From challenge recognition to strategy proposal: qualitative insights in promoting smart tourists for smart tourism destination development in Vietnam
Date Published:
25/03/2026
Online Published:
25/03/2026
Section:
Business Administration, Marketing, Commerce, and Tourism
Main Article Content
Abstract
Smart tourism destinations have emerged as an important development orientation in Vietnam, yet the progress remains hindered by various challenges, even from tourists themselves. This study aims to uncover the challenges preventing Vietnamese tourists from actively engaging in smart tourism ecosystems, i.e., transforming themselves into “smart tourists”. Employing an expert-based qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with practitioners working in the tourism field to identify existential challenges to leverage practical recommendations. The drawn findings highlight four main categories of challenges: (1) disparities in technology grasp and consumption, (2) price concerns in smart travel, (3) privacy and security concerns, and (4) the complexity of technology. These challenges not only limit tourists’ willingness to engage but also raise concerns about the inclusiveness and effectiveness of current smart tourism development strategies in Vietnam. By emphasizing the central role of tourists as active stakeholders in smart tourism ecosystems and systematically identifying the barriers that inhibit their engagement, the study contributes to existing literature with a deeper understanding of tourist-related constraints in smart tourism development and offers practical implications for tourism destination managers and policymakers to cohere smart tourists and smart tourism destinations toward more inclusive and sustainable smart tourism development.
Keywords
smart tourists; smart tourism destination; development challenges; tourist barriers; Vietnamese tourists
Article Details
Field of Economic (JEL Codes)
L83 - Sports • Gambling • Restaurants • Recreation • Tourism - Industry Studies: Services, O33 - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences • Diffusion Processes - Innovation • Research and Development • Technological Change • Intellectual Property Rights, Z32 - Tourism and Development - Tourism Economics
References
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Andrulienė, R., Mačerinskienė, A., Šapkauskienė, A., Masteika, S., & Driaunys, K. (2023). The impact of technology awareness, motivation and attitude on intention to pay with cryptocurrency for tourism services. Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies, 14(3), 721-742. https://doi.org/10.15388/omee.2023.14.12
Boes, K., Buhalis, D., Inversini, A. (2015). Conceptualising smart tourism destination dimensions. In I. Tussyadiah, A. Inversini (Eds.), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2015 Conference Proceedings (pp. 391-403). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14343-9_29
Buhalis, D. (2003). eTourism: Information technology for strategic tourism management (1st ed.). Pearson. http://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.2274.0804
Buhalis, D., & Amaranggana, A. (2015). Smart tourism destinations enhancing tourism experience through personalisation of services. In Tussyadiah, I., Inversini, A. (Eds.), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2015 Conference Proceedings (pp. 377-389). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14343-9_28
Cavalheiro, M. B., Joia, L. A., & Cavalheiro, G. M. do C. (2019). Towards a smart tourism destination development model: Promoting environmental, economic, socio-cultural and political values. Tourism Planning & Development, 17(3), 237-259. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2019.1597763
Chang, J. Y.-S., Konar, R., Cheah, J.-H., & Lim, X.-J. (2024). Does privacy still matter in smart technology experience? A conditional mediation analysis. Journal of Marketing Analytics, 12(1), 71-86. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41270-023-00240-8
Chen, C.-C., & Lin, C.-J. (2022). How smartness of leisure-sports appliances influences tourists’ intention to use. Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research (AHTR), 10(3), 427-447. https://doi.org/10.30519/ahtr.939463
Cho, H. D. (2023). The truth about smart tourism: A qualitative research agenda. Journal of Smart Tourism, 3(4), 17-21. https://doi.org/10.52255/smarttourism.2023.3.4.3
Dan Thanh. (2024, November 8). How do Gen Z tourists in Vietnam travel amid the AI boom? Lao Dong Newspaper. https://news.laodong.vn/du-lich/tin-tuc/khach-gen-z-o-viet-nam-du-lich-the-nao-giua-thoi-ai-bung-no-1418811.html
dos Santos Júnior, A., Mendes Filho, L., Almeida García, F., & Simoes, J. M. (2017). Smart tourism destinations: A study based on the view of the stakeholders. Revista Turismo Em Análise, 28(3), 358-379. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1984-4867.v28i3p358-379
Ercan, F. (2023). Smart tourism destination: A bibliometric review. European Journal of Tourism Research, 34. https://doi.org/10.54055/ejtr.v34i.2788
Femenia-Serra, F., & Ivars-Baidal, J. A. (2021). Do smart tourism destinations really work? The case of Benidorm. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 26(4), 365-384. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2018.1561478
Femenia-Serra, F., & Neuhofer, B. (2018). Smart tourism experiences: Conceptualisation, key dimensions and research agenda. Investigaciones Regionales-Journal of Regional Research, 42, 129-150.
