1. Background

• Internet based support for tourist industry in Vysocina
• Project initiated by the Regional Authority - the Department of Regional Development
• To improve competitiveness of the Vysocina region as a whole and SMEs in particular in the field of tourist industry
• Project board: executives and staff of the Regional Authority, Vysocina Tourism (an agency found especially in support of tourism development), associations of tourist services providers
• More information about the portal you can see at Tourist Portal Vysocina

2. Conditions for eBusiness

• Legal conditions are based on central (national) legal framework
• All related national laws are in acordance with EU law
• No special support of eBusiness from the central government (eBusiness is a matter of business sector and it is not advisable to interfere too much)
• Vysocina region builds its development on ICT and is known within the Czech Republic as a Region of ICT
• Regional politicians support and encourage activities contributing to ICT deployment and eAdoption in all kinds of activities
• Economic framework - figures on eBusiness in regions:
• Use of personal computers in Vysocina (%):
• 2003: 35,7
• 2004: 37,6
• 2005: 42,7
• 2006: 46,0
• Use of the Internet in Vysocina (%):
• 2003: 25,0
• 2004: 27,1
• 2005: 30,6
• 2006: 39,9 

3. Strategies

• To improve competitiveness of the region through improvement of competitiveness of SMEs providing services in tourism

Objectives:

• To improve competitiveness of the region through improvement of competitiveness of SMEs providing services in tourism
• Objectives:
• Supported sector: Tourism and related sectors (accommodation, catering, transport, guided tours, leisure time etc.)
• Special focus on on-line reservation, eCommerce (to find the proper service and to buy it on line)
• Creation and operation of regional web portal called Portal of Tourism with the aim to concentrate all tourist related information and application into one fixed point available for providers and users (one-stop-shop)
• Establishment of a new agency (allowance organization founded by the Regional Authority) in support of tourism in Vysocina
• Creation of grant programmes, organize calls for proposals focused on improvement of infrastructure, creation of web pages, installing of Wi-fi networks etc.

 

4. Target Groups

• SMEs (mostly micro enterprises and self-employers) doing business in tourist industry: to promote eBusiness, to assist them in difficult tasks, to offer them education opportunities, to strengthen relation between entrepreneurs and the regional government
• Non-for-profit organizations, (mostly providers of cultural events, administrators of castles and other historical sights, municipalities, association of municipalities etc.: to involve them into ICT networking, to do their activities more visible and attractive, to create good relations between regional actors and the Regional government
• IT providers and SW developers: to receive and exploit new business opportunities

5. Stakeholders

• Region (Regional Government)
• SMEs (mostly micro enterprises and self-employers) doing business in tourist industry
• Municipalities and associations of municipalities
• Providers of tourist services on national level
• IT providers and SW developers

6. Business models

• Tourist portal: public funding, private co-funding in the future
• Vysocina tourism: Public funding, private co-funding in the future

7. Marketing and PR | Support measures of multipliers

• Possible communication channels:
• F2F meeting (personal visits)
• Website (www.region-vysocina.cz)
• Fairs (focused on tourism)
• Print publication (many titles about tourist attractions with information about Portal of Tourism, special publications presented ICT initiatives)
• Brainstorming seminars to identify actual needs and to build consensus for future development of the Portal
• Press releases (e.g. when the agency was established)
• Articles in regional magazines
• Presentations at conferences, seminars and in discussions with experts
  
• Web site – front office:
  • wide range of information (announcements, tourists sites, maps, events)
  • free of charge place for advertisement
  • catalogue of accommodation facilities (on line booking in perspective)
  • attractiveness for users (visitors, tourists)
    
• Website – back office:
  • database of accommodation facilities with basic information
  • database of events (calendar)
  • simple interface for easy data entry and editing (both accommodation and events)
  • sometimes the first real contacts of tourist services providers (SMEs) with ICT
  • support and assistance to SMEs from the region side
  • synergies among many stakeholders for the benefit of the whole region
    
• F2F meetings
  • strengthening of trust and relations between the Region and entrepreneurs (a feeling the Region takes care of SMEs)
  • better empathy in issues of SMEs, better understanding their needs
    
• Seminars
  • brainstorming to identify current needs and issues
  • consensus building among wide range of stakeholders
    
• News
  • Close cooperation with the regional internet on line daily Vysocina News http://www.vysocina-news.cz/
  • articles in regional printed magazines and newspapers
    
• Dossiers
• Brochures focused on Tourism in the region
• Brochures about ICT adoption in the region

 
8. Quality Assurance

• Quantitative (e.g. questionnaires)
• Qualitative (direct feedback)
• Standards
• etc.

9. Lessons learned

• Modest but very practice tool in support of SMEs and other providers in tourist industry
• Not only support of tourism but also promotion of ICT and future eBusiness
• Very strong consensus of all regional actors to improve competitiveness of the whole region through ICT and tourism

10. Contact

Ivana Mahelová
Vysocina Tourism
Žižkova 16
Jihlava
Czech Repulic

Phone:  +420564 602 533 
E-Mail: ivana.mahelovavysocinatourism.cz
Web:www.vysocinatourism.cz