Course overview
The course aims to develop the students' management skills and competencies in developing and managing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) innovations in tourism and events. The course identifies and analyses the industry applications and impacts of the latest technological advances. The course syllabus consists of the following topics: ICT: characteristics and features of the latest technological advances; ICT and impacts on the tourism/event demand: cyberpsychology and impacts on tourists' behaviour, decision making and travel planning processes; ICT and implications on the tourism/events experiences; Smart tourism/events services: features and impacts; Smart tourism destinations; Peer-to-peer platforms and sharing economy transformations in tourism and events; Social media marketing in tourism/hospitality/events; Big data analytics in tourism and events; Destination Management Systems (DMS): definition, tools, applications and impacts; Blockchain implications in tourism/events.
Course learning outcomes
- Design and implementation of ICT applications in tourism and events.
- Evaluate the role and impact of ICT advances on tourism/events experiences.
- Critically evaluate and predict the transformative power of ICT on the international tourism/event demand.
- Apply creativity and critical thinking strategies regarding the use and impact of smart services on tourism/event operators and destinations.
- Critically analyse the ethical, social, economic and environmental impacts of technological innovation on tourism/event operators and tourism destinations.
- Apply managerial and analytical skills in using big data analytics in decision making.
- Demonstrate Business Enterprise Skills in the context of the Tourism and Event Management discipline: i) Problem Solving (advanced level); ii) Ethical Awareness (advanced level); iii) Written Communication (advanced level); iv) International Perspective (advanced level).