Exploring Tourism Experiences: The Vision of Generation Z Versus Artificial Intelligence

Ioana-Simona Ivasciuc (), Adina Nicoleta Candrea and Ana Ispas
Additional contact information
Ioana-Simona Ivasciuc: Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500068 Brașov, Romania
Adina Nicoleta Candrea: Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500068 Brașov, Romania
Ana Ispas: Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500068 Brașov, Romania

Administrative Sciences, 2025, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-23

Abstract: Generation Z, known for its digital fluency and distinct consumer behaviors, is an increasingly influential demographic in the tourism industry. As a sustainability-focused generation, their preferences and behaviors are shaping the future of travel. This study explores the tourism experiences of Romanian Generation Z members, focusing on their travel patterns, motivations, information sources, and service preferences. A bibliometric analysis of the existing literature was conducted to identify research trends and gaps in understanding Generation Z’s tourism behaviors. Using a mixed-method approach, the study integrates survey data from 399 respondents with AI-generated insights from ChatGPT 4o mini to compare traditional research methods with AI-driven analysis. It examines how AI interprets and predicts travel behaviors, highlighting the reliability and biases inherent in AI models. Key discrepancies between the two methods were found: The survey indicated a preference for car travel and commercial accommodation, while AI predictions favored air travel and private accommodation. Additionally, AI emphasized a growing interest in eco-friendly transportation and connections to natural and cultural environments, offering a broader scope than the survey alone. Both methods revealed a trend toward digital platforms for travel planning, moving away from traditional agencies. The findings suggest that AI can complement traditional research by providing actionable insights, though its limitations emphasize the need for a balanced integration of both methods. This study offers new perspectives on Generation Z’s tourism experiences.

Keywords: youth travel trends; experiences; AI; ChatGPT; bibliometric analysis; mixed-method research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/5/186/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/5/186/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:15:y:2025:i:5:p:186-:d:1658906

Access Statistics for this article

Administrative Sciences is currently edited by Ms. Nancy Ma

More articles in Administrative Sciences from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().