Femenia-Serra, F., Neuhofer, B., & Ivars-Baidal, J. A. (2019). Towards a conceptualisation of smart tourists and their role within the smart destination scenario. The Service Industries Journal, 39(2), 109-133. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2018.1508458
Gajdošík, T. (2020). Smart tourists as a profiling market segment: Implications for DMOs. Tourism Economics, 26(6), 1042-1062. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354816619844368
Herjanto, H., Amin, M., Ali, F., Cobanoglu, C., & Djalil, M. A. (2024). Tourist acceptance of using ride-sharing services in a tourism destination: Hedonia vs eudaimonia and technophilia vs technophobia. International Journal of Tourism Cities, 11(1), 43-62. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-04-2024-0090
Hung, N. P., & Khoa, B. T. (2023). Applying smart tourism management in Vietnam after COVID-19 pandemic: Qualitative research. Quality - Access to Success, 24(194), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.47750/QAS/24.194.01
Jasrotia, A., & Gangotia, A. (2018). Smart cities to smart tourism destinations: A review paper. Journal of Tourism Intelligence and Smartness, 1(1), 47-56.
Jeambua, K., & Puttawong, D. (2022). Exploring the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and tourist behaviors: An empirical study in Thailand. RMUTT Global Business Accounting And Finance Review, 6(2), 47-62. https://so01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/GBAFR/article/view/263210
Kara, N. S., & Mkwizu, K. H. (2020). Demographic factors and travel motivation among leisure tourists in Tanzania. International Hospitality Review, 34(1), 81-103. https://doi.org/10.1108/IHR-01-2020-0002
Kelly, P., & Lawlor, J. (2021). Adding or destroying value? User experiences of tourism self-service technologies. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 4(3), 300-317. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-08-2018-0051
Komninos, N., & Mora, L. (2018). Exploring the big picture of smart city research. Scienze Regionali, 17(1), 15-38. https://doi.org/10.14650/88815
Koo, C., Shin, S., Gretzel, U., Hunter, W. C., & Chung, N. (2016). Conceptualization of smart tourism destination competitiveness. Asia Pacific Journal of Information Systems, 26(4), 561-576. http://doi.org/10.14329/apjis.2016.26.4.561
Lee, P., Hunter, W. C., & Chung, N. (2020). Smart tourism city: Developments and transformations. Sustainability, 12(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/su12103958
Leung, R. (2022). Development of information and communication technology: From e-tourism to smart tourism. In Xiang, Z., Fuchs, M., Gretzel, U., Höpken, W. (Eds.), Handbook of e-Tourism (pp. 23-55). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48652-5_2
Lu, A. C. C., Gursoy, D., & Lu, C. Y. R. (2016). Antecedents and outcomes of consumers’ confusion in the online tourism domain. Annals of Tourism Research, 57, 76-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.11.020
Malterud, K., Siersma, V. D., & Guassora, A. D. (2016). Sample size in qualitative interview studies: Guided by information power. Qualitative Health Research, 26(13), 1753-1760. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732315617444
Minh, D. T. (2023). The impact of privacy concerns on tourists’ data-sharing behaviors: The case of Vietnam [University-level research project, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City]. University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City. https://digital.lib.ueh.edu.vn/handle/UEH/72295
Nangpiire, C., Silva, J., & Alves, H. (2022). Customer engagement and value co-creation/destruction: The internal fostering and hindering factors and actors in the tourist/hotel experience. Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 16(2), 173-188. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIM-05-2020-0104
Nguyet, P. T. T. (2023). Level of conformity to expectations for smart tourism experiences in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). VNUHCM Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 7(2), 1981-1992. https://doi.org/10.32508/stdjssh.v7i2.854
