## 5 Discussion  
The survey results from SMEs across different Mediterranean countries provide critical insights into the role of digitalization, platform features, and business collaboration in improving visitor experiences in CH sites. From this analysis, a set of best practices can be \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l l} \hline \hline
**Country** & **Local Market** & **International Market** \\ \hline Average & 57.65\% & 31.41\% \\ Cyprus & 47.87\% & 38.57\% \\ Italy & 57.00\% & 29.00\% \\ Jordan & 56.29\% & 34.68\% \\ Spain & 66.92\% & 21.92\% \\ Turkey & 55.77\% & 35.00\% \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 3: Mean revenue from the local and international market for each country. derived to assist SMEs dealing with the design and development of novel digital solutions for the CH and tourism industries. The analysis revealed evident diversity amongst SMEs belonging to the five different countries. This information is critical to ensure that the design of digital solutions reflects different variables, such as the geographical distribution, cultural context, ethical considerations, knowledge gaps, investment readiness, standards and regulations compliance, digital priorities, social preferences and behaviors, technology maturity, lack of infrastructure, financial resources, and public and private sector alignment, recognizing the complexity of how digital solutions vary based on local needs and resources [4]. It is essential to carefully address all these issues to carefully ensure international marketing agility driven by enabling technologies [54]. Moreover, despite the evident differences among the surveyed countries in terms of economic maturity, digital readiness, and infrastructural conditions, SMEs consistently recognized XR as a powerful enabler for both local and international tourism enhancement. Indeed, this is supported by the SMEs' revenue-related data, as shown in Table 3. These results suggest that XR is not only a technological trend in the CH and tourism contexts but is also a strategic asset capable of bridging markets, improving visibility, and delivering added value regardless of the target segment. It also confirms the importance of including immersive functionalities in digital platforms for enhancing tourists' engagement. Also, due to the interactions of SMEs belonging to different countries, several technical challenges may arise which need to be carefully managed to ensure the successful implementation of digital solutions [55]. These challenges include system interoperability, where digital platforms must seamlessly exchange data across different technological ecosystems; scalability, to accommodate varying levels of adoption and infrastructure capabilities; data governance, ensuring proper data management policies in compliance with regional and international regulations; and data security and privacy, which remains a significant concern given the differing approaches to cybersecurity regulations across countries. Data management and security is a critical issue when dealing with user data and mobile applications [56]. Moreover, networking and infrastructure limitations can hinder the real-time accessibility and efficiency of digital applications, particularly in regions with weaker levels of technological infrastructure. Another key challenge is represented by the integration with existing applications and platforms. Many SMEs already operate within established digital ecosystems, requiring new solutions to be compatible with legacy systems to avoid disruptions [57]. Furthermore, user adoption remains a major concern, as the success of digital solutions is largely dependent on the willingness of SMEs and end-users to embrace new technologies. This adoption is influenced by factors such as the digital knowledge, ease of use, support services, and the perceived value of digital tools [58] that help businesses transition smoothly into digital transformation initiatives.