ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the progress of ICTs, the Internet of Things and new technologies that impact society in general and tourism in particular. It explains what a smart city is, its dimensions and the “smart” initiatives promoted by global cities from different parts of the world, focusing on their relevance to tourism.
It then introduces the concepts of smart destinations and smart tourism, with an emphasis on how these apply to city destinations. While acknowledging the critical advantages brought by the rapid development of ICTs and the benefits they bring for tourism destinations, the chapter also notes a number of challenges associated with this rapid progress.
The last part of this chapter focuses on the latest technologies and debates that are expected to shape the tourism ecosystem in the future.
