Cybersecurity and smart tourist destinations resilience

Zahed Ghaderi (), Luc Beal, Collin Michael Hall, Mustafeed Zaman, Raouf Ahmad Rather and Ahmad Puad Mat Som
Additional contact information
Zahed Ghaderi: SQU - Sultan Qaboos University
Luc Beal: Excelia Group | La Rochelle Business School
Collin Michael Hall: Taylor’s University, University of Canterbury [Christchurch], Linnaeus University, University of Oulu [Finland] = Oulun yliopisto [Suomi] = Université d'Oulu [Finlande]
Mustafeed Zaman: Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School
Raouf Ahmad Rather: KFUPM - King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Ahmad Puad Mat Som: UniSZA - Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin / Sultan Zainal Abidin University

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Abstract: Empirical research on the resilience of smart tourist destinations (STDs) to cybersecurity threats is scarce. The current research aims to address this gap by exploring cybersecurity risks within STDs and their resilience to withstand cyber threats. Employing a qualitative approach, we conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with cybersecurity experts and stakeholders in Dubai's tourism and hospitality sector. Through the lens of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory, the results uncovered a range of cyber risks challenging STDs, necessitating diverse countermeasures. We found that the characteristics of STDs e.g. interconnectivity, decentralization and adaptability contribute to cybersecurity resilience. Key resilient components identified include data encryption and backup, robust incident response plans, access control, network segmentation, and awareness initiatives. In addition, collaboration and partnerships were also recognized as fundamental in reinforcing STDs' resilience to cyber risks. Furthermore, the study underlined challenges and strategies pertaining to system integrity and identity in combating cyber threats within STDs.

Keywords: Cybersecurity; Cyber risks; Smart tourist destinations (STDs); Resilience; Complex adaptive systems theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-12-15
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Published in Tourism Recreation Research, 2024, pp.1-17. ⟨10.1080/02508281.2024.2434791⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04982353

DOI: 10.1080/02508281.2024.2434791

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