Otowicz, M. H., Macedo, M., & Biz, A. A. (2022). Dimensions of smart tourism and its levels: An integrative literature review. Journal of Smart Tourism, 2(1), 5-19. https://doi.org/10.52255/smarttourism.2022.2.1.2
Panigrahy, A., & Verma, A. (2025). Tourist experiences: A systematic literature review of computer vision technologies in smart destination visits. Journal of Tourism Futures, 11(2), 187-202. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-04-2024-0073
Rodrigues, V., Breda, Z., & Rodrigues, C. (2024). The implications of industry 4.0 for the tourism sector: A systematic literature review. Heliyon, 10(11). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31590
Shafiee, S., Ghatari, A. R., Hasanzadeh, A., & Jahanyan, S. (2019). Developing a model for sustainable smart tourism destinations: A systematic review. Tourism Management Perspectives, 31, 287-300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2019.06.002
Shafiee, S., Rajabzadeh Ghatari, A., Hasanzadeh, A., & Jahanyan, S. (2021). Smart tourism destinations: A systematic review. Tourism Review, 76(3), 505-528. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-06-2019-0235
Sim, J., Saunders, B., Waterfield, J., & Kingstone, T. (2018). Can sample size in qualitative research be determined a priori? International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 21(5), 619-634. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2018.1454643
Soares, J. C., Domareski Ruiz, T. C., & Ivars Baidal, J. A. (2022). Smart destinations: A new planning and management approach? Current Issues in Tourism, 25(17), 2717-2732. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2021.1991897
Thanh, N. D., Nhan, D. X., Tuan, N. T., & Nguyet, P. T. M (2024). Current situation and solutions for implementing conditions and processes for developing smart tourism destinations in Vietnam. American Research Journal of Humanities & Social Science, 7(7), 1-11. https://www.arjhss.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/A770111.pdf
To, A. T., & Trinh, T. H. M. (2021). Understanding behavioral intention to use mobile wallets in Vietnam: Extending the tam model with trust and enjoyment. Cogent Business & Management, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2021.1891661
Townsend, K. (2013). Saturation and run-off: how many interviews are required in qualitative research? [Paper presentation]. ANZAM 2013 Conference: Managing on the Edge, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
Truong, T. L. H., Lenglet, F., & Mothe, C. (2018). Destination distinctiveness: Concept, measurement, and impact on tourist satisfaction. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 8, 214-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2017.04.004
Um, T., & Chung, N. (2021). Does smart tourism technology matter? Lessons from three smart tourism cities in South Korea. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 26(4), 396-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2019.1595691
Van Nguyen, T., Van Nguyen, T., & Van Nguyen, D. (2024). Perceived quality of virtual reality and augmented reality technology influences travel intention: The case of Vietnam. Journal of Hunan University Natural Sciences, 51(5), 14-23. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.51.5.2
Vietnam News. (2024). Digital ecosystem helps boost Việt Nam’s tourism growth. https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1689833/digital-ecosystem-helps-boost-viet-nam-s-tourism-growth.html
Wei, W., Önder, I., & Uysal, M. (2024). Smart tourism destination (STD): Developing and validating an impact scale using residents’ overall life satisfaction. Current Issues in Tourism, 27(17), 2849-2872. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2296587
World Economic Forum. (2024). Travel & Tourism development index 2024. https://www.weforum.org/publications/travel-tourism-development-index-2024/
