Enhancing Tourism Sustainability Through Blockchain, AI, and Smart Technologies. A Comprehensive Analysis

Nikolaos Fotiou, Constantinos Halkiopoulos () and Hera Antonopoulou
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Nikolaos Fotiou: University of Patras
Constantinos Halkiopoulos: University of Patras
Hera Antonopoulou: University of Patras

A chapter in Innovation and Creativity in Tourism, Business and Social Sciences, 2025, pp 193-227 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The pressure to change towards less damaging environmental practices is increasing for the global tourism industry. This research investigates how further developments, particularly in tourism technologies, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and other innovative areas, could facilitate the movement of the tourism sector towards sustainability. Innovative tourism technologies like IoT, big data analytics, AI, and mobile applications optimize resource use, enhance energy efficiency, and reduce waste. For example, the amount of energy used by a hotel is regulated by IoT sensors, while AI-based platforms optimize travel to ensure the least carbon footprint. Blockchain ensures transparency and checks ethical behavior throughout the tourism supply chain, verifying carbon offsetting. Moreover, it is cryptocurrencies that reward eco-friendly behavior and facilitate sustainable tourism business models with reduced transaction costs. EVs and renewable power are vital to provide low-carbon options for transportation and energy use in lieu of fossil fuel. Complemented with driving practices and other digital remote tourism platforms to further keep the carbon footprint low. This paper does a systematic review of current research and case studies into the role of new technologies in enhancing tourism sustainability, guided by PRISMA. The paper, therefore, elaborates on the positive impacts of these technologies to drive transformation within the industry. This includes a literature review in connection with STTs, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies related to sustainable tourism; a PRISMA-based methodology that allows data collection, analysis, and practical case studies to find comprehensive results on the successful integration of technologies; and a discussion of the findings with implications for future research and practice.

Keywords: Sustainable tourism; AI; STTs; Blockchain; IoT; Cryptocurrencies; Carbon footprint reduction; EVs; Big data analytics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L86 O32 O33 Q56 Z32 Z33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:prbchp:978-3-031-78471-2_8

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-78471-2_8

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