LOCAL tourism operators should embrace ICT to accelerate growth in the industry, an expert has said.
BY TAFADZWA UFUMELI
Addressing participants at an ICT workshop in Bulawayo last week, PUM Netherlands senior expert, Joop Boere said operators needed to follow the rapid changing developments on the internet and marketing to increase the customer base through marketing, selling products and service through online portals.
“Digital marketing is critical in increasing online presence of tourist attractions, the old ways of marketing tourist attractions are fading” he said.
PUM provides business advice and technical assistance to organisations in developing countries and emerging markets, renewing bottlenecks and facilitating sustainable paths for growth.
The ICT workshop ran concurrently with the ninth edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani travel expo that ended in Bulawayo on Saturday.
“E-tourism digitalises the processes and value chains in the tourism travel, hospitality and catering industries enabling organisations to maximise their efficiency and effectiveness,” Boere said.
Dorothy Sija from Wozani Lodge said: “Sometimes, the internet is not always efficient, it’s on our part, as operators, to have and get full knowledge to engage E-Tourism in a rampant way.
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“However, adopting an efficient way of marketing resorts builds better product experiences, creates stronger customer relationships and bring the market faster.”
Other advantages of e-tourism are allowing small business to complete internationally.
“Considering that nowadays the internet is the most effective way of marketing products, accessing reliable internet services are still a challenge because the costs are still high,” Sija said.
