The Impact of ICT Applications on the Hospitality & Tourism Industry
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives Of The Study
The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of ICT application on the hospitality and tourism industry in Nigeria. The specific objectives include the following:
- To examine the effect of ICT applications in the tourism and hospitality in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
- To identify existing ICT infrastructure in hotel sector in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
- To determine the factors affecting the adoption of ICT among hoteliers in PortHarcourt, Rivers State.
- To determine the challenges facing ICT applications on the tourism and hospitality in Nigeria.
- To make useful recommendations based on the findings of this study.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
This chapter covers contributions from other scholars on the adoption of information and communications technology in hospitality and tourism sector. The chapter is structured into theoretical review and empirical review, conceptual framework, critique of literature and finally summary gap that the study aims to bridge.
Information Communications Technology Adoption in Hotels Management
Modern organizations largely depend on ICT for gathering and distribution of data and information (Kitur, 2006). Information technology makes easy communication between persons or groups who are not physically near the same locality (Raymond, 2005). Systems such as cell phone, telex, radio, television, and video conferencing are included, as well as more modern computer-based technologies, e.g. electronic data interchange and e-mail. According to Olifer & Olifer (2006) until 1990’s, nearly all hotels were operating under the manual system. With the introduction of computers, hotels are shifting to automated systems.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which 100 were returned. The analysis of this study is based on the number returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Introduction
This chapter summarizes the findings on the impact of ict applications on the hospitality & tourism industry, River State as case study. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.
Summary of the Study
In this study, our focus was on the impact of ict applications on the hospitality & tourism industry, River State as case study. The study is was specifically focused on examining the effect of ICT applications in the tourism and hospitality in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, To identify existing ICT infrastructure in hotel sector in Port Harcourt, Rivers State ,To determine the factors affecting the adoption of ICT among hoteliers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and determining the challenges facing ICT applications on the tourism and hospitality in Nigeria.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 50 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are staff of Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt Rivers State.
Conclusions
With respect to the analysis and the findings of this study, the following conclusions emerged;
The study considers an issue which has not received much empirical attention which is ICT infrastructure diffusion in hospitality industry. The findings give valuable insights into the marketers of ICTs who wish to gain entry into the hotel sector. The study effectively enables suppliers of ICT based facilities a framework for predicting the adoption propensity of their potential customers. The paper also holds policy implications for the tourism administrators specifically with regard to promotion of ICT adoption in the hotel industry in developing cities. It is important to adopt such policies that motivate hotels to adopt ICTs like incorporating the need for ICT developments in grading initiatives, giving support for training or funding for ICT adoption projects in older hotels etc. The paper argues that ICT adoption is important for reducing the phenomenon of ‘tourism leakage’ in a developing city since greater levels of ICT adoption leads to reduced reliance on traditional intermediaries by hotels. It is also felt that overemphasis on demand generation activities without adequately addressing supply side problems only leads to the exacerbation of the problem of tourism leakage. It is however important to find out more about the factors that influence the adoption propensity of ICTs in the hotel industry. While the study gives a general idea about the impact of various factors, the reasons for such a pattern of impact may have to be explored further.
Recommendation
Based on the findings the researcher recommends that;
Coverage Area/scope can be extended by further researches. Since our work was carried in PH, River State. Other researchers can cover south east in order to verify and clarify our claim. Government need to increase the economic activities in Owerri in other to boost the hotel activities according to this study. This doesn’t mean that other factors collectively do not affect the adoption of ICT infrastructures in hospitality industry in Owerri, Imo state.
For sustainable tourism development in PH, there is need for managing and controlling of security in the hospitality industry. Due to this it is mandatory to integrate ICT for management and control of security in the hospitality industry. This research work revealed that some of the hotels have few ICT facilities as in hardware or software for sustainable tourism development. Where some of these facilities are available, there is no electric power to run them as most of the hotels visited are operating with use of generator. Also booking is been done manually in almost all the sampled hotels. Based on these it is highly recommended that government should provide an enabling environment for hotel business to survive in Owerri. It is highly recommended that government should set up an ICT standard that a hotel should meet before they can operate.
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