COVID-19 THE DAY AFTER: SMART TOURISM TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

Year 2021, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 239 - 255, 08.09.2021

Sonia Messori Stefania Denise Escobar

Abstract

This systematic literature review aims at exploring the contribution of smart tourism technologies to improve the tourism industry amid COVID-19 and in the subsequent recovery phase. The systematic literature review was conducted following a two-stage approach: first, articles were selected following the PRISMA protocol and second, a content analysis was performed on relevant contributions. The literature suggests that most of the studies focus on the use of Automation Technologies as tools to guide the recovery of the industry, while only few studies on the role of smart tourism and destinations, virtual tours, social media, blockchain and crowd management. It draws the conclusion that although the pandemic has led, in a very narrow temporal framework, to a publication explosion on the impact of COVID-19 on tourism, there is still room for research on how smart tourism technologies can contribute to the recovery of the tourism industry. Finally, the paper highlights areas where future studies can be conducted and proposes some constructive suggestions about future development of smart tourism in the new normal.

Keywords

Smart Tourism, COVID-19, Tourism recovery, PRISMA protocol

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