VDA: Virtual destination application - Trial

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 00.0107-1

Key words (English)

Economic Aspects; Information Processing; Information Systems; Innovation; Technology Transfer

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: IST-1999-20937

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.2.2 New methods of work and electronic commerce

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Chur
Institut für Tourismus und Freizeit

Abstract (English)

The objective of VDA is to try out innovative marketplace concepts and technologies for SMEs in the tourism industry. We use the proposers' mediation system concept 'Virtual Destination Application' (VDA) , which is a combination of advanced WEB technologies and of a 'Virtual Enterprise' (VE) business approach to co-ordinate partners and customers.

Our hypothesis is that only the combination of leading technology with VE business concepts will boost the take-up of e-commerce in tourism. While the VE is a tested approach to large chains in tourism, its take-up is lagging for many SMEs. However, especially SMEs need a complementary business-to-business solution to implement the technology and the business model to deliver in the emerging electronic marketplaces.

The concept of VDA aims to introduce web-based leading edge technology providing an extensive range of services and a dissemination platform in order to establish a one- stop- shop for the tourist customer. Therefore VDA uses the technology of virtual reality modelling, which is at the moment in an early stage of the lifecycle. A first prototype in Berlin shows the potentials of this technology to be used for multimedia information dissemination, especially for web-presences of whole cities in combination with their enterprises.

We bring together leading technology- and method providers for trials of VDA in world-famous destinations, which will deliver best practices for any other European tourist region to develop their own virtual destination.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0107-1