Advancements and challenges in recommendation systems for the tourism industry: A comprehensive literature review

This paper reviews the evolution of Tourism Recommender Systems (TRS), focusing on their applications, underlying methodologies, and key challenges. Using a structured literature review grounded in clearly defined research questions and selection criteria, the study examines how TRS have developed technically and methodologically, and identifies opportunities for future research. The review adopts an integrative perspective that combines technical, business, and user-centric viewpoints, highlighting recent algorithmic advancements and emerging trends in tourism recommendation systems. It also discusses persistent challenges such as data sparsity, contextual complexity, and evaluation practices. The findings demonstrate the growing role of advanced recommender systems in enhancing tourism experiences and provide directions for further research and practical implementation. This review is intended for researchers, academics, and industry practitioners interested in intelligent tourism systems.