A Proposal for Assessing Digital Economy Spatial Readiness at Tourism Destinations

Vicente Ramos, Maurici Ruiz-Pérez and Bartomeu Alorda
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Vicente Ramos: SmartDestination Working Group, Applied Economics Department, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Maurici Ruiz-Pérez: SmartDestination Working Group, Geography Department, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Bartomeu Alorda: SmartDestination Working Group, Industrial Engineering and Construction Department, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: Information and communications technologies (ICT)—and more precisely, their use from fulltime connected mobile gadgets—offer valuable opportunities to interact with tourists using their own devices. In order to exploit these benefits, destinations should have appropriate digital infrastructure to allow for bidirectional smart communication with their visitors. However, the spatial distribution of such coverage, and the geographical concurrence of tourism activities and ICT infrastructure, have been poorly examined. This paper contributes to this analysis by quantifying digital accessibility with both a broader regional approach and a narrower local perspective. First, we propose a digital immersion index, and apply it to the Balearic Islands, Spain. Second, alternative Moran’s indices are used to study the spatial distribution and correlation of tourism and technological infrastructure for a local destination. The results are presented through easily interpretable maps, which can inform tourism policies, such as identifying and prioritizing ITC investments.

Keywords: digital communication capabilities; geographical information system; spatial correlation; ITC; tourism decision support systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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