G 3403 Copyright © 2018, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Category: Geographic Information Systems DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-2255-3.ch297 Application of Geospatial Mashups in Web GIS for Tourism Development INTRODUCTION Tourism is defined by the World Tourism Or- ganisation (NSCB, 2004), as the act travelling for the purpose of recreation and the provision of services for this act. Currently, tourism industry is one of the fastest growing industries all over the world. This smokeless industry is basically a kind of service industry, as it renders service to the tourists and all other supporting industries related to tourism like, hotel industry, transport industry etc. This business involves many socio- economic activities like promotion and advertising tourist spots and destinations, providing effective transport facility, fooding-lodging, entertainment etc. At the same time when the tourism industry is flourishing it helps in socio-economic develop- ment of those tourist destinations. It also helps in strengthening the economical status of the country by earning foreign currencies without export- ing national wealth. So, it is obvious that if this industry becomes more effective and efficient, it will definitely be the major source of revenue and will take a leading role in the overall economic development of the nation. Information and Com- munication Technology (ICT) can lead tourism to emerge as a new mantra for alternative economic development (Buhalis, 1998). Information Tech- nology breaks the geographical boundaries so it is shared to the global audiences. Information Technology integrates between tourism product and requirement of the tourists. Due to changes in tourists or visitors behavior, the tourism market is becoming more segmented with each potential tourist belonging to a number of market segments (Cheng et al., 2002). Tourist operators need to be aware of these changes and be equipped to respond or better still, take a proactive approach. Techno- logical revolution during 1990s brought with it new opportunities and challenges for the tourism industries. Technology has become fundamental to the ability of the global tourism industry to operate effectively and competitively. Information technology is being rapidly diffused throughout the tourism industry and that no player will escape from information technologies impacts. These technological innovations started in the 1970s when the main airlines set up CRSs (Computer- ized Reservation Systems), with the strategic aim of building a global distribution network for their products. Connecting travel agencies to the CRSs set off a process of distribution automa- tion involving an ever-increasing number of tour operators, carriers, and car hire firms, individual hotels, hotel chains, and other hospitality firms. Geographical Information System, an ICT tool has been extensively used for tourism promotion and management. It was in use for GIS data de- sign and collection, database design management and application of tourism analysis and problem solving. Currently, Internet has become the in- separable part of the Information and communica- tion Technology. Online technologies within the tourism industry have significantly impacted on communications, transactions and relationships between the various industry operators and with Somnath Chaudhuri Maldives National University, Maldives Nilanjan Ray Adamas University, India