Bournemouth University Professor Dimitrios Buhalis chaired the conference and advised countries on learn how to use social media and technology to spice up tourist trade.
Technology and social media are getting critically important tools for successful international tourism.
This have been recognised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the Minister of Tourism in Costa Rica, who organised a Technical Seminar on Tourism and New Technologies.
Delegates came from 22 countries – including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and the Bahamas – and the conference discussed how tourism have been influenced by the most recent technological breakthroughs, in addition to the opportunities that lie ahead.
Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Director of the e-Tourism Lab at Bournemouth University (BU), chaired the seminar, which befell in Costa Rica.
A tourism marketing expert who specialises in e-tourism and technology, he chaired panels taking a look at the net, social media and mobile marketing on the subject of tourism.
He also trained delegates – including 12 tourism ministers – on tips on how to use technology and social media to extend the competitiveness in their tourism industry.
Professor Buhalis said: “It is gratifying that increasingly the international tourism industry and governments from world wide, in addition to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, recognise how technology can support the competitiveness of the tourism destinations and organisations.
“Cutting edge research and solutions we develop at Bournemouth University provide technological tools akin to social media, augmented reality and gaming to enable organisations to dynamically engage with consumers and facilitate co-creation of goods and usefulness available on the market.”
Professor Buhalis added that social media is reversing tourism marketing strategies, with consumers becoming advocates and ambassadors for products worldwide.
He believes that mobile technologies could make interaction between organisations and consumers dynamic and agile – revolutionising engagement and economic benefits.
“Only those organisations which are able and willing to apply these tools in an agile strategy can be ready to develop their competitiveness at some point and generate prosperity for his or her stakeholders,” he said.
“I am glad that Latin American countries are committed to developing their knowledge through our expertise, and innovating so one can maximise their benefits.”
Other speakers on the seminar included executives from Google, Trip Advisor and Expedia Latin America.
The seminar happened in San Jose, Costa Rica on May 14 and 15.