The implications of technological developments on Tourist Information Centres

Technological developments are increasingly touching and changing the nature of and processes in industry and society. Tourism is by no means exempt from these changes. The aim of the research reported in this article is to address the issue of the implications of technological development in Tourist Information Centres (TICs). The main areas of concern are a combination of social and technical issues which need to be addressed in order for TICs to keep up with the demands of the consumer. In addition, a shift to a sales and service led operation would appear to be a necessary course of action. Recommendations are made to assist in tackling these problems at an operational level and it is recognised that greater attention must be focused on this area in order to ensure the future effectiveness of the tourist information service. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.