Tourism destinations are increasingly integrating smart technologies and focus on achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) as recommended by the United Nations. Prior research highlights the transformation of tourism destinations along the lines of smart cities. This study critically explores major research themes in literature with a view to identify the dynamics of smart tourism destination transformation process along the lines of sustainability and fulfilment of SDGs. The present study aims to explore major research areas with a view to identify the dominating themes and linkages in smart tourism destinations, sustainability and SDGs. This study uses domain-based design and employs ADO-TCM framework as per SPAR-4-SLR protocol. The findings unravel the knowledge developed in the area of smart tourism destinations, various aspects of sustainability and mapping of SDGs. Further, the study reports an inadequate representation of SDGs in research literature on smart tourism destinations.
AfolabiO. O.OzturenA.IlkanM. (2021). Effects of privacy concern, risk, and information control in a smart tourism destination. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 34(1), 3119–3138. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677x.2020.1867215
2.
AkbabaA. (2024). Conclusion: Sustainability, smart tourism destinations and evolving visitor preferences. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 16(6), 887–894. https://doi.org/10.1108/whatt-09-2024-0216
3.
AuW. C. W.TsangN. K. F. (2022). What makes a destination smart? An intelligence-oriented approach to conceptualizing destination smartness. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 39(4), 448–464. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2022.2116627
4.
AzimiA.MoradiE.GhaderiZ. (2025). Scale development and validation for measuring sustainable development in smart tourism destinations. Tourism Recreation Research, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2025.2521275
5.
AzisN.AminM.ChanS.ApriliaC. (2020). How smart tourism technologies affect tourist destination loyalty. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 11(4), 603–625. https://doi.org/10.1108/jhtt-01-2020-0005
6.
BarileS.CiasulloM. V.IandoloF.LandiG. C. (2021). The city role in the sharing economy: Toward an integrated framework of practices and governance models. Cities, 119, 103409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103409
7.
BarrutiaJ. M.EchebarriaC. (2015). Factors affecting the attitude of tourism-destination local authorities towards sustainable planning tools in a networking context: The Balearic Sustainability Network. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(2), 207–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2014.934375
8.
BasuR.PaulJ.SinghK. (2022). Visual merchandising and store atmospherics: An integrated review and future research directions. Journal of Business Research, 151, 397–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.07.019
9.
BingölS.YangY. (2025). Integrating smart technologies and artificial intelligence to build smart tourism destination ecosystems: A model for smart destination management. Tourism Management Perspectives, 58, 101380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2025.101380
10.
BirenboimA.Anton ClavéS.GanzaroliA.BornioliA.VermeulenS.Zuckerman FarkashM.Pastor AlcarazA.Ivars BaidalJ. A. (2023). Touristification, smartization, and social sustainability in European regions. Current Issues in Tourism, 26(3), 353–357. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2022.2051449
11.
Cerdá-MansillaE.TussyadiahI.CampoS.RubioN. (2024). Smart destinations: A holistic view from researchers and managers to tourists and locals. Tourism Management Perspectives, 51, 101223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2024.101223
12.
ChakrabortyD.PolisettyA.MishraA.RanaN. P. (2023). A longitudinal study on how smart tourism technology influences tourists’ repeat visit intentions. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 28(12), 1380–1398. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2023.2293801
13.
CimbaljevićM.StankovU.PavlukovićV. (2019). Going beyond the traditional destination competitiveness – Reflections on a smart destination in the current research. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(20), 2472–2477. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2018.1529149
14.
Coca-StefaniakJ. A. (2021). Beyond smart tourism cities – Towards a new generation of ‘wise’ tourism destinations. Journal of Tourism Futures, 7(2), 251–258. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-11-2019-0130
EichelbergerS.PetersM.PikkemaatB.ChanC. (2020). Entrepreneurial ecosystems in smart cities for tourism development: From stakeholder perceptions to regional tourism policy implications. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, 319–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.06.011
17.
ErrichielloL.MiceraR. (2021). A process-based perspective of smart tourism destination governance. European Journal of Tourism Research, 29, 2909. https://doi.org/10.54055/ejtr.v29i.2436
18.
EscobarS. D.MargheritaE. G. (2025). Assessing barriers to smart tourism cities from a TALC perspective: A best-worst method. Current Issues in Tourism, 28(11), 1837–1852. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2024.2352612
19.
Femenia-SerraF.Ivars-BaidalJ. A. (2021). Do smart tourism destinations really work? The case of Benidorm. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 26(4), 365–384. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2018.1561478
20.
