The adoption of Information and Communication Technologies in tourism:

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

By

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: PROPOSAL1

Introduction1

Project Background3

Project Aims and Objectives5

Ethical Considerations6

Programme Phases6

Project Challenges8

Deliverables10

Structure of the thesis11

Resources12

BIBLIOGRAPHY13

CHAPTER 1: PROPOSAL

Introduction

Tourism has closely been connected to progress of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for over 30 years. There are many definitions of ICT. However for this research, ICT mean all those products which help the user to store, find, manipulate, send or receive data and information in digital mode. Emails, digital media, computers, USB are few example of ICT. ICT is the integration of communication and technology to send message. The establishments of the Computer Reservation Systems (CRSs) in the 1970s, Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) in the late 1980s and the Internet in the late 1990s have transformed operational and strategic practices dramatically in tourism. The tourism industry at first focused on utilizing computerized systems (e.g., CRS, GDS) to increase efficiency in processing of internal information and managing distribution. Nowadays, the Internet and ICTs are relevant on all operative, structural, strategic and marketing levels to facilitate global interaction among suppliers, intermediaries and consumers around the world (Wu 2006, pp.724).

ICTs include not only the hardware and software required but also the groupware, netware and the intellectual capacity (humanware) to develop, program and maintain equipment. Synergies emerging from the use of these systems effectively mean that information is widely available and accessible through a variety of media and locations. In addition, users can use mobile devices such as portable computers, mobile phones as well as digital television and self serviced terminals/kiosks to interact and perform several functions. This convergence of ICTs effectively integrates the entire range of hardware, software, groupware, netware and humanware and blurs the boundaries between the equipment and software (Zhang 2009, pp. 410).

The industry of travel and tourism is one of the largest industries of the world. The numbers of tourists are increasing year by year and the industry is growing at a higher growth rate (Bharadwaj 2000, pp.169). Every year the numbers of tourist visiting Saudi Arab are increasing (Chan 2000, pp.225). There are many reasons as to why people visit Saudi Arab. Every year millions of Muslims visited Saudi Arab for pilgrimage and this number is increasing year by year.

According to the statistics given by world travel and tourism council, more than 10 percent of the world GDP accounts for travel and tourism. The forecasting by the world travel and tourism council suggests that by 2020, the number of tourist visiting Saudi Arab would be 438 million (Windrum 2003, pp. 201).

Due to revolution in technology and internet, every industry is adopting ICT and so is travel and tourism industry. The world has become a global village due to internet. The user can access any kind of information just by a click of mouse. The potential tourist can have instant access to their desired destination. They can see real time pictures through 3D technology. Internet has also changed the way the business is conducted. Earlier the customer had to approach ...