Lately, tourists consider their mobile devices as essential accessories for the realization of their trip before, during, and after the visit. Such devices allow them to consult information about points of interest, services, or products in real time. Thus, mobile devices have come to be considered as tools to support decision making regarding the realization of trips. In the digital environment, tourists seek complementary information to consolidate knowledge about the destination, heritage, culture, customs, and traditions that make the visited place unique. Simultaneously, they transform tourist experiences into a memory associated with travel, contribute to the sustainability of local populations, reduce inequalities, and cooperate to improve the quality of life of all involved.
ICT as Innovator Between Tourism and Culture differs from others on the same areas because it aims to place the emphasis on and increase the bridge of knowledge between information communications technology (ICT), tourism, and culture, considering ICT as the main driver that creates the development environment and enhances the tourist experience in general. In particular, it is linked to cultural heritage, making it a more sustainable and intelligent tourist destination, taking into account the well-being of the local population and visitors. Covering topics such as destination image, religious tourism, and innovation dynamics, this book is an essential resource for IT consultants, hotel managers, marketers, travel agencies, tour operators, tourism researchers, professors, students, practitioners within the tourism industry, and academicians.
Author Biography:
Célia M. Q. Ramos graduated in computer engineering from the University of Coimbra, obtained her Master in Electrical and Computers Engineering from the Higher Technical Institute, Lisbon University, and her PhD in Econometrics at the University of the Algarve (UALG), Faculty of Economics, Portugal. She is an adjunct professor in the School for Management, Hospitality and Tourism, also in the UALG, where she lectures computer science. Areas of research and special interests include conception and development of information systems, tourism information systems, big data, etourism, econometric modeling, and panel-data models. Célia Ramos has published in the fields of information systems and tourism; namely, she has authored a book, two book chapters, conference papers, and journal articles. At the level of applied research, she has participated in several funded projects.
