Information and Communication Technologies for Sustainable Tourism

Sustainability is a highly topical issue and is of critical importance in numerous sectors, fields and economies internationally including the Tourism industry. There have been numerous texts written on sustainable tourism and the measures to manage this, with all failing to acknowledge Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as a means of doing so, despite being an emerging area of research. These are innovative tools that form an integrated system of software and networked equipment that facilitates data processing, information sharing, communication and the ability to search and select from an existing range of products and services for an organization¿s benefits. Therefore, this book is the first to provide a focus on the interrelationship of these two important topics, demonstrating their synergies and providing insight into a new and innovative approach to managing sustainable tourism development. The book considers the use of technology to reduce the negative impacts of tourism from both the demand and supply side perspectives. It critically reviews a range of cutting edge technologies used by tourists and business¿s to assess their usefulness in managing sustainable tourism development from the macro to the micro level. It further integrates examples and practical applications to show how ICT can be an invaluable mechanism in the management of sustainable tourism development. This innovative book will be of valuable reading for students, researchers and academics interested in sustainable tourism and e-tourism.