Tourism Technology
Strengthening Our Information & Communications Technology
A widespread, modern information and communications infrastructure is fundamental to our competitive advantage and our economic success as a leading tourism destination.
Already, advances in technology have revolutionized our industry, and changed the way travellers research and book their travel. Over the next decade, we’ll undoubtedly see even further advances. Positioning Newfoundland and Labrador for growth requires a digital strategy that ensures we have the technology and infrastructure in place to do business and engage travellers at all stages of planning and travel.
The emergence of the sophisticated digital consumer in the global tourism industry reinforces the importance of technological infrastructure within our province’s tourism industry.
Today’s travellers expect easy access to information, online booking functionality, and instant access to information. Technological infrastructure is vital at all stages of visitor engagement. Online tools and technologies that illustrate the consumer experience and help travellers plan and book trips have already had a significant impact on destination selection.
To keep pace with these changing traveller behaviours, our entire industry must embrace current online tourism marketing strategies by using the internet to provide travel information, manage customer relations, and process travel bookings.
Our extensive Visitor Information Centre network, based upon a traditional information distribution model, offers limited internet capability outside of main gateway centres. New ways of providing visitor information must be engineered to offer on-demand and interactive information.
Despite federal and provincial government intentions to provide broadband access throughout the province, significant gaps in access to technology and the ability to leverage online technology remain. Tourism businesses in all geographic areas of the province need access to broadband service to provide quality websites, digital information, and online booking services – key marketing tools to engage potential travellers.
Connectivity within the industry is essential. Without it, our tourism sector cannot remain competitive in the rapidly changing online environment or offer visitors a world-class experience. Increasing technology infrastructure and access will enable effective linkages between all stakeholders.
