QUIZZ: DIGITAL IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Sustainable tourism not only requires social and economic information but also includes environmental data. Such data is vital to improve tourism planning and strategies,” said WWF-Pacific Great Sea Reef Programme Manager, Alfred Ralifo.

​

MORE INFO

The World Economic Forum (WEF, 2017), has estimated that in the decade to 2025, digitalisation will create up to USD 305 billion of additional value for the tourism sector alone through increased profitability, while around USD 100 billion of value generated in the sector will transfer from traditional players to new digital competitors with innovative business models and value-producing capabilities. The digital transformation is also forecast to generate benefits valued at USD 700 billion for customers and wider society, through reduced environmental footprint, improved safety and security, and cost and time savings for consumers..

​

MORE INFO

Understanding digital uptake by tourism SMEs is particularly relevant as around 85% of those enterprises with a major role in the delivery of tourism services in OECD countries are SMEs (e.g. accommodation and food services, travel agencies, tour operators), compared to roughly two-thirds for the wider economy. Although they constitute the majority of tourism businesses, SMEs and micro-companies face more difficulties to vertically integrate than larger companies (such as hotel chains in the accommodation sub-sector) and to reach potential customers.

​

MORE INFO

Digital firms in tourism tend to be young and global in terms of users and product delivery. They often do not have a pre-digital footprint. Digital native firms are customer-facing businesses, often delivering value to two or more customer groups (i.e. multi-sided).

​

They tend to disrupt traditional business models and combine different technologies (e.g. a digital platform, social marketing, data analytics, automation and relationship management) to increase efficiencies, extend their distribution channels to global markets, and develop economies of scale (WEF, 2019). They are also able to scale up rapidly, access new markets, build complex products, and have few physical assets, while data and talent are important assets and different kinds of intangible value such as loyalty and trust are co-produced with users

​

MORE INFO

A report on electronic commerce (e-commerce) in the EU highlights that over 70% of internet users made at least one online purchase of goods and services over the previous 12 month period for private use. Of that group, over half (54%) purchased travel and holiday accommodation, behind only clothes and sports goods, which were purchased by around two-thirds (65%).

​

MORE INFO