Progress on the role of ICTs in establishing destination appeal

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in establishing destination appeal and reflect on the implications for smart tourism destination development. The focus is on identifying and analysing technological solutions by considering six elements shaping tourism destination appeal, namely, attractions, public and private amenities, accessibility, human resources, image and character and price. Design/methodology/approach To deliver public and private sector implications, the authors have reviewed and analysed relevant papers that were published in hospitality and tourism journals (42 Q1 and Q2 ranked journals based on SCImago Journal Rank) between 2010 and 2018. Findings ICTs affect the marketing and management of tourism destinations. They foster their innovativeness (e.g. interpretation of destination factors, new travel trends, innovative products, VA and AR), contribute sustainability (e.g. visitor management and reducing the use of resources) and improve accessibility (e.g. information provision, navigation, availability of sites and travel planning). The adaptation of technological solutions in the hospitality industry can be related to increased productivity, profitability and quality of services. Additionally, ICTs facilitate visitor decision-making (e.g. online distribution channels and information accessibility), influence overall travel experience and enable the sharing of visitors’ impressions. Research limitations/implications The significant limitations of this study include restrictions on the timing of publication and on journal selection. Originality/value This paper reviews full-length research papers that were published in relevant tourism and hospitality journals. This paper complements the current literature by addressing the role of ICTs in establishing destination appeal and reflecting on implications for smart destination development and future research.

Artificial intelligence and big data in tourism: a systematic literature review

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Smart governance for heritage tourism destinations: Contextual factors and destination management organization perspectives

“…Although smart tourism is attracting increasing attention from industry and academia (Del Chiappa & Baggio, 2015;Mandić & Garbin Praničević, 2019;Sigala & Marinidis, 2012), the concept of SG has not been significantly addressed in tourism studies. In tourism, SG relates to public actions aiming to transform destinations into innovative and resilient systems, which will be capable of maintaining core functions in the face of diverse pressures.…”

Place Branding for Smart Cities and Smart Tourism Destinations: Do They Communicate Their Smartness?

“…So the development of SCs foments the emergence of smart tourism destinations (STDs) [1]. In fact, STDs are SCs which take into account both residents and tourists in their effort to support mobility, resource availability, sustainability, and the quality of life and visits [6,7]. Therefore, this evolution of cities and destinations also requires a change in their branding.…”

“…For this reason, cities and tourist destinations communicate strategically seeking to generate a positive image [21]. As residents and tourists have a better image of SCs and STDs, because they generate expectations of superior innovation, greater interactivity and participation, and more satisfying tourist experiences [7], SCs and STDs need to communicate their sustainability and their smartness through their branding in order to generate a better image. So, as place branding is a type of urban policy [22], it should be a central instrument in spatial planning [23] for cities and destinations.…”

“…Social media are key tools for place branding [25], especially in the communication by local governments and DMOs of the identity and the brand of the place to residents and tourists [1,26,27]. Smartness, sustainability and technological development are essential for the image of cities and destinations and their tourist attraction [7]. Tourists are interested in discovering the smart technologies and services that destinations offer.…”