Wu, D., Li, H., Huang, Q., Li, C., & Liang, S. (2024). Measurement and determinants of smart destinations’ sustainable performance: a two-stage analysis using DEA-Tobit model. Current Issues in Tourism, 27(4), 529-545. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2228977
Xu, W., Ismail, M., Shahruddin, S., Quan, W., & Li, Y. (2025). Exploring tourists’ intentions to adopt augmented reality in cultural heritage museums: Insights from a modified technology acceptance model. SAGE Open, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251339936
Yan, Z., Balasubramanian, K., Konar, R., Chen, L., & Wei, Y. (2024). Smart hotel in the eyes of the silver: Developing and testing the silver tourists’ behavioural intention scale. Current Issues in Tourism, 28(19), 3128-3147. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2024.2381249
Andrulienė, R., Mačerinskienė, A., Šapkauskienė, A., Masteika, S., & Driaunys, K. (2023). The impact of technology awareness, motivation and attitude on intention to pay with cryptocurrency for tourism services. Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies, 14(3), 721-742. https://doi.org/10.15388/omee.2023.14.12
Boes, K., Buhalis, D., Inversini, A. (2015). Conceptualising smart tourism destination dimensions. In I. Tussyadiah, A. Inversini (Eds.), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2015 Conference Proceedings (pp. 391-403). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14343-9_29
Buhalis, D. (2003). eTourism: Information technology for strategic tourism management (1st ed.). Pearson. http://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.2274.0804
Buhalis, D., & Amaranggana, A. (2015). Smart tourism destinations enhancing tourism experience through personalisation of services. In Tussyadiah, I., Inversini, A. (Eds.), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2015 Conference Proceedings (pp. 377-389). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14343-9_28
Cavalheiro, M. B., Joia, L. A., & Cavalheiro, G. M. do C. (2019). Towards a smart tourism destination development model: Promoting environmental, economic, socio-cultural and political values. Tourism Planning & Development, 17(3), 237-259. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2019.1597763
Chang, J. Y.-S., Konar, R., Cheah, J.-H., & Lim, X.-J. (2024). Does privacy still matter in smart technology experience? A conditional mediation analysis. Journal of Marketing Analytics, 12(1), 71-86. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41270-023-00240-8
Chen, C.-C., & Lin, C.-J. (2022). How smartness of leisure-sports appliances influences tourists’ intention to use. Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research (AHTR), 10(3), 427-447. https://doi.org/10.30519/ahtr.939463
Cho, H. D. (2023). The truth about smart tourism: A qualitative research agenda. Journal of Smart Tourism, 3(4), 17-21. https://doi.org/10.52255/smarttourism.2023.3.4.3
Dan Thanh. (2024, November 8). How do Gen Z tourists in Vietnam travel amid the AI boom? Lao Dong Newspaper. https://news.laodong.vn/du-lich/tin-tuc/khach-gen-z-o-viet-nam-du-lich-the-nao-giua-thoi-ai-bung-no-1418811.html
dos Santos Júnior, A., Mendes Filho, L., Almeida García, F., & Simoes, J. M. (2017). Smart tourism destinations: A study based on the view of the stakeholders. Revista Turismo Em Análise, 28(3), 358-379. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1984-4867.v28i3p358-379
Ercan, F. (2023). Smart tourism destination: A bibliometric review. European Journal of Tourism Research, 34. https://doi.org/10.54055/ejtr.v34i.2788
Femenia-Serra, F., & Ivars-Baidal, J. A. (2021). Do smart tourism destinations really work? The case of Benidorm. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 26(4), 365-384. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2018.1561478
Femenia-Serra, F., & Neuhofer, B. (2018). Smart tourism experiences: Conceptualisation, key dimensions and research agenda. Investigaciones Regionales-Journal of Regional Research, 42, 129-150.
