not related to the technology itself, but rather the ways in which technology is used, and how it creates business value. There is an extensive body of literature which focuses on these issues. However, it is predominantly centred on large organisations in the context of developed countries. There is a lack of research on how ICTs create business value in small enterprises particularly in relation to developing countries. Hence, the business value of ICTs remains an important research topic for information systems researchers.  The tourism industry is highly information intensive and the use of ICTs in tourism has become so widespread it is almost obligatory. While the benefits that larger tourism organisations gain from ICTs have been well researched, little is known about how ICTs can be utilised to maximise the business value of Small Tourism Enterprises (STEs). Understanding the value of ICTs for STEs is important as they have gained widespread recognition as a major source of employment, income generation and poverty alleviation in developing countries. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore how ICTs can contribute to the business value of STEs.  Using a combination of Barney’s Resource Based View of the firm (RBV) and an integrated model developed by combining the Business value of IT framework by Melville et al. and the tourism production system by Poon and Alford, this study examines how ICTs contribute to the business value of STEs. A post-positivist qualitative multi-case study was carried out using 35 STEs which represent the major tourist regions of Sri Lanka. Semi-structured interviews were the main method of data collection supported by document and website analysis. Data analysis was guided by template coding. The initial template developed using the dimensions identified from the literature was further analysed by integrating the themes which emerged from the research data. Data was analysed across cases, using a cross tabular design to compare categories and analyse within-group similarities and inter-group differences.  The use of technological and human ICT resources alongside complementary resources in key business processes was examined in order to identify how ICTs were being utilised to gain business value for STEs in Sri Lanka. The combination of internal and external factors derived from the focal firm and the external environment proved to have a significant role in determining STEs’ ability to gain business value from ICTs. Further analysis of cases across four major tourism clusters revealed that business motives, strategies, and location were the main reasons for the varying levels of business value gained by small businesses in the country.  The findings of this study indicated that ICTs do contribute to the business value of STEs in Sri Lanka by improving organisational performance in terms of both financial and non-financial gains. In accordance with the claims of RBV, the findings further confirmed that in order to gain business value, ICT resources need to be combined with complementary resources. The findings also identified the significance of strategic integration of online travel agents’ resources in order for STEs to gain the optimum business value from their own ICT resources.  A key outcome of this study is the development of an integrated model of the business value of ICTs for STEs. In addition, this study contributes to the theoretical understanding of IT business value research in the context of small tourism businesses, particularly in developing countries. It also has implications for business owners and governments in terms of effective utilisation of firm resources, prioritization and allocation of resources to key projects and processes.</p>

scholarly journals Modern marketing technologies as a factor of increasing competitiveness of tourism enterprises

2020 ◽  
pp. 104-108
Author(s):  
O. V. Shpyrnya ◽  
E. Y. Globa ◽  
V. A. Dragina ◽  
V. I. Miroshnichenko
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Tourism Product ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Tourism Enterprises ◽  
Tourism Services ◽  
Modern Technologies

Promotion of a tourism product and individual tourism services today is impossible without the use of modern marketing technologies. Their application is currently the key to the competitiveness of the tourism industry enterprises in the tourism services market. The article notes the penetration of various technological innovations in the activities of tourist enterprises, the development of information and communication technologies and the digitalization of marketing communications with the internal and external environment. The specifics of the formation of unique competitive advantages of the tourism industry enterprises is considered. Attention is focused on the need to demonstrate the main achievements, the uniqueness of the services provided on the website of the tourism industry enterprise. It is noted that the use of modern marketing technologies should not imply a rejection of classical methods of promotion. It is proposed to use an integrated approach that allows you to most effectively combine the provisions of classical marketing and the potential of modern technologies.

