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

«Evaluation, Synthesis and Formulation of Proposals for the Use of ICTin the Tourism Sector»6. The Generic Tourist Portal Model6.1 IntroductionInternet is without doubt a major factor of influence for the tourist industry regarding the possibilitiesprovided to the tourists / customers as well as the possibilities provided to companies andorganizations in the tourist sector. Furthermore, adopting internet technology in tourism follows acourse that almost coincides with those technologies’ stages to maturity. Normally, organizations andbusinesses have gone through periods of adjustment to and understanding of the new technologicalmeans. In the beginning the internet was exploited as a content warehouse and was perceivedaesthetically and practically as an electronic brochure. Later on the internet’s possibility of addressingto a much larger target group was revealed; thus leading to its use as means of promotion forcustomer attraction in terms of mass marketing. The technological development and the spread of theinternet have formed an unknown new situation where tourists / customers have a vast pool ofinformation and choice alternatives and as a result the power to force organizations and business tobetter research and understand the benefits and possibilities of internet technology in order to detectthe opportunities for personalized product presentation, promotion and distribution.Enterprises and Organizations are now realizing that the virtual internet market shows uniquecharacteristics that need to be defined and fully understood so as the business operations andactivities will be correspondingly adjusted.6.2 Orientation and IntegrationTourist Organizations and Enterprises in Greece may be divided into four levels according to thestrategic orientation and integration rate of the tourist product supply (information – promotion –distribution / sales):1. National Level (Ministry of Tourism – Greek National Tourism Organization)2. Regional Level3. Local Administration Organizations (Prefectures and Municipalities)4. Business LevelIn the National and Regional level, he orientation leans towards information and promotion and less ornot at all towards distribution of the Greek tourist product, while Local Administration OrganizationsVersion 1Month: December Year: 200754