Smart tourism readiness in emerging urban destinations: an indicator-based assessment framework

This study develops and applies a framework for assessing smart tourism readiness (STR) in emerging urban destinations, using Almaty, Kazakhstan, as an empirical case. A mixed-method design integrates qualitative expert-based indicator selection with quantitative Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) weighting. From 179 indicators identified across established frameworks, 90 were consolidated and 25 prioritised through Focus Group Discussions (n = 18) and AHP analysis across six dimensions: digitalisation, accessibility, attractiveness, sustainability, management systems and collaborative partnership. Selected indicators were evaluated using binary expert scoring supported by open-access data. Digitalisation emerged as the dominant readiness dimension (w = 0.46), driven by broadband connectivity and smartphone penetration. Accessibility and sustainability revealed structural gaps, including zero scores for traffic congestion and inclusive information access. The readiness profile indicates an asymmetric trajectory in which digital capacity outpaces institutional integration. Expert-based weighting and binary scoring may limit cross-destination comparability. The study conceptualises STR as an asymmetric multidimensional configuration. Findings support policymakers in prioritising digital integration, accessibility infrastructure and sustainability governance within emerging tourism cities. This study offers a replicable indicator reduction and prioritisation procedure for STR assessment, adapted to data-constrained urban contexts underrepresented in smart tourism research.