Femenia-SerraF.NeuhoferB.Ivars-BaidalJ. A. (2019). Towards a conceptualisation of smart tourists and their role within the smart destination scenario. Service Industries Journal, 39(2), 109–133. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2018.1508458
21.
Fernández-DíazE.Jambrino-MaldonadoC.Iglesias-SánchezP. P.De Las Heras-PedrosaC. (2023). Digital accessibility of smart cities - Tourism for all and reducing inequalities: Tourism Agenda 2030. Tourism Review, 78(2), 361–380. https://doi.org/10.1108/tr-02-2022-0091
22.
García-MarotoI.Higueras-CastilloE.Muñoz-LeivaF.Liébana-CabanillasF. (2025). Determinants of the intention to recommend a socially responsible destination with smart tourism technologies. Current Issues in Tourism, 28(13), 2136–2152. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2024.2355565
23.
GelterJ.FuchsM.LexhagenM. (2022). Making sense of smart tourism destinations: A qualitative text analysis from Sweden. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 23, 100690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2022.100690
24.
Gilster. (1997). Digital literacy (1st ed.). Wiley Computer Lab.
25.
GiuliodoriA.BerroneP.RicartJ. E. (2023). Where smart meets sustainability: The role of Smart Governance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in cities. BRQ Business Research Quarterly, 26(1), 27–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/23409444221091281
26.
González-RevertéF. (2019). Building sustainable smart destinations: An approach based on the development of Spanish smart tourism plans. Sustainability, 11(23), 6874. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236874
GretzelU.KooC. (2021). Smart tourism cities: A duality of place where technology supports the convergence of touristic and residential experiences. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 26(4), 352–364. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2021.1897636
29.
GretzelU.LeeH.LeeE.ChungN.KooC. (2023). Enhanced smart tourism and its role in reshaping the tourism industry. Journal of Smart Tourism, 3(4), 23–31. https://doi.org/10.52255/smarttourism.2023.3.4.4
GuptaS.RajiahP.MiddlebrooksE. H.BaruahD.CarterB. W.BurtonK. R.ChatterjeeA. R.MillerM. M. (2018). Systematic review of the literature: Best practices. Academic Radiology, 25(11), 1481–1490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2018.04.025
32.
Ivars-BaidalJ.Casado-DíazA. B.Navarro-RuizS.Fuster-UguetM. (2024). Smart tourism city governance: Exploring the impact on stakeholder networks. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 36(2), 582–601. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijchm-03-2022-0322
33.
Ivars-BaidalJ. A.Celdrán-BernabeuM. A.Femenia-SerraF.Perles-RibesJ. F.Giner-SánchezD. (2021). Measuring the progress of smart destinations: The use of indicators as a management tool. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 19, 100531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2020.100531
34.
Ivars-BaidalJ. A.Celdrán-BernabeuM. A.Femenia-SerraF.Perles-RibesJ. F.Vera-RebolloJ. F. (2023). Smart city and smart destination planning: Examining instruments and perceived impacts in Spain. Cities, 137, 104266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104266
35.
Ivars-BaidalJ. A.Celdrán-BernabeuM. A.MazónJ.Perles-IvarsÁ. F. (2019). Smart destinations and the evolution of ICTs: A new scenario for destination management?Current Issues in Tourism, 22(13), 1581–1600. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2017.1388771
36.
JohnsonA. (2023). Why are smart destinations not all technology-oriented? Examining the development of smart tourism initiatives based on path dependence. Current Issues in Tourism, 26(8), 1282–1294. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2022.2053071
37.
KarakasE.AtayL. (2023). The impact of smart destination implementations in Malaga. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 14(5), 815–837. https://doi.org/10.1108/jhtt-09-2021-0263
38.
KhanM.WooM.NamK.ChathothP. (2017). Smart city and smart tourism: A case of Dubai. Sustainability, 9(12), 2279. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9122279
39.
KhatriP.DuggalH. K. (2022). Well‐being of higher education consumers: A review and research agenda. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 46(5), 1564–1593. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12783
40.
KrausS.BreierM.Dasí-RodríguezS. (2020). The art of crafting a systematic literature review in entrepreneurship research. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 16(3), 1023–1042. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-020-00635-4
41.
KusumastutiH.PranitaD.ViendyasariM.RasulM. S.SarjanaS. (2024). Leveraging local value in a post-smart tourism village to encourage sustainable tourism. Sustainability, 16(2), 873. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020873
LiY.HuC.HuangC.DuanL. (2017). The concept of smart tourism in the context of tourism information services. Tourism Management, 58, 293–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.03.014
LimW. M.YapS.MakkarM. (2021). Home sharing in marketing and tourism at a tipping point: What do we know, how do we know, and where should we be heading?Journal of Business Research, 122, 534–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.051
MyrovaliG.TzanisG.MorfoulakiM. (2025). Sustainable tourism through digitalization and smart solutions. Sustainability, 17(12), 5383. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125383
50.
