The Role of Information Technology on Tourism Destination Marketing

'A case study of Iran and the Gulf States'


Introduction

This questionnaire is a part of my Ph.D. research project, which is investigating the role of information technology and tourism destination marketing.

The main objectives of this research can be summarised as follows:

I would be extremely grateful for your help in this study.

In order to address these objectives, I would invite your responses in terms of three basic categories of information as a specialist in one of these area. These are:
  1. Computer Science/Information Technology specialist
  2. Information Science/Information Management/Knowledge Management
  3. Tourism Industry

Three separate sections of this questionnaire are provided to discuss these topics.

Many thanks in advance for taking a few minutes from your busy schedule to complete the questionnaire and, as any other questionnaire, your given responses are considered strictly confidential. For the sake of time and updating  please return your answers by the End of July. Also if you need more information please don't hesitate and feel free to contact me through my email (M.Jamnia@Exeter.ac.uk)



Instructions

This questionnaire comprises the following sections:

Section A: Introductory questions about you
Section B: Questions for Computer Scientist (Those who assume themselves in study and application of computer and also those who are Information Technology Specialist )
Section C: Questions for Information Science/Information Management/Knowledge Management (Those who deal with gathering, storing, managing and disseminating the data)
Section D: Questions for those in the Tourism Industry

Please reply to those questions which you think is most appropriate for your interest in the section by clicking the box.


If you wish to receive the feedback/results of this questionnaire, please put your email address in the box provided


Section A: Introductory questions

1. How would you describe yourself? (Choose only one of the following categories, please)
Computer Science and/or Information Technology Specialist
Information Science/Information Management
Tourism Industry

2. In which of the following age group you belong?
16-25
26-35
36-45
46-55
56-65
65+

3. Your highest qualification is:
Secondary education
Further education (16-18/19)
Bachelor degree, Diploma
Master degree
MBA
Ph.D.
Other
Please state:

4. What is your current job title?

5. How long have you been in this job?
Less than one year
Between 2-5 years
Between 6-10 years
Between 11-15 years
Between 16-20 years
More

6. Outside your current job, do you have experience of working in the tourism industry, or tourism- related jobs?
Yes
No (if your answer is No please go to Question 11 and onwards)
If yes:
7. How long have you been in your previous job?
Less than one year
Between 2-5 years
Between 6-10 years
Between 11-15 years
Between 16-20 years
More

8. Does your previous job
Related to your current job?
Not related to your current job?

9. Could you please name your previous job title

10. Do you have experience of
A)
Website design in your current
Website design in your previous job?

B)
Marketing/promotion in your current
Marketing/promotion in previous job?


Please state your country of residence

11. If you are willing to add any details to the above information, please write down here


Below you will find a list of websites for National Tourism Websites for Iran and the Gulf States. To complete this survey, please go to any two of these of your choice. Please familiarize yourselves with the lists before attempting to complete this questionnaire.
 

A: Iran
Iran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organisation
http://gardesh.aictc.sharif.edu/enPortal/render.userLayoutRootNode.uP

B: Bahrain
Bahrain Tourism
http://www.bahraintourism.com/

C: Qatar
The official website of Qatar-Qatar Tourism Authority
http://www.experienceqatar.com/

 

 D: Saudi Arabia
Superem Commision for Tourism
http://www.sauditourism.gov.sa/

E: United Arab Emirate
Government Of Dubai, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing
http://www.dubaitourism.co.ae/

F: Yemen
Yemen Tourism Promotion Board
http://www.yementourism.com/

 


Now you are requested to visit two of these websites. Please indicate your selected sites below:

First Country:

Website:

Please give general comments about the functionality and use of the site
Second Country:

Website:

Please give general comments about the functionality and use of the site


  • Scroll to Section B
     If you belong to Computer Science/Information Technology group

     

    		 Scroll  to Section C
    If you belong to Information Science/Information Management/Knowledge Management    		 Go to Section D
    If you belong to Tourism Industry
  •  
  •  

