Mapping Gamification for Sustainable Urban Development: Generating New Insights for Tourism Education

Carla Fraga, Lucília Cardoso, Ercília de Stefano, Luís Lima Santos () and Natália Motta
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Carla Fraga: Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora 36036-900, Brazil
Lucília Cardoso: Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation (CiTUR), Polytechnic University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
Ercília de Stefano: Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora 36036-900, Brazil
Luís Lima Santos: Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation (CiTUR), Polytechnic University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
Natália Motta: Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora 36036-900, Brazil

Tourism and Hospitality, 2025, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Although scientific literature already shows the connections between gamification, tourism and sustainability, there is still a gap in research into how gamification can transform cities into more playful, sustainable and intelligent tourism destinations. Gamification in tourism promotes engagement, education and innovation, enriching experiences and driving the development of smart destinations. This study advances this debate by employing a mixed methodology, combining a systematic review (supported by Rayyan, an artificial intelligence) and content analysis (supported by Iramuteq, a textual software, version 0.7 Alpha 2). Additionally, we used Dreamscape by Voyant Tools online for a geographical analysis of the textual corpus formed by n = 61 abstracts. The intersection of main findings from the techniques applied provides eight new insights on urban tourism education through gamification, which are as follows: (1) exchange between the Global North and South; (2) local and global participation; (3) collaborations to achieve the 17 SDGs; (4) improve urban destination marketing by ethics principles; (5) deepening disruption technology and ethics studies; (6) the transformation of reality by sciences; (7) gamification on interdisciplinary perspectives; and (8) the role of gamification on the tourism and hospitality industry. The results suggest that gamification in tourism can offer a new ontological approach to addressing sustainable urban development, highlighting both theoretical and practical challenges. This research has both theoretical and practical implications, advancing the concept of ecogaming by integrating technology, entertainment and sustainability, and reinforces its potential to educate and engage in sustainable urban tourism practices.

Keywords: gamification; sustainable urban development; tourism education; smart cities; sustainable development goals (SDGs) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z3 Z30 Z31 Z32 Z33 Z38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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