The internet can be a great place for research. Google is quick and easy to use, links to vast amounts of free and current information, includes government sites, many research organisation, and specialist blogs.
The downside to Google is it does not discriminate and won't give the best results for academic information. Unlike the the Library's resources that are chosen for quality, you'll have to evaluate all information that you find on the Internet before you use it in your assignments.
When evaluating think about:
​Google Search Engine Tools
Searches scholarly literature across an array of publishing formats and disciplines from journal articles, eBooks to conference papers. Items are ranks by citations. Recent and popular items are often restricted behind Publishers' pay-walls.
Student can use citations found in Google Scholar to search Library Search and access the full text if available.
Provides a sophisticated search interface to retrieve more specific results similar to the functionality of the library databases. You can use search operators (AND, OR, NOT) and other punctuation to get limited resulted rather than the million plus, typical of Google.
You can search within specific domains e.g. .ac.uk or websites: www.gov.uk.
Eurostat - Eurostat is the statistical office of the European Union. Providing the European Union with statistics at European level that enable comparisons between countries and regions. The site has Tourism statistics including; nights spent at tourist accommodation.
Institute of Travel & Tourism - The Institute of Travel & Tourism was set up to raise and maintain professional standards throughout the travel industry.
ONS: UK National Statistics Publication Hub - UK Government website for the publication of official statistics.
Sustainable Restaurant Association | Green Hotelier - The Green Hotelier (brought to you by the International Tourism Partnership) which works with the world's leading hotel groups to drive the responsible business agenda. The site contains news, resources, expert commentary and best practice for green hotels throughout the world.
The Travel Foundation - The Travel Foundation was founded in 2003 as a UK registered charity; supporting destination stakeholders, including tour operators from the relevant source markets, destination authorities, local tourism businesses and local communities, to develop and deliver a programme of activities that optimises the overall benefits of tourism.
Travel Trade Gazette: TTG Digital - Travel Trade Gazette was established in 1953, as the world’s very first weekly travel trade newspaper.
Tourism Concern - Tourism Concern works for ethical and fairly traded tourism. Tourism Concern is governered by a Council of 10 trustees, elected from Members. They provide oversight and maintain accountability. Our current trustees are widely representative of the tourist industry, human rights and development organisations, academia and education sectors.
Visit Britain - Visit Britin corporate website. Contais sector specific research , campaign information, international marketing, market research, and official statistics.
Visit Scotland - Visit Scotland is the national tourism organisation for Scotland. Their mission aim is to contribute to the advancement of Scottish tourism by giving it a real presence in the global marketplace
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.