The START - Net work: ICT & Mobile Applications

This research has sought to propose a strategy for the sustainable use of ICT in the tourism sector in Zimbabwe. In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, this research, which is a comprehensive case study into the tourism sector of Zimbabwe, has deployed semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, observations and netnograghy to collect the data. The case study was carried out, in accordance with the case study guidelines, as outlined by Yin, and guided by the interpretive paradigm. After a further analysis of the results, the results that pointed to the same aspect were grouped together; and various deductions were made, as a diagnosis of the identified problem. The identified problems were synthesised into seven diagnostics. A guiding policy was then identified for each of the diagnostics, leading to a set of coherent actions, derived from each of the identified guiding policies. The research also showed the implementation of the coherent set of actions that consist of three layers. These are: government, regulator and service providers. This research contributes to ICT4D literature; and it has provided an ICT strategy for sustainable development in the tourism sector for appropriate interventions from government and other role-players in the tourism sector.

International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention

The purpose of the present article is to highlight the importance of technological advancement and the role of travel technology providers in the tourism industry. The present study also highlighted the current technological changes and trends in the tourism and hospitality industry. A systematic study of the existing and emerging technologies in the tourism sector and how travel technology providers help entrepreneurs to organize and automate the travel business is presented in the form of a viewpoint. Travel technology providers help tourism enterprises by providing services like API integration, customer relationship management (CRM), portal and website designing, and more. Covid-19 has scaled up the technological changes and boosted digital entrepreneurship worldwide, bringing various technological trends to the tourism and hospitality industry. To meet the needs of modern-day travelers, travel agents and tour operators are considering taking their travel business online and opt...

2020

This paper reports the findings of a study whose purpose sought to identify strategies to addressing the discord and disharmony between entrepreneurial policy and practice in developing countries such as South Africa. Beginning in the early days of its democracy in 1994, the South African government identified entrepreneurship as an all-encompassing strategy to address a plethora of socioeconomic challenges including unemployment and economic growth. In line with this agenda, the government has developed various policies aimed at both developing and growing small enterprises. Despite this, the small to medium enterprise sector has not developed as intended. Characteristically, small businesses are battling to survive amid intensifying competition from large scale enterprises (LSEs). Ironically, the latter is one example where practice does not necessarily follow the dictates of policy. To fully develop an in-depth understanding of this phenomenon, a qualitative case study involving ...

2012

Abstract This study is premised on the understanding that microenterprises play an important role in the socio-economic development of developing countries. Using the case of South Africa, this paper reports on a study of the impact of using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on the livelihoods of microenterprises in a developing country context. The study used qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews, observations, documentary review and field notes.

This article examines some promising perspectives from a research project that is driven by an innovative research agenda to combine sustainable tourism and mobile information technology in rural and peripheral areas of Southern Denmark. Most technologically based innovation projects tend to focus on the hardware, but the present project is concerned only with the content offered on the mobile platform. The frame of analysis and project objectives is presented through an outline of the defining characteristics of tourism innovation and sustainable tourism development. Addressing the much neglected issues of equity, scale, and implementation, it is argued that the principles of sustainable tourism should be exercised in those metropolitan centers that generate the largest shares of international tourist arrivals and gross receipts. Also concerned with stakeholder participation and ultimately quality of life in a mass tourism destination, a profile of the project team is provided. Finally, a sample will illustrate the expected outcome in a user scenario. and peripheral areas of Southern Denmark. There is little empirical evidence on which to estimate sustainable tourism in mobile communication technology. The following report should accordingly be regarded as tentative and treated with caution as results are based on a preliminary research project.

ArXiv, 2021

Proceedings of the First Virtual Conference on Implications of Information and Digital Technologies for Development, 2021 AN EXPLORATION OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ADOPTION OF ICT ENABLED ENTREPRENEURSHIP APPLICATIONS IN NAMIBIAN RURAL COMMUNITIES Elizabeth Ujarura KAMUTUEZU , Heike WINSCHIERS-THEOPHILUS , Anicia PETERS 2 Namibia University of Science and Technology, 13 Jackson Kaujeua Street, Windhoek, 9000, Namibia, [email protected] & [email protected] 2 University of Namibia, 340 Mandume Ndemufayo Ave, Pionierspark, Windhoek, 9000, Email: [email protected] Abstract: Digital services have the potential to improve rural entrepreneurs’ access to wider markets and increase their competitiveness among other benefits. Moreover, during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in which movement and physical contacts have been limited, businesses relied much on digital services. However, many Namibian rural entrepreneurs have not been able to use digital services to maintain their livel...

2016

ICT has been promoted as a way out of deprivation for rural residents who continue to suffer from a limited access to social-economic developments. However, less is understood about how a marginalized community can drive its own development. Simultaneously, the focus on ICT in developing context has eclipsed the study of ICT for development in existing literature. These observations underscore the need for this study that explores the use of ICT for grassroots entrepreneurship through the phenomenal rise of China Taobao E-commerce Village. Through an indepth case study, we propose the concept of digitally enabled grassroots entrepreneurship that (1) contributes to the existing ICT4D literature by explicating the roles of ICT (e-commerce) in driving the grassroots entrepreneurship through the emergence of an entrepreneurial ecosystem for a selfdriven development, and (2) delineates the process of digitally enabled development beyond the provision of the Internet and infrastructure by...

2016

SMEs have been one of the reliable sources of income and employment worldwide. Mobile technologies have widely been used in performing a number of activities for SMEs. Mobile phone technology is maintained by a single or few operators which leave end-users with huge relief as they no longer deal with technical issues. However, despite the notable advantages of using mobile phone technology in SMEs, their values have been explained in generic way. Specifics on direct and indirect benefits on particular aspect and circumstances have not been explored. The main challenge is that, it is difficult to single out the values of a technology in organisations because there are other separate factors which also contribute to the overall performance.Identifying specific values of mobile technology on the performance of SMEs is vital for improving utility of such performance in accomplishing the strategic objectives. This study will explore the values of mobile phone technology in Tanzania touri...

