Advancement in Computing: Implications for Tourism and Hospitality

It is argued that most of the research methods and tools are no longer separate entities and a major trend in research is the merging of research tools and approaches to conducting research.

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to shed some light on advancement in computing techniques and tools with respect to artificial neural networks (ANN) and knowledge discovery in database (KDD) as part of an eclectic portfolio of research tools and to provide some practical implications for research efforts. Although the orientation of this paper is more towards tourism research in general, some of the points and suggestions would also have applications in hospitality. The article argues that most of our research methods and tools are no longer separate entities. Thus, a major trend in research is the merging of research tools and approaches to conducting research. An eclectic method of analysis toward competing techniques and methods of generating and disseminating knowledge is needed. This eclectic approach is essential when selecting and designing the most effective research environment in which the researcher would generate relevant timely and cost effective information that would help understand the complexity of research issues in tourism and hospitality.