Title: Contribution of Visitor Information Centres to promoting natural and cultural resources in emerging tourism destinations

Authors: Konstantinos I. Karipis, Emmanouil N. Tsimitakis, Sofoklis G. Skoultsos

Addresses: Interdepartmental Program of Postgraduate Studies in Tourism Planning, Management and Policy, University of the Aegean, 3, Areos Str., Athens, GR 17562, Greece. ' Interdepartmental Program of Postgraduate Studies in Tourism Planning, Management and Policy, University of the Aegean, 32, Aspradaki Str., Sitia, Crete, GR 72300, Greece. ' Interdepartmental Program of Postgraduate Studies in Tourism Planning, Management and Policy, University of the Aegean, 2, Sila Str., Chios, GR 82100, Greece

Abstract: This paper presents the contribution of Visitor Information Centres (VICs), as a part of a polyparametric system regarding information clustering, to promoting natural and cultural resources in emerging tourism destinations in Greece. Furthermore, the paper highlights the significant role of VICs in the tourism planning process, as they can effectively manage the existing tourism flows and attract more. The core element of the case study presented in this paper is the VIC in the Prefecture of Drama, which is considered to be the main management tool regarding the procedure of information clustering in this specific area.

Keywords: VICs; visitor information centres; Prefecture of Drama; information clustering; holistic tourism products; ICT; information technology; communications technology; sense of place; natural resources; Greece; culture; cultural resources; tourist destinations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2009.028717

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2009 Vol.2 No.4, pp.319 - 336

Published online: 25 Sep 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article