The role of TIAS in shaping smart tourism: governance perspectives on choosing intelligent destinations
Authors: Naveen Kumar R. , Janani M. , Pavithra R. , John William A. 
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This research paper examines the transformative impact of technological integration on the governance of tourist destinations, focusing particularly on the smart destination governance paradigm. It researches into the specific context of India’s adoption of smart tourism technologies, addressing the significant challenges posed by cybersecurity concerns. The study aims to explore how technological integration, innovation, accessibility and the use of social media collectively influence the governance mechanisms of smart destinations, contributing to their sustainability, efficiency and attractiveness to tourists.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed purposive sampling to collect data from tourists visiting key attractions across India, including Hampi, Mysore Palace, Coorg, Udupi, Jog Falls, Gokarna, Badami Caves, Bandipur National Park and Dandeli. To overcome initial hesitations from participants, targeted questionnaires were administered to 50 tourists at each location, total of 450 participants. The collected data were then analysed using statistical software packages SPSS and AMOS to examine the relationships between technological integration, innovation, accessibility, social media and smart destination governance.

Findings

The empirical analysis revealed significant and positive relationships between the factors studied and smart destination governance. Specifically, technology (b = 0.538, t = 13.284, p-value = 0.012), innovation (b = 0.713, t = 12.467, p-value = 0.003), accessibility (b = 0.549, t = 9.284, p-value = 0.000) and social media (b = 0.683, t = 10.284, p-value = 0.015) were found to significantly contribute to the governance of smart destinations. Collectively, these factors account for 52.7% of the variance in smart destination governance, indicating a substantial impact on the management and operational aspects of tourist destinations.

Research limitations/implications

The study introduces a Smart Destination Governance Framework emphasizing collaborative structures, user-driven services, social innovation and local community involvement. This framework outlines the importance of stakeholder dynamics, accessibility, social innovation and strategic social media use. While the framework provides valuable theoretical insights and strategies for adapting to various disturbances, the research is limited by its focus on specific tourist destinations in India, which may affect the generalizability of the findings to other contexts. Further research is encouraged to validate the framework in different geographical and cultural settings.

Practical implications

The findings offer actionable strategies for tourism stakeholders aiming to enhance smart destination governance. These include the strategic adoption of technology, addressing cybersecurity issues, integrating technology with sustainability, involving local communities, improving accessibility, leveraging social media for marketing, implementing resilience in smart destinations and prioritizing continuous visitor experience improvement. The study underscores the critical role of stakeholder engagement and social innovation in achieving improved accessibility measures and overall destination attractiveness.

Social implications

The study emphasizes the role of technological integration, innovation, accessibility and social media in smart destination governance, aiming to improve tourist experiences, promote inclusivity and foster community involvement. It also highlights the need to balance modernization with cultural preservation.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the academic discourse on smart destination governance by providing empirical evidence of the significant impact of technological integration, innovation, accessibility and social media. It offers a novel Smart Destination Governance Framework that highlights the importance of collaborative efforts, social innovation and stakeholder engagement in enhancing the governance of tourist destinations. The study’s findings and proposed strategies provide valuable insights for policymakers, destination managers and tourism practitioners seeking to navigate the complexities of smart destination governance in the digital era.