E-Tourism as an Area in Socio-Economic Development of a State (Part 1)

Abstract

Socio-economic development in Ukraine and in the world can occur in various areas, among which tourism has one of outstanding places along with machine building and oil processing sectors. The directions of such development are constantly specified through the widespread application of innovative technologies in social life. It is established that such application takes place within the digitalization processes, its primary goal being unobtrusive and prompt satisfaction of society’s needs and its interest protection. The tourism sphere can certainly be related to the services industry. It is established that this area together with the economy branch, business, and others is distinguished in Ukraine as one of perspective fields for modern technologies introduction. Therefore, the goal of this article is to determine the peculiarities in the use of modern technologies in tourism sphere as a direction in socio-economic development of the state. It is offered and justified to consider e-tourism not only from the position of the use of modern technologies, but also to introduce the following scientific principles: promptness, consistency, efficiency, rationality, and others that suppose a balanced and efficient use of natural recreation resources, as well as cultural and historical heritage preservation for generations to come. Due to significance of various complex characteristics of e-tourism, it was decided to study it within two sections of the research. The first section relates to the study of tourism as a component of the e-commerce, while the second section is devoted to the study of its ecological aspects. As to the first section of the research, it is accentuated that in conditions of uncertainty it is difficult to provide precise prognostications concerning the rates of e-tourism development. Nevertheless, certain factors, risks, and perspectives of this process for Ukraine can be outlined to some extent. It is established that the recent intensification of e-tourism is determined by the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, development of tourism sector is recognized as perspective primarily in the following areas: 1) the use of modern technologies that facilitate access to tourist services due to the closure of state borders; 2) ecological, green, therapeutically-sanatorium, and medical tourism. It is accentuated that e-tourism development is called to ensure a raise in efficiency of medical, educational, scientific, migration, and other areas of social activities. It is clarified that efficient use of modern technologies in the tourist and other spheres is called to: 1) improve the implementation of a person’s rights and interests; 2) ensure a long-term competitiveness of Ukraine in the international markets; 3) to raise the level and quality of tourist services; 4) to ensure access to information needed for providing of the mentioned services, etc. It is substantiated that in Ukraine in a short-term period, it is possible to expect the actuation of the e-tourism development scenario in the outlined areas depending on the functions performed by e-tourism.