E-tourism plays a pivotal role in delivering services to tourists by enhancing travel experiences. While small tourism service providers in the developed economies can efficiently take advantage of e-tourism by partnering with global online platforms such as TripAdvisor or Booking.com, small tourism service providers in developing countries often struggle to reach global markets due to factors that are unique to the country they operate in. The aim of this study, therefore, is to identify the key barriers and motivators of e-tourism adoption for small and medium tourism enterprises (SMTEs) in developing countries. Nepal is selected as the case study due to its enormous tourism potential that is plagued by typical challenges. Based on the 'Technology, Organization and Environment (TOE)' framework and 'e-readiness' model, this study identified ten key factors that affect e-tourism adoption by SMTEs in Nepal. A mixed-method approach, using interviews with seven key stakeholders and a survey with 198 SMTEs, were employed for data collection and validation of the proposed factors. Finally, an e-tourism adoption model highlighting the barriers and motivators for e-tourism by SMTEs is presented. This research found that e-tourism adoption by SMTEs in Nepal is affected by environmental factors related to national infrastructure, market size, country-specific contextual factors and organizational factors comprising e-tourism awareness, ICT resources, value proposition, and top management support. This study offers implications for policy and practice towards effective e-tourism adoption in other developing countries.
Developing countries lack e-tourism competencies despite attractive destinations to offer. Nepal is one of the developing countries with its natural beauty and diverse cultural heritage that has great tourism potential. This research is aimed at identifying barriers of e-tourism adoption in developing countries, using Nepal as a case study. Based on the Technology, Organization and Environment (TOE) and e-readiness models, and our literature review, we propose ten factors that affect e-tourism adoption. We applied mixed methods to validate these factors using seven interviews with relevant stakeholders and a survey of 198 tourism organisations in Nepal. The results demonstrate that e-tourism adoption is affected by environmental factors such as lack of national infrastructure, market size, and country-specific contextual factors. Similarly, organizational factors include lack of e-tourism awareness, lack of resources, low value proposition and limited top management support. Finally, we discuss these factors and its implication to policy and practice.
Outsourcing has been a buzzword in the business world for the last several decades. Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) have been dominating the outsourcing jobs to developing countries. Recently, a new shift of outsourcing to impact sourcing have emerged through which digitally-enabled jobs are given to marginalised individuals so that their material conditions would be improved.The aim of this paper is to design research to analyse effects from impact sourcing service providers (ISSPs) on the local communities. First, major stakeholders such as the providers, employees (the communities) and the clients (companies using impact sourcing), have been analysed. Theoretical framework is prepared to show their motivations to be part of the impact sourcing. Altruistic hearts and intents of both the providers and the clients could be a base to promote this impact sourcing model to the next level.
In collaboration with Ngemba First Nation in Brewarrina, Australia, this research involves co-designing and co-developing an innovative community digital entrepreneurial platform that includes a mobile app and a website. The methodology is informed by theories of relatedness, Indigenist standpoint, and by the principles of Indigenist research and related ways of being, knowing, and doing research. It uses an Indigenist technology co-design and co-development method (ITCD2). The platform proposes several practical applications, including individual and community entrepreneurship promotion and skills development. This research is motivated by the Australian government’s First Nations priorities through the Close the Gap initiative, including the digital divide, employment and business, and economic development. This research project proposes a paradigm shift from a focus on welfare to a focus on entrepreneurial enterprise.
Although Nepal has tremendous tourism opportunities, the small and medium tourism enterprises (SMTEs) that constitute the largest percentage of tourism service providers, are lagging behind in e-tourism adoption. This research conducts a comprehensive analysis of existing literature to propose an e-tourism adoption model based on the Technology-Organisation-Environment and e-readiness models. This model is supported by empirical data using qualitative in-depth interviews with seven key stakeholders and quantitative survey with 198 SMTEs. An operational model is outlined to identify the barriers and motivators for e-tourism adoption in Nepal. Implications of this model for key stakeholders such as the government, tourism organisations and tourism associations are discussed. As Nepal moves to a federal political structure, the findings and recommendation from this research are expected to help policy makers, tourism associations and SMTEs to develop specific e-tourism based programs in order to provide superior services to tourists.
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