The objective os this study is to check how the portuguese destinations with an official web site make tourist information available to the consumer; to sensitise participants to the importance of quality information and its management; to share and discuss our findings; and to promote debate about the management of sustainable tourism.

1. Ecology and Quality
Information on the Internet
The Case of the Portuguese
Local and Regional Tourism
Organisations

2. Euroweek Conference
Kavala, April 24 th 2002
Dra. Rosário Borges Dr. Pedro Cravo
Ana Afonso
Ana Gomes
Joana Seixas
Patrícia Cristóvão

3. Our Objectives:
To check how the Portuguese ORLT’s
with an official web site make tourist
information available to the consumer;
To sensitise participants to the
importance of quality information and its
management;
To share and discuss our findings;
To promote debate about the
management of sustainable tourism.

4. Convergence
Convergence is actually a series of
convergences at several levels: social,
cultural, technological, economic,
etc.;
Convergence is tearing down barriers;
Convergence is not simply an issue of
technology, but also of culture and
life style.

5. Ecology and Quality
Information on the Internet
Information and Technology in
Tourism
Internet and the World Wide Web
The Information on the Internet
Sustainable Development and
Tourism
Tourism Sector in Portugal

6. Information and
Technology in Tourism
Big intensity of information worldwide
Communication seen as an operation of
high importance
Tourist product/service’s intangibility
(depending on printed descriptions)
Information as a big engine to the quick
diffusion of technologies
Tourists in search of quality information

7. Information and
Technology in Tourism
Quality of Information
strategic approach
to a correct decision
competitive survival
of the organisations
confidence of consumer and
respect for the environment

8. Internet and the
World Wide Web
Several kinds of services
Several kinds of information
One of the most attractive ways to
get the information available on the
Internet
The user sees and extracts the
information through a browser

9. The Information
on the Internet
Enormous forum of information on distinct
subjects with an international range
Allows a free circulation and interchange of
information between everyone connected to it
It is quick and independent of the users
geographical location, age or activity
There’s no central catalogue with universal rules
and parameters of procedure
The quality of the information should be
evaluated by universal criteria

10. The Information
on the Internet
If we consider the universe of
Internet users and multiply each
of their needs, we would
conclude that it is impossible to
present a unique quality
information resource that can
satisfy all of them.

11. Sustainable Development
and Tourism
All the agents within the sector should
contribute for sustainable development
1972 - Stockholm, Conference of the United
Nations on Human Environment
1980 - World conservation Strategy
1987 - Bruntland Report
1990 - Canada, Globe’90 Conference
1992 - Earth Summit, Agenda 21

12. Sustainable Development
and Tourism
Agenda 21 for Travel & Tourism
industry defines the role of the
Travel & Tourism industry in
achieving the aims of sustainability,
protecting the natural and cultural
resources, which are the core of the
business.

13. Tourism Sector in Portugal
In Portugal the public
organisations connected to the
tourism sector are integrated in
the State Secretary of Tourism
within the Inland Revenue
Department
[http://www.min-economia.pt]

14. Tourism Sector in Portugal
Tourism Regions
“Regiões de
Turismo”
Secretary of Tourism Municipal
Commissions
Tourism “Comissões Municipais
de Turismo”
“Juntas de
Turismo”

15. Methodology
Population target of the evaluation
Direct analysis of the sites
Criteria of quality information
Criteria used to evaluate the quality
of information about sustainable
tourism development

16. Criteria of Quality
Information
identifying the purpose (aims and objectives) of a source
coverage
authority and reputation
accuracy
currency and maintenance of a source
accessibility of a source
evaluating the presentation and arrangement of
information
how easy a source is to use
making a comparison with other sources
the overall quality of a source

17. Tourism Regions
%
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Purpose of a Coverage Authority Accuracy Currency and Accessibility Presentation How easy a Comparison Overall
Source and M aintenence and Source is to with Other Quality of a
Reputation Arrangement Use Sources Source
Information
0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

18. Tourism Municipal
Commissions
%
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Purpose of a Coverage Authority and Accuracy Currency and Accessibility Presentation How easy a Comparison Overall
Source Reputation M aintenence and Source is to with Other Quality of a
Arrangement Use Sources Source
Information
0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

19. «Juntas de Turismo»
%
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
P urpose o f a A uthority and Currency and P resentatio n Co mpariso n
Source Reputatio n M aintenence and with Other
A rrangement Sources
Info rmatio n
0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

20. Criteria used to evaluate the
quality of information about
sustainable tourism development
Codes of ethic, codes of conduct, letters
Initiatives of the ORLT´s
Initiatives of other organisations
Formation activities organised by the ORLT´s
Formation activities organised by other organisations
Activity Impacts
Suggestions in order to adopt sustainable practices
Links to other initiatives/information's

21. Tourism Regions
16
N
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Codes of Initiatives of Initiatives of Formation Formation Activity Suggestions Links to
Ethic.. the ORLT Other Activities Activities Impacts in adopting others
Organisations Organized by Organized by Sustainable Initiatives /
ORLT Others Pratices Information
0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

22. Tourism Municipal
Commissions
12
N
10
8
6
4
2
0 Codes of Initiatives of Initiatives of Formation Formation Activity Suggestions in Links to others
Ethic.. the ORLT Other Activities Activities Impacts adopting Initiatives /
Organisations Organized by Organized by Sustainable Information
ORLT Others Pratices
0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

23. «Juntas de Turismo»
4
N
3
2
1
0
Codes of Ethic.. Initiatives of the Initiatives of Formation Formation Activity Impacts Suggestions in Links to others
ORLT Other Activities Activities adopting Initiatives /
Organisations Organized by Organized by Sustainable Information
ORLT Others Pratices
0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

24. Conclusions
If tourism industry wants to be more competitive and really
care about environmental problems, it has to do a big effort
The ORLT aren’t yet very favourable to problems
concerning information about sustainable tourism
It exists a big lack of Information about the Sustainability
and Tourism that should be referred in the sites.
We shall not forget that information is a very important
input in all organisations that want to be competitive.

25. Conclusions
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Purpose of a Coverage Aut horit y and Accuracy Currency and Accessibilit y Present at ion How easy a Comparison Overall Qualit y
Source Reput at ion Maint enence and Source is t o wit h Ot her of a Source
Arrangement Use Sources
of Inf ormat ion
0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

26. Conclusions
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Codes of Et hic.. Init iat ives of t he Init iat ives of Ot her Format ion Format ion Act ivit y Impact s Suggest ions in Links t o ot hers
ORLT Organisat ions Act ivit ies Act ivit ies adopt ing Init iat ives /
Organized by ORLT Organized by Ot hers Sust ainable Inf ormat ion
Prat ices
0 Absent 1 Weak 2 Good 3 Very Good

27. The End
Muito Obrigado!
Ω!
Thank you very much!
Muchas gracias!
Merci beaucoup!
Dankeschön!
Kiitos!
Paldies!
Tusen takk!
Dank u well!
Takk fyrir!
Escola Superior de Educação de Coimbra
http://www.esec.pt