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Big data and analytics are being increasingly used by tourism and hospitality organisations (THOs) to provide insights and to inform critical business decisions. Particularly in times of crisis and uncertainty data analytics supports THOs to acquire the knowledge needed to ensure business continuity and the rebuild of tourism and hospitality sectors. Despite being recognised as an important source of value creation, big data and digital technologies raise ethical, privacy and security concerns. This paper aims to suggest a framework for ethical data management in tourism and hospitality designed to facilitate and promote effective data governance practices.

The paper adopts an organisational and stakeholder perspective through a scoping review of the literature to provide an overview of an under-researched topic and to guide further research in data ethics and data governance.

The proposed framework integrates an ethical-based approach which expands beyond mere compliance with privacy and protection laws, to include other critical facets regarding privacy and ethics, an equitable exchange of travellers’ data and THOs ability to demonstrate a social license to operate by building trusting relationships with stakeholders.

This study represents one of the first studies to consider the development of an ethical data framework for THOs, as a platform for further refinements in future conceptual and empirical research of such data governance frameworks. It contributes to the advancement of the body of knowledge in data ethics and data governance in tourism and hospitality and other industries and it is also beneficial to practitioners, as organisations may use it as a guide in data governance practices.

This paper aims to evaluate the “Janus-faced” character and causes of overtourism to propose recommendations to tackle such a phenomenon.

A case study analysis approach is adopted for this study. Studies of practitioners are presented and reflected upon with reference to academic literature on overtourism.

The study presents practical examples from Haiti, Nicaragua and Zanzibar. Tourism practitioners’ studies on overtourism are presented and general recommendations on tackling overtourism are proposed.

This study will be of interest to tourism practitioners and Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) worldwide who seek understanding of the overtourism phenomenon and the associated negative impacts. The study provides useful recommendations that can be used in similar situations of overtourism.

The paper extends understanding of overtourism causes and consequences. While overtourism is generally looked at from impact studies, this paper argues the urgent need for solutions to tackle the phenomenon.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the future of the tourism industry in Haiti. More specifically, the paper answers the following question: will Haiti be able to reclaim a positive image and leading position in the Caribbean as a tourist destination?

Within the paradigm of theory building and exploratory approach, this conceptual study is based on a narrative literature review.

The turning point in the development of the tourism industry in Haiti has been the 2010 earthquake which has triggered a will to provide quality products and service specifically in the hospitality sector, the most dynamic sector of the tourism industry. With the diaspora, Haiti has the potential to reclaim a positive image and a leading position in the Caribbean. That said, before performing at this level, the destination must first and foremost contribute to the wellbeing of its people as a sine qua non condition for the success of its tourism industry.

The findings of this research may help potential investors to decide whether or not they want to invest in Haiti. The findings of the paper may also assist the DMO in its branding and marketing strategy.

The alleviation of poverty using tourism as a tool in a post-colonial, post-conflict and post-disaster context should be analysed, understood and approached from a human aspect point of view and perspective. Resilience is what better describes the tourism industry and the locals in Haiti. The locals are neither passive nor powerless.

The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to discuss whether children can play a role in the sustainability of the tourism industry as a whole.

The paper is based on a literature review of key terms: sustainable tourism; mountain tourism; children; and empowerment.

Children could potentially play a role in the sustainability of tourism if they are empowered to do so. mini-clubs in mountain resorts could, for instance, contribute to their social empowerment using a catalytic strategy.

Practitioners involved in the sustainability of the tourism industry should investigate ways to make the sustainability endeavour of the industry more inclusive. As for academics, they should devote time for research on children, as they are an important stakeholder group for the industry.

This paper focusses on children in the tourism industry. There is a dearth of research in this area.

The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to discuss whether dark tourism can be developed around the sites of recent terrorist attacks in France.

The paper is based on a literature review of key terms: dark tourism; tourism; and terrorism.

The paper observes that dark tourism is not popular in France, and dark tourism activities are unlikely to develop anywhere nearer the places where the recent terrorist attacks happened. France remains rather conservative in some aspects related to death.

Recent events in France might challenge the leadership of the destination. The disturbing commonalities between tourism and terrorism make it difficult to figure out suitable recovery strategies that would contribute to enhancing the image of the destination without jeopardising the life of civilians.

This paper presents France as a politically unstable tourist destination. In general, this scenario is normally associated with less-developed countries or non-established tourist destinations.

This concluding paper filters out smart and sustainable strategies drawn from a rich variety of articles presented throughout the theme issue. This paper aims to provide a summary of the key points related to the perverse impacts of overtourism and smart and sustainable strategies to overcome the phenomenon.

The methodological design is based on empirical evidence and case studies analysed by practitioners and academics.

The overall findings unpack different types of strategies based on collaborative input from tourists, locals, government, NGOs, DMOs and service providers. Based on the realities of today’s tourism environment, the outcome reveals that it is possible to address overtourism, but smart strategies are required as both tourists and residents (including relevant stakeholders) are sophisticated, emancipated and connected enough to understand the dynamism of overtourism.

The articles in this theme issue address a theoretical and practical gap while proposing innovative strategies to tackle overtourism in an era of “connected tourism.” The value of this paper lies in the fact that it draws from a variety of original case studies, each unique in their own right and proposes smart strategies that may be sustained in the future.

This concluding paper filters out the main points relating to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) arising from the theme issue. The aim is to provide an insight as to how the hospitality and tourism industry is aligning its actions with the SDGs given the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent issues such as overtourism.

The approach is based on evidence and findings derived from the case studies featured in this issue presented by practitioners and academics.

The overall findings show destinations along with the hospitality and tourism industry are engineering a variety of strategies to make the industry sustainable. The practical solutions recommended by contributors are helpful in terms of sharing good practices and identifying potential barriers to the execution of those practices.

The articles in this theme issue address a theoretical and practical gap while proposing innovative sustainable tourism strategies directed towards the implementation of the United Nations SDGs. The value of this paper lies in the fact that it draws from a variety of original case studies, each unique in their own right and proposes innovative ideas on how the tourism and hospitality industry may implement the SDGs in their businesses while safeguarding the interest of the economy, society and the environment.

As there is a growing demand of cutting-edge technology as part of the tourism experience from the digital native population and because little is known about this group as tourism consumers despite the fact they will be the core tourism spender of tomorrow, the purpose of this paper is to give children an opportunity to share their vision of the destination of the future.

From a methodological point of view, a qualitative approach is adopted. Children were asked to draw, communicate and display their view on their Winchester of the future. The data collected are used to formulate an innovative, smart-based future-fit management approach for products and services design.

To fully meet the needs and expectation of the coming generation of tourists, Winchester (city located in the South of England, and surrounded by some of the most visited UK destinations, namely London, Oxford and Cambridge) will have to adopt an ambidextrous management approach when developing products and services for customers of the future. This ambidextrous management approach will balance metaphorical thinking and objective thinking in product and service design.

There is a scarcity of studies on children in tourism research despite the fact the industry and academics recognise the value and impact of children, and more specifically, their role in purchase decisions. Equally important, this research is also going to contribute to the body of knowledge on smart management of destinations.