The use of technology
services at outdoor, urban, historical destinations has been gaining
notoriety within the tourism industry. Tourists who use technology
services at home or at work have presented the need to have the same
level of access while on the road. Nonetheless, the type of destination
examined has typically not been accustomed to providing technology
services. Outdoor, urban, historical destinations play a vital role in
the ability to not only educate tourists about the past, but also
provide a recreational establishment to enjoy. The combination of the
two roles facilitates this investigation. This study will potentially
evaluate the need for technology services at outdoor, urban, historical
destinations.
Keywords:
outdoor, urban, historical destinations, technology, historical tourism,
cultural preservation
Biography:
Celestino Ruffini is an MSc student in the Department of Hospitality and
Tourism Management at Purdue University, U.S.A. He obtained a BS from
the same department and University in 2005. With an emphasis on
historical tourism, he has focused his research towards the use of
technology services in the developing field of outdoor, urban,
historical destinations. Additionally, he has given focus to the fields
of heritage tourism, historical preservation travel, economic impact
analyses of new product developments, information technology in
hospitality and tourism companies, and to Web-based survey development
techniques.
He has professional
experience in the hospitality and tourism industry in the U.S. through
employment with the Hilton Corporation and Tippecanoe County (Indiana,
U.S.A.) Historical Association. Moreover, involvement with Purdue
University has been driven through the enhancement of these three
courses offered by the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management:
Resort, Cruise, and Entertainment Operations; Feasibility Studies and
Business Development in Hospitality and Tourism Management; and
E-commerce in the Service Sector. A native of Decatur,
Illinois, U.S.A., he currently resides in Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.A.
until completion of his MSc degree in May of 2007.
