CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The Nigeria tourist attraction center has improved significantly with the advancement in the level of technology. The tourism and hospitality industry plays a significant role in the socio-economic development processes in Nigeria and its effect is seen in various developmental processes in the area of incentives for employment and social prosperity by implementing and coordinating the activities and services. This also refers to those companies which have been indirectly related to tourism. Previously emphasized involvement of entities, such as entities that implement their mission in collaboration with the same type of enterprises or integrating with other subjects, seems very important, even crucial to the creation of value chain, regardless to geographic coverage and character of the business. This kind of stresses the need for knowledge of new technologies. According to (Braun, 2008) stated that ICT offers the ability to foster improved competitive performance through network, clustering and formation of alliances as well as providing the richness of content increasingly required by consumers. Beyond buying, the integration of buying experiences, for example connecting the presentation of physical facilities, delivery processes, finance etc., as well as presentation that reaches customer segments in various new media mobiles, for example iPods, Facebook, is increasingly required (Alvarez and Sugijoto, 2010). ICT can bring business change depending on attitudes related to IT awareness, i.e. competence related to the application of knowledge in new technologies. According to Berger et al. 2006) stated that appealing presentations of business products and travel destinations, sophisticated visualization of tourism products, the consulting role of travel agents, the social interaction and information exchange between travelers, as well as the information richness of the Internet are key features for successful tourism e – business. Competitive advantage of enterprises can be achieved by tourism managers who embrace new information technology and actively participate in the technology planning process to identify new users and manage their development (Moutinho, 2002). In the context of resource management within the internal environment of enterprises and the business activities of travel agencies, the importance of new technologies is emphasized in the area of cost reduction. In relation to changes of external environment, the competitiveness of travel agencies that use new technologies is based on performance such as information availability and transparency, facilitating the placement of products and services. The study wishes to examine the impact of ICT application on the hospitality and tourism industry using Tinapa resort center Cross River state as the case study.

1.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF TINAPA RESORT CENTER

Situated by the Calabar River, Tinapa is a business and leisure resort conceptualized to be an integrated business resort. It is a four phased development promoted by the Government of Cross River State, under a Private Public Partnership (PPP), and very close to Calabar Free Trade Zone. It is the realization of an exciting dream – the first integrated business and leisure in resort in Nigeria. Tinapa Free Zone has world class facilities that enable visitors to engage in retail and wholesale activities as well as leisure and entertainment. Tinapa has let-table space for retail and wholesale, several line shops, warehouses etc. It also has an open exhibition area for trade exhibitions and other events, a movie production studio commonly referred to as “Studio Tinapa” or “Nollywood”, an entertainment strip that comprise a casino, an Eight-Screen Cinema, a children’s arcade, restaurants and a mini amphitheater, a night club and pubs.

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