Section B: Computer Science /Information Technology Specialist only

12. Please click on each statement related to your first visit one by one.
Country:

Website:

  Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree
The site has a clear structure
The content is not structured logically
The site is straight forward to navigate
Provides accurate information
Convenient search engine
The site format is compatible to my system
It is flexible
The URL is difficult to remember
Interaction is observable
The site design is visually attractive
The pages are relevant to their purpose
The site had fewer pages than I would have anticipated
The site is routinely slow
The website is secure to transact on-line
In terms of timeliness, the information is updated
The site content is current
The pages appear up dated regularly
The system is user friendly
The site map is not supplied
The site does not provide enough information
The site is well-written
The site is written in several languages
The English language home page is not satisfactorily

13. Please give any comments:

14. Are there any examples of websites, for tourism organizations or others, that you would recommend as best practice? Why?

15. Please click each statement related to your second visit one by one
Country:

Website:

  Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree
The site has a clear structure
The content is not structured logically
The site is straight forward to navigate
Provides accurate information
Convenient search engine
The site format is compatible to my system
It is flexible
The URL is difficult to remember
Interaction is observable
The site design is visually attractive
The pages are relevant to their purpose
The site had fewer pages than I would have anticipated
The site is routinely slow
The website is secure to transact on-line
In terms of timeliness, the information is up-dated
The site content is current
The pages appear up dated regularly
The system is user friendly
The site map is not supplied
The site does not provide enough information
The site is well-written
The site is written in several languages
The English language home page is not satisfactorily

16. Please give any comments

17. Are there any examples of websites, for tourism organizations or others, that you would recommend as best practice? Why?


Section C: Information Science Experts only

18. Please click each statement related to your first visit one by one
Country:

Website:

  Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree
The content is accurate
The information is efficient
Multimedia is a good feature in this website
Research data exist
The information is useful
The information is up-to-date
The website is user friendly
An adequate archives is provided

19. Please give any comments

20. Are there any examples of websites, for tourism organizations or others, that you would recommend as best practice? Why?

21. Please tick each statement related to your second visit one by one
Country:

Website:

  Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree
The content is accurate
The information is efficient
Multimedia is a good feature in this website
Research data exist
The information is useful
The information is up-to-date
The website is user friendly
An adequate archives is provided

22. Please give any comments

23. Are there any examples of websites, for tourism organizations or others, that you would recommend as best practice? Why?


Section D: Tourism Industry Experts only

24. Please click each statement related to your first visit one by one
Country:

Website:

  Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree
Travel company information is provided
Air line connection is not provided
Air lines on-line booking is possible
Accommodation connection is not possible
Accommodation on-line booking is not provided
Tour package on-line booking is possible
Contact us is not provided
Customer service is active
Disabled facilities are not considered
Current exchange rate is accessible
Travel guide is not provided
Transport information is provided
Major events are not shown
Governmental services are provided
Emergency contacts are not provided
Tips/FAQs are in the website
It is not possible to find links to overseas tour operators
It is not possible to find links to overseas accommodation
There are adequate numbers of accommodation links
I am satisfied with linked pages
I need more information by thumbnail sketch

25. Please give any comments

26. Are there any examples of websites, for tourism organizations or others, that you would recommend as best practice? Why?

27. Please click each statement related to your second visit one by one
Country:

Website:

  Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree
Travel company information is provided
Air line connection is not provided
Air lines on-line booking is possible
Accommodation connection is not possible
Accommodation on-line booking is not provided
Tour package on-line booking is possible
Contact us is not provided
Customer service is active
Disabled facilities are not considered
Current exchange rate is accessible
Travel guide is not provided
Transport information is provided
Major events are not shown
Governmental services are provided
Emergency contacts are not provided
Tips/FAQs are in the website
It is not possible to find links to overseas tour operators
It is not possible to find links to overseas accommodation
There are adequate numbers of accommodation links
I am satisfied with linked pages
I need more information by thumbnail sketch

28. Please give any comments

29. Are there any examples of websites, for tourism organizations or others, that you would recommend as best practice? Why?