Using Smart Technology in Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Island Tourism: A Preliminary Research

• Published in: International Conference on Intellectual Capital and Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning pp. 186 - 192
• Main Authors: Howells, Karen, Ertugan, Ahmet
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidmore End Academic Conferences International Limited 01.12.2019
• Subjects: Cloud computing; Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; Innovations; Internet access; Internet of Things; Knowledge sharing; New technology; Smartphones; Startups; Sustainable tourism; Tourist attractions; Cyprus; Tahiti; South Korea
• DOI: 10.34190/IKM.19.045

Smart technology plays a crucial role in innovation, and innovation in turn is essential for entrepreneurship. This study aims to understand how smart technology can play a part in sustainable entrepreneurship, in the context of tourism on a small island. In particular, this study will look at smart tourism, and the possibilities for sustainable tourism entrepreneurship on the small Mediterranean island of Cyprus. While only a developing region, a de-facto state, can technology be developed that will allow North Cyprus to develop as an area of smart tourism? This paper will higlight the technology needed, as well as the new business models this will entail. The research methodology begins with a qualitative survey. in the form of unstructured interviews with a small number of entrepreneurs in the region, with the aim of undestanding the entreprenuers' perceptions of smart technology, and whether they see a role for it in the future of their business, and the region. It is planned to used mixed methods, and to follow up the themes and questions raised by the interviews, with a quantiative survey to be administered to around 300 entreprenuers around the island. A quantitative survey will also bring forth the amount of understanding of smart technology in the region, as well as the role of sustainable entrepreneurship and smart technology. The initial results from the interviews reveal that entrepreneurs are not familiar with the term smart tourism, yet they can see some benefits of the adoption of smart tourism i n Cyprus. The evaluation of the interviews indicate that entrepreneurs, while unsure about the availability of smart technology, were keen to learn more about the technology, and possibly to innovate and take advantage of this new technology. Entrepreneurs were also interested in how smart tourism could increase knowledge on sustainable tourism, and therefore sustainable entrepreneurship in the region.