NematpourM.KhodadadiM.AzimiA.MohammadkazemiR. (2025). IoT-driven smart solutions: Transforming urban tourism destinations. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 8(7), 2649–2670. https://doi.org/10.1108/jhti-10-2024-1083
51.
NunkooR.SharmaA.RanaN. P.DwivediY. K.SunnasseeV. A. (2023). Advancing sustainable development goals through interdisciplinarity in sustainable tourism research. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(3), 735–759. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.2004416
52.
OrtegaJ. L. C.MalcolmC. D. (2020). Touristic stakeholders’ perceptions about the smart tourism destination concept in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. Sustainability, 12(5), 1741. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051741
53.
PaulJ. (2025). Crafting impactful systematic literature reviews: Thumb rules and suggestions. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 49(5), e70103. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.70103
54.
PaulJ.BenitoG. R. G. (2018). A review of research on outward foreign direct investment from emerging countries, including China: What do we know, how do we know and where should we be heading?Asia Pacific Business Review, 24(1), 90–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/13602381.2017.1357316
55.
PaulJ.CriadoA. R. (2020). The art of writing literature review: What do we know and what do we need to know?International Business Review, 29(4), 101717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2020.101717
56.
PaulJ.KhatriP.DuggalH. K. (2024). Frameworks for developing impactful systematic literature reviews and theory building: What, why and how?Journal of Decision System, 33(4), 537–550. https://doi.org/10.1080/12460125.2023.2197700
57.
PaulJ.LimW. M.O’CassA.HaoA. W.BrescianiS. (2021). Scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews (SPAR-4-SLR). International Journal of Consumer Studies, 45(4), O1–O16. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12695
58.
PraghaP.DhalmahapatraK. (2025). Smart technologies as nudges: Shaping intentions to embrace sustainable tourism. Tourism Recreation Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2025.2498972
59.
PranitaD.SarjanaS.MusthofaB. M.KusumastutiH.RasulM. S. (2023). Blockchain technology to enhance integrated blue economy: A case study in strengthening sustainable tourism on smart Islands. Sustainability, 15(6), 5342. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065342
60.
RodriguesV.EusébioC.BredaZ. (2023). Enhancing sustainable development through tourism digitalisation: A systematic literature review. Information Technology & Tourism, 25(1), 13–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40558-022-00241-w
61.
RomãoJ.KourtitK.NeutsB.NijkampP. (2018). The smart city as a common place for tourists and residents: A structural analysis of the determinants of urban attractiveness. Cities, 78, 67–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2017.11.007
62.
SamanciogluE.KumluS.OzkulE. (2024). Smart tourism destinations and sustainability: Evidence from the tourism industry. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 16(6), 680–693. https://doi.org/10.1108/whatt-07-2024-0167
ShafieeS.GhatariA. R.HasanzadehA.JahanyanS. (2022). Developing a model for smart tourism destinations: An interpretive structural modelling approach. Information Technology & Tourism, 24(4), 511–546. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40558-022-00236-7
65.
ShenS.SotiriadisM.ZhouQ. (2020). Could smart tourists be sustainable and responsible as well? The contribution of social networking sites to improving their sustainable and responsible behavior. Sustainability, 12(4), 1470. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041470
66.
SorokinaE.WangY.FyallA.LugosiP.TorresE.JungT. (2022). Constructing a smart destination framework: A destination marketing organization perspective. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 23, 100688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2021.100688
67.
SustachaI.Baños-PinoJ. F.Del ValleE. (2024). How smartness affects customer-based brand equity in rural tourism destinations. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 34, 100949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2024.100949
68.
SwainR. B. (2018). A critical analysis of the sustainable development goals. In Leal FilhoW. (Ed.), Handbook of sustainability science and research. World sustainability series. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63007-6_20
69.
United Nations. (2025, September 15). On World Tourism Day, secretary-general urges ‘Bold, urgent, sustainable action’ to protect people, planet | Meetings coverage and press releases. https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22805.doc.htm
70.
WangX.ZhenF.TangJ.ShenL.LiuD. (2022). Applications, experiences, and challenges of smart tourism development in China. Journal of Urban Technology, 29(4), 101–126. https://doi.org/10.1080/10630732.2021.1879605
71.
XiangZ.TussyadiahI.BuhalisD. (2015). Smart destinations: Foundations, analytics, and applications. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 4(3), 143–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2015.07.001
