Erasmus IP FORTE 3Final report instructions

IP FORTE 3

Research objectives• Establish criterias in the decision making process while choosing between

responsible tourist routes.

• The use of ICT among customers when they are planning a trip with a sustainable tourist route (to be able to offer them various in a more efficient way).

• The reliability of the opinions (family, friends, acquaintances or people they don’t know) in social networks.

• Find out how much the ICT tools help the customers and facilitate the way of booking.

• If customers consider internet as a way to obtain information or help others.

• If the ICT tools play an important role in the customers decision making process of sustainable tourists routes.

Research questions1. Before I choose a responsible route, including sustainable ones, I consult other people’s opinions

(on web pages such as Trip advisor) to see what they think about it.

2. I always consult my friends and family through the Web 2.0 (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace) to inform myself and obtain documents about all type of responsible tourist routes.

3. After having made a sustainable tourist route, I write about my experience and also upload photos on the Internet (forums, official web-sites, Facebook).

4. When I’m planning my trips, I use as a source of information and recommendations search engines (Google, Yahoo, Safari, among others).

5. When I’m planning my trips, I use as a source of information and recommendations map navigation systems (Google maps, Yahoo Local, among others).

6. When I’m planning my trips, I use as a source of information and recommendations images (Google Images, Flickr, among others).

7. When I’m planning my trips, I use as a source of information and recommendations specific Web page site reviews.

8. I believe that all the information and opinions a person can reach on the Internet regarding responsible tourism and sustainable routes are highly reliable.

9. Internet in my opinion is not only worthy to inform people, but is also a useful way of communication, posting opinions and helping other people in making decisions regarding responsible tourism.

Data analysis and conclusions

CONCLUSIONS

• Nowadays, nearly every household has Internet connection.

• Mostly the younger generation has a Twitter or a Facebook account.

• All nations use search engines for their main source of information.

• All countries seem to be more or less careful with the information they find on the internet.

DATA ANALYSIS

• Before choosing a responsible route, people consult other opinions on Web pages.

• Nearly everyone uses search engines such as Google, Yahoo... therefore also use map navigation systems of these search engines (Google maps)

• 67% people use specific Web page reviews to obtain information to plan their trips.

• 40% of all questioned people do not trust all the information and opinions which they find in the Internet.

• Around 71%, think that the Internet is not only used to inform

RecommendationsTOUR OPERATORS

• Work together with the government and work more with the internet (Facebook or other social media).

• Promote sustainable tourist routes and explaining all the issues.

• Making web tools more sustainable.

• Incentivated booking sustainable products through the internet (extra facilities, discounts on services...).

• Green pages (plant a tree).

• Change the old ways of booking to the new, using the internet (forget brochures).

• Possibility to check-in through internet (hotels).

• Trustworthy information on Web site reviews (more reliable).

GOVERNMENT

• Booking sites for tourist routes available in Lithuanian and/or Russian language.

• Advice companies to become member of Web pages that support labels (green key).

• Create a service to control reliability of booking sites and provide a list of approved ones.

• Create a special platform such as TripAdvisor, promoting sustainable routes.

• A Web site explaining sustainability applied to tourist routes.

• Mobile guides (download on cell phones no paper guides).

• Inform in national tourist routes Web sites on native languages.

• Advertise more the online payment and educate the population to be able to use the payment systems online.

THANK YOUAny questions?