Providing a Model for Electronic Tourism Development with an Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) Approach

Today, the tourism industry is one of the most important service industries which competes closely with other industries in the world. In recent years, information technology has had a significant effect on all sectors of the industry. Electronic Tourism is the link between tourism and information technology. Capability and competitive advantages of E-tourism are important factors in creating economic leap in the tourism industry. This study intends to employ the benefits of electronic tourism towards traditional tourism. So, this study offers comprehensive framework to identify and assess direct and indirect effects of each factor affecting the development of electronic tourism in Yazd province. For this purpose, first, factors affecting the development of electronic tourism in Yazd province were identified by comprehensive review of the literature and opinions of experts in the field. And then, these factors were rated using Interpretive Structural Modeling(ISM). The population of the research are academic tourism experts and professionals which are active in the tourism industry in Yazd province. Also interviews and questionnaires were used to gather data. The content validity of the questionnaire was approved by the experts. According to the results, "operating and financial possibilities", are the most basic factors in the development of electronic tourism of Yazd province that must be taken into serious consideration by executives in the industry. The results of this research will help policy makers, so that they can choose a better path for the development of electronic tourism.