Recommendations for e-commerce systems in the tourism industry of sub-Saharan Africa

  • Authors:

  • Tonderai Maswera;Janet Edwards;Ray Dawson

  • Affiliations:

  • Research School of Informatics, Computer Science Department, Holywell Park, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, United Kingdom;Computer Science Department, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, United Kingdom;Computer Science Department, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, United Kingdom

  • Venue:
  • Telematics and Informatics
  • Year:
  • 2009

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Abstract

The recommendations described in this paper are a continuation of research previously reported in the Telematics and Informatics journal. This paper explains how the tourism organisations from sub-Saharan Africa can evolve their websites into marketing tools and how they can overcome the impediments to e-commerce adoption and usage. The recommendations also explain how the other major players within the economies of these countries can make the environment conducive for e-commerce development and growth so that the tourism organisations from this region can break into the lucrative international tourism market. The recommendations were tested by sending them to the African organisations and experts in e-commerce and tourism who have worked in, or are currently based in Africa, south of the Sahara. The results showed most organisations and experts who responded think that these recommendations will help African tourism organisations adopt and use e-commerce. African tourism organisations that intend to implement or are in the process of implementing e-commerce systems should follow the recommendations outlined in this paper to help sub-Saharan Africa reach its tourism potential.