TR
EN
Smart Tourism, Sustainability, and Competitive Positioning: Evidence from Kosovo’s Official Tourism Websites
Abstract
This study examines how official tourism websites in Kosovo represent the use of next generation technologies—defined here as digital tools such as online booking interfaces, real time information systems, and interactive features—and how these representations align with sustainability principles to strengthen destination competitiveness. Based on a directed qualitative content analysis of nine official portals, the research operationalizes three analytical dimensions: technology integration, sustainability signaling, and competitiveness cues. Textual content from municipal, nature based, and heritage custodial websites was systematically coded using a theory driven framework grounded in smart tourism concepts and sustainability indicator systems. The findings reveal substantial variation across destinations. Nature based sites and municipal portals demonstrate the highest levels of digital maturity, frequently incorporating online transactions, live operational updates, and interactive map based tools that enhance visitor experience and accessibility. In contrast, heritage custodial websites emphasize cultural preservation and authenticity, yet offer limited interactive digital services, indicating an imbalance between conservation-oriented narratives and technological adoption. Sustainability communication is uneven: heritage conservation is consistently and prominently articulated, while environmental transparency and community based sustainability appear limited across most websites. Competitiveness cues—including branding, practical travel information, and itinerary development—are generally stronger in municipal portals, which tend to integrate technological features with cultural and natural assets more effectively. Overall, the study highlights a persistent gap between operational digitization and the communication of environmental and sociocultural sustainability, suggesting that Kosovo’s destinations partially leverage technology as a driver of competitive positioning but underutilize it as a tool for transparent sustainability engagement. The results point to the need for standardized environmental performance indicators, clearer digital interpretation strategies for heritage sites, and more integrated cross destination itineraries to strengthen smart, sustainable tourism development across Kosovo.
Keywords
References
- Artal Tur, A., & Badillo Amador, L. (2024). Systems of tourism sustainability indicators: A comparative analysis of international, European, and Spanish proposals. Smart Tourism, 5(2), 2800. https://doi.org/10.54517/st2800
- Badari, A., Mursitama, T., Maulana, A., & Pradipto, Y. (2024). The role of digital marketing in sustainable tourism: Evidence from Indonesia. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 13(3), 637-644. https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.548
- Bramwell, B., & Lane, B. (1993). Sustainable tourism: An evolving global approach. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 1(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669589309450696
- Buhalis, D., & Amaranggana, A. (2014). Smart tourism destinations. In Z. Xiang, & I. Tussyadiah (Eds.), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2014 (pp. 553-564). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03973-2_40
- Buhalis, D., & Amaranggana, A. (2015). Smart tourism destinations: Enhancing tourism experience through personalisation of services. In I. Tussyadiah, & A. Inversini (Eds.), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2015 (pp. 377-389). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14343-9_28
- Cohen, J. (1960). A coefficient of agreement for nominal scales. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 20(1), 37-46. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316446002000104
- Elgammal, I. (2024). Content analysis. In J. Jafari, & H. Xiao (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Tourism (pp. 207-208). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74923-1_352
- Gelvanovska-Garcia, N. (2023, June 15). Kosovo’s digital revolution: A success story (KODE project). Retrieved from Word Bank: https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/digital-development/kosovos-digital-revolution-success-story
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Marketing, Tourism Planning
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
June 25, 2026
Submission Date
February 15, 2026
Acceptance Date
June 3, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 1
APA
Artuner Özder, C. G. (2026). Smart Tourism, Sustainability, and Competitive Positioning: Evidence from Kosovo’s Official Tourism Websites. Journal of New Tourism Trends, 7(1), 121-140. https://doi.org/10.58768/joinntt.1889925
AMA
1.Artuner Özder CG. Smart Tourism, Sustainability, and Competitive Positioning: Evidence from Kosovo’s Official Tourism Websites. Journal of New Tourism Trends. 2026;7(1):121-140. doi:10.58768/joinntt.1889925
Chicago
Artuner Özder, Ceren Gül. 2026. “Smart Tourism, Sustainability, and Competitive Positioning: Evidence from Kosovo’s Official Tourism Websites”. Journal of New Tourism Trends 7 (1): 121-40. https://doi.org/10.58768/joinntt.1889925.
EndNote
Artuner Özder CG (June 1, 2026) Smart Tourism, Sustainability, and Competitive Positioning: Evidence from Kosovo’s Official Tourism Websites. Journal of New Tourism Trends 7 1 121–140.
IEEE
[1]C. G. Artuner Özder, “Smart Tourism, Sustainability, and Competitive Positioning: Evidence from Kosovo’s Official Tourism Websites”, Journal of New Tourism Trends, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 121–140, June 2026, doi: 10.58768/joinntt.1889925.
ISNAD
Artuner Özder, Ceren Gül. “Smart Tourism, Sustainability, and Competitive Positioning: Evidence from Kosovo’s Official Tourism Websites”. Journal of New Tourism Trends 7/1 (June 1, 2026): 121-140. https://doi.org/10.58768/joinntt.1889925.
JAMA
1.Artuner Özder CG. Smart Tourism, Sustainability, and Competitive Positioning: Evidence from Kosovo’s Official Tourism Websites. Journal of New Tourism Trends. 2026;7:121–140.
MLA
Artuner Özder, Ceren Gül. “Smart Tourism, Sustainability, and Competitive Positioning: Evidence from Kosovo’s Official Tourism Websites”. Journal of New Tourism Trends, vol. 7, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 121-40, doi:10.58768/joinntt.1889925.
Vancouver
1.Ceren Gül Artuner Özder. Smart Tourism, Sustainability, and Competitive Positioning: Evidence from Kosovo’s Official Tourism Websites. Journal of New Tourism Trends. 2026 Jun. 1;7(1):121-40. doi:10.58768/joinntt.1889925