Integrating Blockchain into Smart Tourism: Towards an Enhanced User Experience

Abstract

The fast-paced changes of technology have evolved the tourism field and now more than ever it is a well-connected space that orbits around the user— giving birth to what is known as smart tourism. This work investigates the possibilities of fusing blockchain technology with smart tourism frameworks: an approach aimed at boosting the overall user experience. With blockchain offering transparency, security, and decentralization as its core features, stakeholders can enhance their services in addition to winning consumer trust toward effective operations. A clear picture of challenges surrounding adoption is painted: technological barriers and regulatory issues are outlined among them. Through a detailed analysis on how different actors within the tourism sector can interact while using these models, this study proposes a guide that could be used as a roadmap toward implementing blockchain initiatives for smart tourism. The synthesis underscores that marrying blockchain with smart tourism does not only pledge improved operational efficiencies but also promises to take out unessential costs while injecting some level of personalization and most importantly security during user travel experiences.