Smart Tourism Technology Evolution a Bibliometric Analysis of Trends and Future Research Directions

Smart Tourism Technology (STT) has emerged as a transformative force in the tourism industry, reshaping how tourists interact with destinations and enhancing overall tourism performance. This study aims to map the current and future research trends in STT, focusing on its integration with tourism performance. By employing a bibliometric analysis, the research investigates 386 peer-reviewed articles from the Scopus database, spanning disciplines such as business, management, computer science, and engineering. The data collection process followed the PRISMA guidelines, ensuring high-quality, relevant sources. Key methodologies include bibliocoupling and co-occurrence analysis, which allow for identifying the core themes and emerging trends in STT research. The results reveal four dominant research topics: technology innovation and management, integrated innovative technology tourism, sustainable tourism, and the role of AI, virtual reality, big data, and the Internet of Things in shaping the future of smart tourism. The study’s findings underscore the growing importance of these technologies in enhancing tourist experiences and improving operational efficiency in the tourism sector. This research contributes valuable insights into the strategic direction of STT, providing a foundation for future studies exploring its impact on sustainable and technologically advanced tourism systems. The implications of these findings suggest that further exploration of AI and IoT integration will be crucial in shaping the next phase of smart tourism development.