The Information and Communication Technologies in tourism degree courses — The Portuguese reality

The developments occurring in recent years in the Information and Communication Technologies led inevitably a great effect on the operation, structure and strategy of organizations around the world, and obviously also in the tourist sector organizations. Through the Information and Communication Technologies, it is possible to reduce communication costs and operation and may increase the flexibility, interactivity, efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. Information and Communication Technologies appear one of the area most critical to the success of tourism in the future and the way it will promote the tourist destinations. This paper aims to analyze the relevance given by the various Portuguese institutions of higher education to Information and Communication Technologies in their degrees. The analysis carried out was done in degree courses operating in this school year, 2012/2013, in Portuguese universities and polytechnics, public and private.