Perceived Tourist Harassment in Tourist Destinations

2021 ◽  
pp. 299-313
Author(s):  
Shamila Rasanjani Wijesundara ◽  
Athula Gnanapala
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
Tourist Destinations ◽  
Coastal Belt ◽  
The World

Tourism is a fast-growing industry in the world. Many developing countries have recognized the economic contribution of the tourism industry towards to country; therefore, it has been included as an integral part of their development strategies. Sri Lanka continues to use tourism as one of the incomes earning strategy of its nation. At present, a huge tourism development is continued while accepting severe issues occurs itself like tourist harassment. The nature of the harassment is different from destination to destination, and this study mainly aims to identify the harassment in Sri Lanka. The study carried out in Southern Coastal Belt, considering foreign tourists as the sample to the study. A pretested questionnaire was distributed among 600 foreigners to collect primary data for the study, and 530 questionnaires were valid for the analysis. The collected data was analyzed through exploratory factor analysis, which revealed six major types of harassment in Sri Lanka as a result of tourist consumption process throughout the vacation.

Using New Information and Communication Technologies for the Description of Tourism Space

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (0) ◽  
pp. 0-0 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Majewska ◽  
Tomasz Napierała ◽  
Maciej Adamiak
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Multimedia Content ◽  
Business Analytics ◽  
Gis Tools ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Point Data ◽  
Tourism Enterprises

Purpose. Presentation of authors’ own method based on ICTs for the description of a tourism space’s attractiveness. Method. Using ICTs (application Geosearch Integration Engine was developed during the research process) for collecting geographical data on multimedia content published in the Internet and using exploratory methods of spatial analysis and spatial analysis of point data for the description of atourism space’s attractiveness . The study was conducted in July 2016 for the metropolitan area of Kraków based on the multimedia content of Wikimedia Commons. Findings. The presented method created by the authors’ makes the description and assessment of the attractiveness of a tourism space more complex. Perception of the geographical space by tourists (as a population, not particular people) is enabled. This makes the presented method valuable for both the tourism industry and regional policy. The study showed the significant potential of using ICTs and GIS tools for collecting and processing the data on tourists’ perception and behaviour in tourism space was indicated as the study was conducted. Research and conclusion limitations. The Geosearch Integration Engine does not allow for the selection of photographs published only by tourists. Thus, all the multimedia and photo files in Wikimedia Commons were investigated based on an assumption of universal nature regarding the attractiveness of a tourism space. Therefore, development of this application is strongly recommended. Practical implications. Using ICTs for the measurement of tourists’ perception of a tourism space’s attractiveness should enable development of business analytics for tourism enterprises and increase effectiveness of tourism destination management. Originality. Elimination of the disadvantages of the methods used so far to describe the attractiveness of tourism spaces. The investigated methods based hitherto on static measurement of supply-side elements of tourism spaces (attractions, infrastructure, accessibility). On the other hand, demand-side methods based on imperfect public statistics on the number of tourists hosted in tourist accommodation establishments. Type of paper. The article presents findings from empirical research.

An Integrated Model of Employees’ Behavioral Intention Toward Innovative Information and Communication Technologies in Travel Agencies

2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 488-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Cheng ◽  
Vincent Cho
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Integrated Model ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Travel Agencies ◽  
Information And Communication

This study proposes a comprehensive model that incorporates attitudinal variables in the technology acceptance model, motivational variables in the innovation diffusion theory, and the social variable in the theory of planned behavior to investigate the attitude, behavioral intentions, and usage of information and communication technologies (ICT) by employees in Hong Kong travel agencies. It complements trends in current research on technology adoption in the tourism industry. A survey was conducted with 190 employees from travel agencies, and structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Our results show that the integrated model of ICT adoption is adequate to predict employees’ adoption behavior. Furthermore, the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trialability, and observability of new ICT are the major factors stimulating employees’ attitude toward it. Based on our findings, both theoretical and practical suggestions for stimulating employees’ adoption of ICT are proposed.

scholarly journals The business-case for community investment: evidence from Fiji’s tourism industry

