Evaluation, Synthesis and Formulation of Proposals for the Use of ...

«Evaluation, Synthesis and Formulation of Proposals for the Use of ICTin the Tourism Sector»also related to issues concerning the organization and operation of the National Tourism Organization,as already mentioned in a previous thematic area.5.3.3 Electronic Services and Specialized Information Technology Systems inTourismElectronic services and specialized information technology systems for tourism belong to an interdisciplinaryscientific area which has grown rapidly in the framework of the more general technologicaladvancements during the last two decades. The international experience has clearly proved that thetourism sector can most benefit with the introduction of technologies and systems for theorganization, marketing and distribution of tourist services.The results of the recording and evaluation of the current situation in Greece with respect to theadoption of new information and communication technologies in tourism by all parties involved(Ministry of Tourism Development, National Tourism Organization, other bodies, regions, prefectures,A- and B- level local administration authorities, tourist enterprises etc.) and the comparison with theinternational environment allowed the drawing of various useful conclusions. These are presented inthe following paragraphs.With regard to the electronic services provided by public tourist portals in Greece, the investigationrevealed a picture of mediocrity. The services offered belong to the second level of interactivity, thatis, the one providing information and simple (one-way) communication, for example to send an e-mailor fill a form 25 . In spite of these, as it was mentioned for the quality of information in the previoussection, there are some model websites that can serve as implementation examples for interestedorganizations and enterprises. A very good case is the promotion of the local tourism in Crete. Anindicative example is the Prefecture of Chania website 26 which is one of the more comprehensive,functionally and content-wise. Regarding the official tourist portals, in cases where additional servicesare offered, these mainly concern e-bookings and, to a lesser extent, integrated destinationmanagement.With respect to business applications of e-tourism in the public and private sectors, the main offeringis e-bookings. Apart from this, one notices much differentiation in the kind of applications, depending25 In accordance to the general classification, which considers the filling of a form as an one-way interaction andnot according to the definitions of e-Government.26 http://www.chaniacrete.gr/gr/Version 1Month: December Year: 200741