ABSTRACT
This chapter delves into the transformative role of digital technologies in reshaping tourist experiences, highlighting their profound implications for both individual well-being and destination sustainability. By utilising Cognitive Appraisal Theory (CAT) as a theoretical underpinning, the chapter examines how tourists’ perceptions of digital and physical environments influence their emotional responses and, consequently, their sustainable behaviours. With the accelerating integration of digital tools in tourism, this chapter explores the potential of these technologies to enhance personalisation, immersive experiences, and eco-friendly practices, thereby contributing to the sustainability of tourism destinations.
The chapter identifies a significant gap in current understanding – how digital and physical elements interact to influence tourist emotions and behaviours. To address this, it proposes a novel conceptual framework that incorporates emotional dynamics into the assessment of sustainable tourism practices. It argues that digital innovations, when aligned with the emotional and utilitarian needs of tourists, can drive sustainable outcomes. Furthermore, the chapter outlines several hypotheses that call for empirical testing to validate the proposed relationships. These hypotheses focus on the potential of digital tools to enhance emotional well-being and promote sustainable tourist behaviours. By synthesising recent advances in digital tourism and emotional research, the chapter aims to provide actionable insights for industry practitioners and policymakers on harnessing digital technologies for sustainable tourism development.
