A gender-oriented analysis of digital skills and ICT use intensity in tourism companies in Extremadura (Spain)
ISSN: 1754-2413
Article publication date: 31 July 2023
Issue publication date: 8 March 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to use a novel approach, focusing on the manager’s gender, to explore whether it acts as a differentiator in the following aspects of tourist accommodation companies in Extremadura (Spain): the level of information and communication technology (ICT) specialisation of employees, managers’ knowledge of ICTs and the social media and online tourism platform use intensity of managers.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was sent to 238 accommodation companies. The data collected from the questionnaire were analysed using statistical inference techniques and linear and logistic regression.
Findings
In general, ICT specialist profiles are more common amongst the employees of male-led companies. Male managers also use Booking and analyse online feedback more intensively. There appear to be no gender-based differences in terms of the ICT knowledge of managers.
Practical implications
These results highlight issues of major practical interest for the sector’s managers and decision makers, especially in Extremadura. They reveal the digital divide in certain aspects between men- and women-led firms in Extremadura. This finding has important consequences for the sector in terms of competitiveness. It highlights the need to continue working to eradicate gender gaps in digital settings.
Originality/value
The study shows the role of the manager’s gender as a differentiating factor in terms of the existence of specialist ICT profiles and ICT use intensity in tourism companies. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides the first evidence of such a finding for the tourism sector in general, as well as for the specific case of a rural destination such as Extremadura.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Junta of Extremadura and was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through project IB18015 and grant GR21089. One of the authors is also a beneficiary of a Junior University Faculty Grant (Formación de Profesorado Universitario – FPU) from the Spanish Ministry of Universities, grant number FPU2019-02375.
All authors have contributed equally.
Citation
Sánchez-Rivero, M., Gutiérrez-Fernández, M., Fernández-Torres, Y. and Gallego-Sosa, C. (2024), "A gender-oriented analysis of digital skills and ICT use intensity in tourism companies in Extremadura (Spain)", Gender in Management, Vol. 39 No. 2, pp. 239-254. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-04-2022-0147
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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