2011

Business incubation has long been a successful economic development tool in developed and emerging economies. It helps entrepreneurs start businesses that remain sustainable. However, business incubation theory designed for developed countries and urban areas does not have the same application in rural areas. It is often not possible for business incubators to be established in these areas due to geographical constraints and the characteristics of the user population. This paper acknowledges that emerging economies can harness the explosive wireless technology and services for sustainable development of entrepreneurship in rural areas. Consequently, it explores the potential of using mobile technology as a tool that facilitates business incubation hence “mobi-Incubation”. Although the Business incubation concept is well established in developed countries and urban areas in emerging economies, some concepts may not be applicable to rural entrepreneurs. This paper therefore, explores the mobi-Incubation concept and business incubation services required by rural entrepreneurs in South Africa. It asserts that for the successful uptake of mobi-Incubation, one needs to consider the context and the type of users. Through a review of relevant literature, this paper explores the components that influence mobile user experience in a mobi-Incubation process. Thereafter it proposes preliminary elements that need to be considered when developing mobi-Incubation applications for rural entrepreneurs in emerging economies like South Africa.

Small tourism enterprises (SMTEs) make-up a large element of the European tourism economy, notably in hospitality, as well as independent cultural and visitor attractions, travel firms and tour guides. However, the opportunities and impacts from the development of Information Communications Technology (ICT) raise particular problems for the small firm who risk being bypassed in e-commerce and further disadvantaged in marketing and the customer interface. This paper discusses the findings of a comparative survey of ICT usage by over 800 SMTEs in three contrasting destination regions – London UK, the Aragon province in Spain and The Netherlands. Within the largely fragmented SMTE supply sectors and regions themselves, the approach to and adoption of ICT has been uneven, whilst the micro-enterprise also differs in its attitude towards ICT in contrast to the medium-sized firm, in some respects refuting the claim the SMEs are " lost in the electronic marketplace " .

International Journal of ICT Research and Development in Africa, 2014

This paper reports on the nature of interaction patterns and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to support the livelihood of microenterprises. The study focused on the case of South Africa where Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) act as a means for addressing unemployment and poverty. The study used qualitative data to understand the interaction patterns and how ICT such as computers, mobile phones and internet are used to support the livelihoods of microenterprises. The findings showed that vertical and horizontal interactions supported the flow of information and sharing of knowledge used in decisions for reducing vulnerabilities in the livelihoods of microenterprises. ICT were improving the interactions that supported the livelihoods of microenterprises. The study recommends use of existing social networks for microenterprises when designing interventions for supporting microenterprises.

2012

Many tourists are interested in locally-beneficial experiences, which should afford opportunities for vulnerable individuals to earn their way out of poverty. However, host communities remain largely relegated to the role of passive tourees receiving only scraps from the tourism industry. This paper introduces "People-First Tourism", a project that attempts to leverage information technology innovations and ubiquitous cellphones to provide microentrepreneurs with access to markets and to support peer networks, with two factors accounting for much of tourism's unfulfilled potential to enable dignified and sustainable rural livelihoods.

International Journal of Tourism Research, 2008

This paper provides a new perspective of the realities faced by small tourism enterprises in the developing world. Given the well-recognised value of the Internet in tourism, we sought to identify how entrepreneurs mitigate Internet adoption obstacles such as the inadequate and unreliable telecommunications infrastructure, the cost of the technology, and a lack of knowledge and skills that characterise developing nations. A qualitative study was performed on small tourism enterprises in rural and metropolitan areas of Malaysia and Ecuador. We found that entrepreneurs established ways to overcome obstacles, with some applying quite innovative solutions. This paper helps to understand the role of entrepreneurs in innovation adoption and improve knowledge of Internet appropriation among small tourism enterprises in developing nations. A number of transferable lessons are identified. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

2021

Thapelo, Mametja The adoption of digital technologies by women-owned tourism micro enterprises. Winner –University of Johannesburg<br> VYT local competition (2021) Transcript: <br><br> Digitalisation is the method of arranging social life and businesses around digital tools. Digitalisation has allowed both small and large businesses to attract wide markets. Travelers used to spend days making reservations for travel and accommodation. Nowadays, digital technology has made it possible for tourists to travel and book accommodation in real-time with little effort. Tourists are now more encouraged than ever to travel because of the huge range of tourist information. However, the emergence of COVID-19 has interrupted global travel and forced many businesses to close. But there is hope that digitalisation will revive the industry. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which women-owned tourism micro enterprises have adopted digital technologi...

Tourism Planning & Development, 2011

Entrepreneurial innovation plays a significant role in tourism development, especially in communities with limited experience or expertise in tourism. Innovative tourism businesses, often in the small business sector, are likely to be more beneficial to the local community in terms of job creation and economic linkages. Such forms of tourism could offer new forms of livelihood in destination communities, making tourism an effective strategy for livelihood diversification that is more sustainable and community-based. Community-based tourism initiatives can also help form community networks that facilitate involvement of local stakeholders in a more efficient manner. This paper analyses the role of entrepreneurial innovation in facilitating community networks and sustainable livelihoods in tourism. A case study of an eco-heritage tourism resort of Coconut Palms, in the Indian state of Kerala provides an illustration of how entrepreneurial innovation helped form a community network and offer sustainable livelihood diversification opportunities to stakeholders in the periphery of tourism. The paper thus contributes an example of a sustainable community-private network and a new understanding into a phenomenon that has potential to make a real contribution to the lives of individuals in disadvantaged communities.