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Bradly
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Investment Decision ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Investment Decision Making ◽  
Community Investment

Purpose – This paper aims to argue that the rationale for community investment in developing countries is broader and more complex than in the West, and that the usual drivers of corporate social responsibility (CSR) behaviour are less explicit and robust in these settings. Design/methodology/approach – Development of descriptive theory using the results of a qualitative study of 42 firms in Fiji’s tourism industry. The primary data were derived from in-depth interviews with senior managers about their firm’s CSR values and practices. This paper focuses on one aspect of CSR practice, community investment, and provides a comparative analysis of the results from the interview data. Findings – The paper presents evidence that shows that the rationale for engaging with and supporting local communities is more concerned with long-term sustainability than short-term profitability. The findings reveal that issues of legitimacy, interdependence and risk management are important strategic reasons for undertaking community investment. Research limitations/implications – The paper adds to theoretical understanding of the nature of CSR practices in developing countries. In particular, it reveals the importance of institutional factors in community investment decision-making and argues for an expanded theory of the business-case for CSR. Originality/value – This research adds to the growing number of developing-country case studies by focusing on a region that has been largely absent from empirical CSR research.

scholarly journals Factors which strategically explain the competitiveness of a tourism destination: Evidence from Singapore and Sri Lanka

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
M. Prasad F. Jayasuriya ◽  
Cheng Guoping
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Practical Interest ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Tourism Destination ◽  
Travel And Tourism ◽  
Destination Competitiveness ◽  
The World ◽  
Tourism Destinations ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Globally tourism industry has experienced rapid growth in the last 25 years, a trend predicted to continue in future and as such, the field of tourism has emerged as an area of theoretical and practical interest. Although the competition among countries engaged in tourism has increased, the world travel and tourism competitive index (TTCI) reveals striking disparities among developed and developing countries as tourism destinations. This paper is an attempt to examine the elementary reasons for such disparity through identification of competitive factors which strategically explain the position and competitiveness of a tourism destination. For clarity and better understanding the study was conducted with evidence from Singapore and Sri Lanka. Data collection was carried out adopting a survey instrument with purposive sampling and structured questionnaire to examine fifteen factors illustrating tourism destination competitiveness based on responses received from the two countries - 70 from Singapore and 66 from Sri Lanka. The analyzed data were used in a model of strategic evaluation of tourism destination to diagnose the strengths, weaknesses as well as the competitive opportunities of the two countries through the review of 15 competitive factors. The results strategically explained the competitive positions of both tourism destinations, while findings on factors provided guidelines to achieve greater destination competitiveness. Further, the model of strategic evaluation first tested in Spain for tourism destination competitiveness, was extended for pertinence in other tourism destinations and situations.

Domestic Tourism in Nepal: Issues and Challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-49
Author(s):  
Sandeep Basnyat ◽  
Suryakiran Shrestha ◽  
Bijita Shakya ◽  
Reeja Byanjankar ◽  
Shubhashree Basnyat
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Institutional Arrangements ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
International Tourism ◽  
Tourism Research ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Domestic Tourism ◽  
The Government

Compared to international tourism, domestic tourism is less susceptible to external changes and provides a more stable business environment for industry stakeholders. Traditionally, the focus of a majority of tourism research has been international tourism. Existing domestic tourism literature predominantly focuses on the potential of domestic tourism and the measurement of its demands, but greatly ignores the issues and challenges in the domestic tourism industry. This article fills this gap and examines the issues and challenges the domestic tourism industry is facing with a focus on Nepal, a South Asian developing country. The data for this study were collected through semistructured interviews with 20 tourism industry practitioners. The findings of this study demonstrate how uncertainties created by the lack of institutional arrangements and prioritization, and confusion around the appropriate ways and means of managing domestic tourism have contributed to the chaos in the private sector tourism industry in Nepal. Implications for the government and other stakeholders in Nepal and other developing countries have been discussed.

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