A transition towards a smart tourism destination: Analysis from perspective of stakeholders in Lisbon

Transición hacia los destinos turísticos inteligentes: Análisis desde de la perspectiva de los agentes turísticos de Lisboa

Abstract

The debate around smart destinations has been gaining importance in recent years. Nevertheless, the concept is still considered to be in need of more detailed explanations in order to facilitate understanding and implementation. Hence, in order to develop a framework for developing Lisbon's smart tourism, this study used a qualitative method to elicit insights from stakeholders involved in smart tourism. It is evident from the results that Lisbon stands out in terms of culture and creativity, innovation, accessibility, sustainability, governance, and Human and social capital. The findings also show that despite the fact that Lisbon has a tourism strategic plan and a strong public-private partnership, becoming a smart tourism destination necessitates increased investment in technological infrastructure, increased citizen involvement in tourism governance, and improved information management. The theoretical implication shows a theoretical framework in the context of smart tourism destinations based on stakeholder perceptions, and the practical implications highlight the role that new technologies can play for improving the tourism experience for tourists and the quality of life for residents.