Smart Urban Destinations: A New Frontier for Sustainable Development or a Mystified Utopia?

Dear Colleagues,

Research on smart cities and tourism has grown markedly over the past decade, yet much of its epistemological and methodological basis still draws on more established disciplines, leaving important dimensions of urban tourism underexplored. While research has examined smart urban tourism mainly from socio-technological and socio-economic perspectives, greater attention to place experiences is needed, especially given the challenges facing twenty-first-century cities as tourist destinations. Smart tourism is often expected to mitigate urban pressures, yet concerns remain over what and for whom it is designed, particularly where it may deepen inequality and exclusivity. At the same time, AI is gaining momentum in destination governance through predictive and monitoring functions that can help manage issues such as congestion and overtourism, improving visitor experiences and resident wellbeing. However, its application risks narrowing research and policy unless integrated into broader, long-term models of sustainable urban development.

Aligned with Sustainability’s mission, this Special Issue has four aims: to address limitations in smart urban tourism research, especially environmental impacts and socio-economic inequalities; to support problem-centred, post-disciplinary approaches to smart urban destinations and tourism; to critically examine how AI is reshaping smart city and destination governance and the forms of tourism it promotes; and to offer empirical insights into the links between smart urban planning, destination planning and marketing, and smart tourism experiences through a sustainability lens.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include:

• Smart urban tourism and socio-ecological systems;
• Smart urban tourism and urban inequalities;
• Post-disciplinary inquiries in smart urban tourism;
• Problem-centred approaches to smart urban tourism research;
• The relationship between AI-driven governance and smart urban destinations;
• Urban tourism perspectives and directions in the age of AI;
• Smart‑driven urban tourism experiences;
• Place experiences in smart urban destinations;
• Governance models for smart destinations.

By inviting papers on how emerging technologies, AI, digital platforms, and smart infrastructures shape destination development, competitiveness, service ecosystems, and urban tourism management, the Special Issue seeks to advance a more critical, inclusive, and problem-focused understanding of smart urban tourism. It aims to enrich debates on AI-driven urban governance and tourism futures with robust empirical evidence and to bring together timely contributions that move research and practice towards smarter, fairer, and more sustainable urban tourism systems.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Alberto Amore
Dr. Nicholas Wise
Guest Editors

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