Smart tourism destinations and sustainability: evidence from the tourism industry

Abstract

Purpose

This research aims to reveal the role of sustainability in tourism in terms of smart technologies by addressing the relationship between smart tourism and sustainability through a thematic literature analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on examining the role of smart tourism in terms of sustainability within the studies in the literature.

Findings

Tourism is a mass-movement industry that uses natural and artificial resources intensively. For this reason, intensive studies are carried out on this industry in sustainable studies. Based on smart cities, smart destinations have started to be created to focus on specific tourism activities, balance the use of resources in this field, ensure the welfare of tourists and local people, and, most importantly, create sustainable activities. These technology-based cities can save many resources that people need to consider. In addition, thanks to its integration with technological devices, it enables people to be much more effective in social and business life and to act more practically in terms of time, distance, and communication. Besides the stakeholders within the destination, tourists visiting the destination can have a more comfortable and resource-efficient holiday experience thanks to the technological applications and systems created here.

Originality/value

The research presents a thematic literature review on the importance of sustainability in the sector within the framework of smart tourism practices.

Citation

Samancioglu, E., Kumlu, S. and Ozkul, E. (2024), "Smart tourism destinations and sustainability: evidence from the tourism industry", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-07-2024-0167