Ecology and Quality Information on the

InternetThe Case of the Portuguese Local and Regional Tourism

Organisations

Euroweek ConferenceKavala, April 24th 2002

Dra. Rosário Borges

Dr. Pedro Cravo

Ana Afonso

Ana GomesJoana Seixas

Patrícia Cristóvão

Our Objectives:

To check how the Portuguese ORLT’s with an official web site make tourist information available to the consumer;

To sensitise participants to the importance of quality information and its management;

To share and discuss our findings;

To promote debate about the management of sustainable tourism.

Convergence

Convergence is actually a series of convergences at several levels: social, cultural, technological, economic, etc.;

Convergence is tearing down barriers;

Convergence is not simply an issue of technology, but also of culture and life style.

Ecology and Quality Information on the

InternetInformation and Technology in Tourism

Internet and the World Wide Web

The Information on the Internet

Sustainable Development and Tourism

Tourism Sector in Portugal

Information and Technology in Tourism

Big intensity of information worldwide

Communication seen as an operation of high importance

Tourist product/service’s intangibility (depending on printed descriptions)

Information as a big engine to the quick diffusion of technologies

Tourists in search of quality information

Information and Technology in Tourism

confidence of consumer and respect for the environment

competitive survival of the organisations

strategic approach to a correct decision

Quality of Information

Internet and theWorld Wide Web

Several kinds of services

Several kinds of information

One of the most attractive ways to get the information available on the Internet

The user sees and extracts the information through a browser

The Informationon the Internet

Enormous forum of information on distinct subjects with an international range

Allows a free circulation and interchange of information between everyone connected to it

It is quick and independent of the users geographical location, age or activity

There’s no central catalogue with universal rules and parameters of procedure

The quality of the information should be evaluated by universal criteria

The Informationon the Internet

If we consider the universe of Internet users and multiply each of their needs, we would conclude that it is impossible to present a unique quality information resource that can satisfy all of them.

Sustainable Development and Tourism

All the agents within the sector should contribute for sustainable development

1972 - Stockholm, Conference of the United Nations on Human Environment

1980 - World conservation Strategy

1987 - Bruntland Report

1990 - Canada, Globe’90 Conference

1992 - Earth Summit, Agenda 21

Sustainable Development and Tourism

Agenda 21 for Travel & Tourism industry defines the role of the Travel & Tourism industry in achieving the aims of sustainability, protecting the natural and cultural resources, which are the core of the business.

Tourism Sector in Portugal

In Portugal the public organisations connected to the tourism sector are integrated in the State Secretary of Tourism within the Inland Revenue Department[http://www.min-economia.pt]

Tourism Sector in Portugal

 

Secretary of Tourism

Tourism Regions“Regiões de

Turismo”

Tourism Municipal Commissions

“Comissões Municipais de Turismo”

“Juntas de Turismo”

Methodology

Population target of the evaluationDirect analysis of the sitesCriteria of quality informationCriteria used to evaluate the quality of information about sustainable tourism development

Criteria of Quality Information

identifying the purpose (aims and objectives) of a source

coverage

authority and reputation

accuracy

currency and maintenance of a source

accessibility of a source

evaluating the presentation and arrangement of information

how easy a source is to use

making a comparison with other sources

the overall quality of a source

Tourism Regions

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100%

Purpose of aSource

Coverage Authorityand

Reputation

Accuracy Currency andMaintenence

Accessibility Presentationand

ArrangementInformation

How easy aSource is to

Use

Comparisonwith OtherSources

OverallQuality of a

Source

0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

Tourism Municipal Commissions

010

20

3040

50

6070

80

90100

%

Purpose of aSource

Coverage Authority andReputation

Accuracy Currency andMaintenence

Accessibility Presentationand

ArrangementInformation

How easy aSource is to

Use

Comparisonwith OtherSources

OverallQuality of a

Source

0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

«Juntas de Turismo»

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100%

P urpose of aSource

Authority andReputation

Currency andMaintenence

P resentationand

ArrangementInformation

Comparisonwith OtherSources

0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

Criteria used to evaluate thequality of information about

sustainable tourism development

Codes of ethic, codes of conduct, letters

Initiatives of the ORLT´s

Initiatives of other organisations

Formation activities organised by the ORLT´s

Formation activities organised by other organisations

Activity Impacts

Suggestions in order to adopt sustainable practices

Links to other initiatives/information's

Tourism Regions

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16N

Codes ofEthic..

Initiatives ofthe ORLT

Initiatives ofOther

Organisations

FormationActivities

Organized byORLT

FormationActivities

Organized byOthers

ActivityImpacts

Suggestionsin adoptingSustainable

Pratices

Links toothers

Initiatives /Information

0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

Tourism Municipal Commissions

0

2

4

6

8

10

12N

Codes ofEthic..

Initiatives ofthe ORLT

Initiatives ofOther

Organisations

FormationActivities

Organized byORLT

FormationActivities

Organized byOthers

ActivityImpacts

Suggestions inadopting

SustainablePratices

Links to othersInitiatives /Information

0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

«Juntas de Turismo»

0

1

2

3

4N

Codes of Ethic.. Initiatives of theORLT

Initiatives ofOther

Organisations

FormationActivities

Organized byORLT

FormationActivities

Organized byOthers

Activity Impacts Suggestions inadopting

SustainablePratices

Links to othersInitiatives /Information

0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

Conclusions

If tourism industry wants to be more competitive and really care about environmental problems, it has to do a big effort

The ORLT aren’t yet very favourable to problems concerning information about sustainable tourism

It exists a big lack of Information about the Sustainability and Tourism that should be referred in the sites.

We shall not forget that information is a very important input in all organisations that want to be competitive.

Conclusions

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Purpose of a

Source

Coverage Authority and

Reputation

Accuracy Currency and

Maintenence

Accessibility Presentation

and

Arrangement

of Information

How easy a

Source is to

Use

Comparison

with Other

Sources

Overall Quality

of a Source

0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

Conclusions

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Codes of Ethic.. Initiatives of the

ORLT

Initiatives of Other

Organisations

Formation

Activities

Organized by ORLT

Formation

Activities

Organized by Others

Activity Impacts Suggestions in

adopting

Sustainable

Pratices

Links to others

Initiatives /

Information

0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

The End

Escola Superior de Educação de Coimbra

http://www.esec.pt

Muito Obrigado!Ω!

Thank you very much!Muchas gracias!Merci beaucoup!

Dankeschön!Kiitos! Paldies!

Tusen takk!Dank u well!Takk fyrir!