A Proposal for an Electronic Negotiation Platform for Tourism in Low-Density Regions: Characterizing a Functional Analysis and Prototype for the Douro Valley

Abstract

Traditional e-Commerce platforms tend to mimic existing physical store processes in which customers are given the opportunity to purchase only the available products without any type of personal customization or even without the possibility of being allowed to present a desired product/service to which the market might be able to respond. With this in mind, a prototype for an electronic negotiation platform directed at the tourism sector has been developed and focused on Douro Valley tourism operators, products and services. In our opinion this prototype might help to develop new business models drawn from the customers’ willingness to have a personal tourism experience and not just something off the shelf.