THE INTERNET ADDRESSES OF AGROTOURISTIC FARMS AND THEIR INFORMATIVE VALUE

Abstract

Purpose. The analysis of information available in the Domain Name Registry and the digital archive on selected internet domains of agrotouristic farms. The answer to the question whether this information can be helpful in choosing a specific offer. Method. The analysis of the domain’s history – digital copies of websites of chosen agrotouristic farms recorded in the Wayback Machine web archive. The analysis of data available in the WHOIS database. Findings. The analysis of data available in the Research and Academic Computer Network (NASK) does not allow to clearly assess a counterparty’s credibility. Tracking the domain’s history enables to record how artwork, contents and technique of performing agrotouristic farm websites have changed and also how their business type has evolved. Irregularities connected, among others, to the operator being the domain’s customer were noticed in the set of analysed websites. Research and conclusion limitations. 10 addresses of agrotouristic farm websites accessed on 19 December 2016 from the first tab of searching results in one of public website catalogues were examined. As the Wayback Machine web archive collects copies of archival websites regardless of the domain where they are available, the WHOIS database only contains information about national domains of the highest level (.pl). Practical implications. Survey methods used in the paper are universal – they can be helpful in evaluation of credibility of any subject promoting services on the website within a national domain of the highest level. They can be also used to verify history of any web domain which can be helpful before its registration. Originality. The concept of using the Wayback Machine digital archive to evaluate a counterparty’s credibility and potential value of an internet domain. The concept of using the WHOIS registry to estimate credibility of an agrotouristic offer. Type of paper. The paper presents the results of empirical surveys. A case study.