Smart Tourism And Consumer Behavior Research: Mapping Global Trends Through A Bibliometric Lens (2018–2025)

Thi Oanh Bui; Dinh Thi Mung

doi:10.18535/ijsrm/v13i10.em07

Abstract

Smart tourism has emerged as a strategic priority in both scholarship and practice, while consumer behavior has been reshaped profoundly by digital transformation. This study applies bibliometric analysis of 2018–2025 Scopus data to map intellectual structures, research trends, and thematic priorities in the field. The dataset was processed with Bibliometrix in R, Biblioshiny, and VOSviewer, generating visualizations including keyword co-occurrence networks, thematic maps, and three-fields plots.

Findings confirm that research has shifted from early technological infrastructures, such as smartphones and ubiquitous computing, toward consumer-centered agendas emphasizing personalization, user experience, and artificial intelligence. At the same time, our analysis suggests a geographic reorientation, with China and India emerging as leading contributors alongside established European hubs. Thematic clusters highlight the integration of destination management, satisfaction, immersive technologies, and smart city perspectives, underscoring the hybrid nature of the field.

Taken together, the study provides a comprehensive overview of smart tourism and consumer behavior research, clarifies existing gaps, and outlines pathways for integrating technological innovation with sustainable and human-centered development.

Keywords

co-occurrence networksthematic mapsand three-fields plots

References

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[refR-1] Buhalis, D., & Amaranggana, A. (2015). Smart tourism destinations and the personalization of travel services. In I. Tussyadiah & A. Inversini (Eds.), Information and communication technologies in tourism (pp. 377–389). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14343-9_28DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-2] Del Chiappa, G., & Baggio, R. (2015). Knowledge transfer in smart tourism: Network structures and their influence. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 4(3), 145–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2015.02.001DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-3] Donthu, N., Kumar, S., Mukherjee, D., Pandey, N., & Lim, W. M. (2021). Bibliometric research: An overview with guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 133, 285–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-4] Gretzel, U., Werthner, H., Koo, C., & Lamsfus, C. (2015). Conceptual foundations for smart tourism ecosystems. Computers in Human Behavior, 50, 558–563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.03.043DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-5] Guttentag, D. (2015). Airbnb and the disruption of tourism accommodation: Innovation and challenges. Current Issues in Tourism, 18(12), 1192–1217. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2013.827159DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-6] Ivanov, S., & Webster, C. (2019). Robotics and the future of tourism: Directions for research. Annals of Tourism Research, 78, 102743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2019.102743DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-7] Jeong, M., Shin, H., & Koo, C. (2019). Smart tourism and customer experience: A bibliometric review and future agenda. Sustainability, 11(14), 3772. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11143772DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-8] Koo, C., Kim, J., & Lee, J. (2016). ICT applications in smart tourism: Roles and implications. Asia Pacific Journal of Information Systems, 26(4), 481–496. https://doi.org/10.14329/apjis.2016.26.4.481DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-9] Law, R., Chan, I. C. C., & Wang, L. (2018). Mobile technology in tourism and hospitality: A review of its applications. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 9(2), 239–255. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-08-2017-0073DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-10] Li, J., Xu, L., Tang, L., Wang, S., & Li, L. (2018). Big data research in tourism: A systematic review. Tourism Management, 68, 301–323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.03.009DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-11] Li, Y., Hu, C., Huang, C., & Duan, L. (2017). Defining smart tourism within information service contexts. Tourism Management, 58, 293–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.03.014DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-12] López de Ávila, A., & García, J. (2015). Smart destinations and the future of tourism. Journal of Tourism Futures, 1(1), 9–15. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-12-2014-0004DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-13] Mariani, M. M., & Borghi, M. (2021). AI-enabled chatbots and consumer evaluation in tourism: Moderating role of innovativeness. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 33(10), 3350–3370. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2020-0442DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-14] Marine-Roig, E., & Anton Clavé, S. (2015). Tourism analytics and user-generated content: The case of Barcelona. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 4(3), 162–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2015.05.004DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-15] Neuhofer, B., Buhalis, D., & Ladkin, A. (2015). Personalized tourism experiences through smart technologies: Insights from hospitality. Electronic Markets, 25, 243–254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-015-0182-1DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-16] Shen, S., & Han, H. (2020). The future of smart tourism: Trends and implications. Tourism Review, 75(1), 109–121. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-06-2019-0249DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-17] Sigala, M. (2018). Social media and customer engagement in smart tourism contexts. The Service Industries Journal, 38(6), 402–419. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2017.1420170DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-18] Tsai, C. H., Wu, H. C., & Huang, C. (2020). Mobile tourism applications and perceived service quality: An evaluation. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, 42–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.06.009DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-19] Xiang, Z., Du, Q., Ma, Y., & Fan, W. (2017). Online review analytics in hospitality and tourism: Implications for social media research. Tourism Management, 58, 51–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.10.001DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-20] Zhang, J., Li, X., & Chen, W. (2022). Artificial intelligence in tourism research: A bibliometric analysis. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 13(4), 725–745. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-08-2021-0195DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