THE ROLE OF SMART TOURISM IN ENSURING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND FORMING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF TOURIST DESTINATIONS
Abstract
The article is aimed at researching the potential of Smart Tourism as a strategic vector for the development of tourism destinations in the context of global digitalization and increasing environmental turbulence. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the role of Smart Tourism as a strategic factor in ensuring sustainable development and forming competitive advantages for tourism destinations. The research process utilized dialectical and abstract-logical methods, alongside systems thinking, comparative analysis, observation, synthesis, induction, and deduction. It is proven that the transformation of tourism destinations occurs through a transition from traditional management models to integrated Smart ecosystems. Within these systems, Big Data, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, and Augmented and Virtual Reality technologies form the foundation for adaptive management of tourism flows and services. The architecture of a destination’s Smart infrastructure is characterized, and the role of key stakeholders in digital interaction is defined. Based on the successful case study of Barcelona, the effectiveness of the synergy between Smart City and Smart Tourism in reducing anthropogenic impact and improving the quality of the tourist experience is demonstrated. The practical value of the study lies in the formation of a comprehensive approach to the digital transformation of tourism destinations, which can be utilized by local governments, tourism administrations, and industry entities for monitoring tourism flows, optimizing infrastructure use, increasing inclusivity, and implementing data-driven management decisions. It is substantiated that the digitalization of destinations should be based on the principles of inclusivity, ethical data management, and the preservation of socio-cultural authenticity. The systemic challenges of implementing Smart Tourism are outlined, and it is proven that the development of the institutional environment and digital competencies are key conditions for transforming innovations into sustainable competitive advantages. It is concluded that the implementation of the Smart Tourism concept is a fundamental prerequisite for the viability of destinations in the global tourism space.
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