Progress on information and communication technologies in hospitality and tourism

TLDR

The paper reviews tourism and hospitality journals from 2009–2013 to chart the progress of information and communication technology (ICT) in the sector. The authors retrieved 107 journal articles from three major databases and categorized them by consumer and supplier roles. Content analysis reveals that ICT is widely adopted across diverse functional units in hospitality and tourism, offering insights for practitioners and highlighting the sector’s rapid technological evolution.

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish the progress of information and communication technology (ICT) based on a review of papers published in tourism and hospitality journals between 2009 and 2013. Design/methodology/approach – Based on three major databases, 107 journal papers were retrieved and reviewed. The papers were grouped into two major categories, consumer and supplier, which generally comprise the key players in the industries. Findings – A content analysis showed that hospitality and tourism industries use ICT in different functional units and for different applications. This, in turn, indicates their wide adoption in the industry. Industrial implications are discussed. Practical implications – On the basis of the content analysis, industry practitioners can learn about up-to-date practices and decide how to take advantage of recent technological developments. Originality/value – A major contribution of this paper is the comprehensive review of recently published papers in tourism and hospitality journals from the perspectives of consumer and supplier.