Web quality index (WQI) for official tourist destination websites: proposal for an assessment system

Tourism is a vital economic activity in many countries. Cities, regions, countries and destinations of all categories vie for securing tourists and to do so they employ communication and promotion channels such as official websites. Despite the importance of these websites, no comprehensive method of assessment exists to enable communications managers and directors to find out whether their destination's website is effective and where it ranks in comparison to its competitors. This paper presents a hitherto unseen assessment system aimed at meeting this need. Using a host of indicators, grouped into twelve parameters, a Web Quality Index (WQI) has been specifically established for tourist destination websites which, as well as determining an overall index, makes it possible to draw comparison between parameters or spheres of analysis. The assessment system is illustrated using the result of a pilot sample of official websites from ten destinations to confirm the validity and potential of the model put forward

Do dedicated low-cost passenger terminals create competitive advantages for airports?

Traditionally designed for network carrier operations, airports are increasingly diversifying their services with new facilities being developed, specifically, to attract and accommodate low-cost carriers. In order to reflect the changing environment, some airports have built low-cost terminal facilities (or refurbished existing ones) for low-cost carriers. Applying a resource-based view, namely the VRIO framework (VRIO is an acronym for Value, Rarity, Imitability and Organisation), this paper analyses the potential of dedicated low-cost terminals in affecting the competitive positioning of airports. The research investigates for selected airports the potential benefits associated with the development of low cost passenger terminals and the factors which may help turning these benefits into a (sustainable) comparative advantage. It is argued that low-cost terminals offer a temporary competitive advantage which has so far not often been exploited