Utilization of GIS in Tourism
Abstract
Currently, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is becoming to be known as one of those most valuable analytical tools for managing, displaying large volumes of data and decision making that pertinent to regional planning activities or local infrastructure constructions (Giles, 2003). Nevertheless, compared with the success GIS technology gained in other fields, the utilization of GIS applications in tourism field is small and with slow growth. From an engineer’s perspective, adoption of GIS technology brings benefits to the sustainable tourism in numbers of ways, including selection making under the context of huge volume of information, estimation of travel time, monitoring the traffic situation, and also evaluating the planning phase as well. From a different angle, successful GIS establishment can efficiently assist tourists to achieve satisfaction and affectively make local economic promotion.
Introduction
GIS technology refers to “a geographic information system integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information” (ESRI official website). This remarkable computer-based set of tools enables people are used for collecting, storing, retrieving, mapping, analyzing, transforming and displaying spatial and non-spatial data from geographic world for a particular set of purposes that varies for each discipline (Egziabeher, 2005).
GIS in Tourism
The generic capabilities of GIS indicate that this technology has tremendous potential in tourism in the visualization term, but its applications are limited in tourism field due to lack of general database of those visitors. For instance, GIS is unable to illustrate the origin and destination of visitors. What is more, it cannot predict the tourists’ expenditure patterns, motivation of travel, transportation selection, etc. In order to pursue a further investigation, Bahaire and Elliot-White categorized
Currently, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is becoming to be known as one of those most valuable analytical tools for managing, displaying large volumes of data and decision making that pertinent to regional planning activities or local infrastructure constructions (Giles, 2003). Nevertheless, compared with the success GIS technology gained in other fields, the utilization of GIS applications in tourism field is small and with slow growth. From an engineer’s perspective, adoption of GIS technology brings benefits to the sustainable tourism in numbers of ways, including selection making under the context of huge volume of information, estimation of travel time, monitoring the traffic situation, and also evaluating the planning phase as well. From a different angle, successful GIS establishment can efficiently assist tourists to achieve satisfaction and affectively make local economic promotion.
Introduction
GIS technology refers to “a geographic information system integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information” (ESRI official website). This remarkable computer-based set of tools enables people are used for collecting, storing, retrieving, mapping, analyzing, transforming and displaying spatial and non-spatial data from geographic world for a particular set of purposes that varies for each discipline (Egziabeher, 2005).
GIS in Tourism
The generic capabilities of GIS indicate that this technology has tremendous potential in tourism in the visualization term, but its applications are limited in tourism field due to lack of general database of those visitors. For instance, GIS is unable to illustrate the origin and destination of visitors. What is more, it cannot predict the tourists’ expenditure patterns, motivation of travel, transportation selection, etc. In order to pursue a further investigation, Bahaire and Elliot-White categorized