Unveiling the digital pathways: exploring the key drivers behind travelers’ decision-making in smart tourism – a systematic literature review

Purpose This systematic literature review examines how innovative information and communication technology (ICT) tools contribute to smart tourism and enhance traveler's experiences around the world. It attempts to assess factors such as information value and reliability (IVR), ease of access and interaction (EAI), cost-effectiveness (CE), virtual reality (VR) and mobile technology usage (MTU) to help policymakers, service providers, developers and scholars to formulate effective digital strategies. Design/methodology/approach Employing the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework, international academic and industry publications were systematically reviewed in this study. The approach combined diverse methodologies to pinpoint key themes in tourism's digital transformation, using thematic analysis to reveal how these factors interconnect and drive smart tourism development. Findings Analysis reveals that developed regions effectively integrate digital innovations while developing areas struggle with infrastructure, affordability and digital literacy. The results indicate that the key drivers have a significant impact on travelers’ decision-making processes. Research limitations/implications The review identifies a regional imbalance in research and an overemphasis on emerging technologies, underscoring the need for more inclusive, context-sensitive studies. Moreover, the scarcity of studies from emerging markets further constrains the generalizability of current findings. Originality/value By synthesizing global research, this review offers a novel framework for understanding digital pathways in traveler behavior. It bridges theoretical gaps and provides actionable insights into sustainable and balanced tourism strategies.