Digitalization and Smart Tourism Devel-op-ment in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

The proliferation of artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing has made smart tour-ism a pivotal driver of cultural-tourism transformation. Despite its geographical and cultural advantages, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) faces fragmented re-sources, weak cross-border coordination, and data barriers. This study employs literature re-view, case analysis, field investigation, and panel regression to examine digital empowerment in resource integration and smart tourism system design. Findings reveal that digital infrastruc-ture and regional collaboration significantly promote industry growth, whereas GDP expansion alone has limited impact. The study introduces the “121” development model and a digitally empowered cultural-tourism innovation eco-system, underscoring technological application, value alignment, and governance synergy. Theoreti-cally, it illuminates integration pathways under cross-institutional settings and enriches discourses on smart tourism ecosystems and re-gional governance. By 2030, the GBA is expected to emerge as a world-class smart tourism hub.