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The role that information and communication technologies (ICTs) play in business management is currently a topic of increasing interest. Web 2.0 has emerged as an important source of innovation that contributes to organizational performance and improving the competitiveness of the tourism industry. However, evidence has been found that the tourism industry encounters difficulties when it comes to adopting these technologies and effectively applying them to e-commerce. The aim of this study is to analyze whether the websites belonging to industrial tourism facilitate effective communication with their target audiences. To this end, we propose and implement a model for analyzing websites based on the content analysis technique, considering the dimensions of information, communication, e-commerce, and additional Functions. This model is applied to 128 tourism resources in Catalonia with the aim of identifying opportunities arising from the use of Web 2.0 tools and addressing identified weaknesses and thus enabling more competitive management in the industry.

The phenomenon of the information and communication technologies (ICT) in general and Internet in particular has forced businesses and organizations to examine their existing business practices and adopt new methods of working, both for existing and potential customers. This paper presents an analysis of a study of 49 agri-food cooperatives in the province of Lleida, Spain, which seeks to analyse the current situation of Internet usage and electronic commerce in agrarian cooperatives and obtain the different factors of employing ICTs and the level of sophistication of use. The results are focused in the questionnaire that was completed by olive oil and sweet fruit cooperatives in 2010 that addressed the following aspects: computer equipment, Internet connection and presence, and finally, the level of electronic commerce. The discussion, based on the initial findings, examines the circumstances for ICT success and strategic effects resulting from implementation and use of such technologies. Afterwards, a logistic regression was carried out for determining the relevant factors in ICT adoption. The findings highlight that main activity and own website, including the variable training under particular circumstances are clearly significant to the extent of adoption and exploitation of ICTs by cooperatives.

New technologies in information and communication technology are significantly impacting traditional business models, demonstrating how the relationship between the company and its corresponding value chain is changing in recent years due to the new possibilities they offer. The aim of this chapter is to analyze the current situation of Internet usage and electronic commerce in agri-food cooperatives in the province of Lleida, Spain. To this end, a questionnaire was completed by olive oil and sweet fruit cooperatives in 2010 that addressed the following aspects: computer equipment, Internet connection and presence, and finally, the level of electronic commerce. The results provide information on aspects to consider for ensuring that agricultural cooperatives take full advantage of the opportunities offered by new technologies, resulting in a useful tool for the managers of these organizations as well as for policy makers concerned with encouraging and promoting the social economy.