To read this content please select one of the options below:

Hindrances to smart tourism development

Sunny Sun (College of Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Oita, Japan)
Huiyue Ye (Asia-Pacific Academy of Economics and Management, Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China)
Rob Law (Asia-Pacific Academy of Economics and Management, Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China)
Alex Yang-Chan Hsu (Department of Tourism, Recreation and Leisure Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan)

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology

ISSN: 1757-9880

Article publication date: 7 June 2022

Issue publication date: 12 July 2022

724

Abstract

Purpose

Most previous studies have discussed the factors that drive the development of smart tourism or its benefits. Nevertheless, hindrances to smart tourism development have been largely ignored by previous studies. Hence, to bridge the aforementioned research gap, the present study identified the hindrances to smart tourism development in Hong Kong, which has been affected by the recent pandemic, based on the adjusted destination competitiveness conceptual models.

Design/methodology/approach

The purpose of this study is to investigate the hindrances to smart tourism development. A qualitative interview method using a semi-structured questionnaire with open-ended questions was adopted in the present study.

Findings

Findings of the present study indicated that the hindrances in developing smart tourism in Hong Kong are from four primary perspectives, namely, economic, sociocultural, technological and planning and management.

Research limitations/implications

Seeking cooperation from popular tourist destinations can address the economic issues of market size and return on investment in technological infrastructure. Experiences, as the core product of travel, should be highlighted in smart tourism development and enterprises should be given support for the transformation.

Originality/value

Theoretically, based on the adjusted conceptual models for destination competitiveness, the present study identifies the macro factors that hinder the development of smart tourism in Hong Kong from different primary perspectives. Practically, factors such as policy support, which includes public funding or low-interest loans, are essential to supporting preliminary finances to attract entrepreneurs and young talents to participate in the development.

智慧旅游发展的障碍

研究目的:

之前的大多数研究都讨论了推动智慧旅游发展的因素或其好处。然而, 以往的研究在很大程度上忽略了智慧旅游发展的障碍。因此, 为弥合上述研究空白, 本研究基于调整后的目的地竞争力概念模型, 确定了受近期疫情影响的香港智慧旅游发展的障碍。

研究设计/方法/途径:

本研究采用了带有开放式问题的半结构化问卷的定性访谈方法来采集数据。

研究发现:

本研究结果表明, 香港发展智慧旅游的障碍主要来自四个方面, 即经济、社会文化、技术以及规划和管理。

研究意义:

寻求热门旅游目的地的合作可以解决市场规模和技术基础设施投资回报等经济问题。智慧旅游发展应突出体验作为旅游核心产品, 支持企业转型。

研究原创性/价值:

理论上, 本研究基于调整后的目的地竞争力概念模型, 从不同的首要视角识别阻碍香港智慧旅游发展的宏观因素。从实际意义上来讲, 公共资金或低息贷款在内的政策支持等因素对于支持初步资金, 以及吸引企业家和青年人才来参与发展至关重要。

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their sincere thanks to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions for an early version of this paper. Rob Law participated in the early part of this project when he was affiliated with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This project was partly supported by a research grant funded by the University of Macau.

Citation

Sun, S., Ye, H., Law, R. and Hsu, A.Y.-C. (2022), "Hindrances to smart tourism development", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, Vol. 13 No. 4, pp. 763-778. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-10-2021-0300

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles