Analytical support tools for sustainable futures

The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of analytical tools for policy evaluation. The study focuses on a multi‐method integrated toolkit for sustainability assessment, the so‐called SMILE toolkit 1. This toolkit is developed to provide salient features that are required for monitoring policy‐making in a spatial‐environmental context. The sustainable development perspective is rather difficult to operationalize due to its dynamism and its multi- dimensionality. Therefore, in this study, we aim to assess the usefulness of the SMILE toolkit for sustainable development issues on the basis of a systemic set of critical factors for sustainable development. We will demonstrate the usefulness of the toolkit in order to create awareness among policymakers on the critical factors for sustainable development in the future

Evaluation of cyber-tools in cultural tourism

Nowadays, e-services technology has demonstrated a pervasive character in the modern tourism industry. E-services implemented by the tourism industry, e.g., e-tourism, appeared to produce significant cost reductions and market efficiencies. Since online services are continuously accessible, time and geographic differences do not hinder the interaction between tourism service providers and their customers anymore. By usingICTs, (small) tourism organisations can enlarge their markets or operate in niche markets by serving a specific group of customers. The increased use of ICTs has thus resulted in a significant change in the structure of the tourism industry. The present paper aims to provide an overview of experiences and findings that address the socioeconomic impacts of e-services for the (cultural) tourist industry, on the basis of a systematic impact analysis. We use a SWOT approach to organise a systematic evaluation of various e-services effects, which are specifically differentiated for e-services and e-tourism (including cultural heritage) of socioeconomic importance. The main sources to identify the strengths and weaknesses of e-services are the academic and management literature that describes the experience in practice of various stakeholders. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

Development and management of green spaces in European cities: a comparative analysis

“Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development ” of the 5th Framework Programme of the European Union. This paper aims to compare the present state and availability of urban green spaces in various European cities. The results of a factor analysis applied on the information gathered in extensive survey questionnaires show that the availability of “urban green ” is high in metropoles and big cities, whereas availability of “natural green”, such as forests and agricultural areas, is high i