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HomeRegional NewsEuropeBournemouth University is launching the eTourism Lab at the World Travel Market 2011
BU launches eTourism Lab

Bournemouth University is launching the eTourism Lab at the World Travel Market 2011

This exciting new research Lab will explore cutting edge information and communication technologies, alongside e-based strategic management and marketing for tourism and hospitality organisations. The eTourism lab mission statement is to push the barrier of knowledge on eTourism and through Information Communication Technologies capitalisation to empower policy making and strategic competitive advantages.

The Lab is led by Bournemouth University’s Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, who’s currently President of the International Federation of Information Technology for Travel and Tourism (IFITT). Professor Buhalis said: “As Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) become globally pivotal both commercial and public organisations are increasingly depending on their ability to embrace, foster and develop Information Technology for achieving competitive advantage and implementing strategy.”

The eTourism Lab will reside within the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research (ICTHR) of the School of Tourism at Bournemouth University. The School has a long tradition of generating research output in the Information Technology and Information Systems field and the formation of the Lab demonstrates the commitment of the University as well as a strategic direction to take advantage of the knowledge base created.

Professor Buhalis continued: “Bournemouth University is in the cutting edge of eTourism research working closely with international organisations for creating agile solutions and dynamic innovations. Technology will be critical for competitive advantage and our research will have great relevance and impact globally”.

The eTourism Lab aims to bring together this expertise and create a clear vision for the future. eTL will offer global excellence in the field of eTourism in the widest possible sense which includes eTravel, eTransport, eHospitality, eCatering/Food. In addition it will research how social media is becoming critical for organisations to communicate effectively and compete globally.
The Lab will generate synergies with the newly established MSc in eTourism, will engage with multiple stakeholders globally and will also enable the School to be recognised as one of the key research organisations in this field.

Academic members include Dr Philip Alford, Dr Soo Jun, Dr Miguel Moital, Dr Christos Gatzidis and Researchers include John Fotis, Nicolas Gregory, Barnara Neuhofer, Andrew Spencer, Ivana Rihova, Soultana Symeonidou, Georgina Sekadakis, Zornitza Yovcheva and Luca Smiroldo.

A number of projects on eTourism Marketing, Social Media and eConsumer Behaviour are currently underway. The eTL reflects the gradually increasing interest of international organisations such as the World Tourism Organisation, the World Tourism and Travel Council and the European Commission in the wide range of implications of ICTs. The eTL aims to provide research results which will facilitate both policy making at the macro level as well as strategic tools for optimising competitiveness and maximising profitability at the micro level. The eTL will collaborate globally in developing this pioneering vision and strategy.

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Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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