Femenia-Serra, F., Neuhofer, B., & Ivars-Baidal, J. A. (2019). Towards a conceptualisation of smart tourists and their role within the smart destination scenario. The Service Industries Journal, 39(2), 109-133. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2018.1508458
Gajdošík, T. (2020). Smart tourists as a profiling market segment: Implications for DMOs. Tourism Economics, 26(6), 1042-1062. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354816619844368
Herjanto, H., Amin, M., Ali, F., Cobanoglu, C., & Djalil, M. A. (2024). Tourist acceptance of using ride-sharing services in a tourism destination: Hedonia vs eudaimonia and technophilia vs technophobia. International Journal of Tourism Cities, 11(1), 43-62. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-04-2024-0090
Hung, N. P., & Khoa, B. T. (2023). Applying smart tourism management in Vietnam after COVID-19 pandemic: Qualitative research. Quality - Access to Success, 24(194), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.47750/QAS/24.194.01
Jasrotia, A., & Gangotia, A. (2018). Smart cities to smart tourism destinations: A review paper. Journal of Tourism Intelligence and Smartness, 1(1), 47-56.
Jeambua, K., & Puttawong, D. (2022). Exploring the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and tourist behaviors: An empirical study in Thailand. RMUTT Global Business Accounting And Finance Review, 6(2), 47-62. https://so01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/GBAFR/article/view/263210
Kara, N. S., & Mkwizu, K. H. (2020). Demographic factors and travel motivation among leisure tourists in Tanzania. International Hospitality Review, 34(1), 81-103. https://doi.org/10.1108/IHR-01-2020-0002
Kelly, P., & Lawlor, J. (2021). Adding or destroying value? User experiences of tourism self-service technologies. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 4(3), 300-317. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-08-2018-0051
Komninos, N., & Mora, L. (2018). Exploring the big picture of smart city research. Scienze Regionali, 17(1), 15-38. https://doi.org/10.14650/88815
Koo, C., Shin, S., Gretzel, U., Hunter, W. C., & Chung, N. (2016). Conceptualization of smart tourism destination competitiveness. Asia Pacific Journal of Information Systems, 26(4), 561-576. http://doi.org/10.14329/apjis.2016.26.4.561
Lee, P., Hunter, W. C., & Chung, N. (2020). Smart tourism city: Developments and transformations. Sustainability, 12(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/su12103958
Leung, R. (2022). Development of information and communication technology: From e-tourism to smart tourism. In Xiang, Z., Fuchs, M., Gretzel, U., Höpken, W. (Eds.), Handbook of e-Tourism (pp. 23-55). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48652-5_2
Lu, A. C. C., Gursoy, D., & Lu, C. Y. R. (2016). Antecedents and outcomes of consumers’ confusion in the online tourism domain. Annals of Tourism Research, 57, 76-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.11.020
Malterud, K., Siersma, V. D., & Guassora, A. D. (2016). Sample size in qualitative interview studies: Guided by information power. Qualitative Health Research, 26(13), 1753-1760. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732315617444
Minh, D. T. (2023). The impact of privacy concerns on tourists’ data-sharing behaviors: The case of Vietnam [University-level research project, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City]. University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City. https://digital.lib.ueh.edu.vn/handle/UEH/72295
Nangpiire, C., Silva, J., & Alves, H. (2022). Customer engagement and value co-creation/destruction: The internal fostering and hindering factors and actors in the tourist/hotel experience. Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 16(2), 173-188. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIM-05-2020-0104
Nguyet, P. T. T. (2023). Level of conformity to expectations for smart tourism experiences in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). VNUHCM Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 7(2), 1981-1992. https://doi.org/10.32508/stdjssh.v7i2.854
Otowicz, M. H., Macedo, M., & Biz, A. A. (2022). Dimensions of smart tourism and its levels: An integrative literature review. Journal of Smart Tourism, 2(1), 5-19. https://doi.org/10.52255/smarttourism.2022.2.1.2
Panigrahy, A., & Verma, A. (2025). Tourist experiences: A systematic literature review of computer vision technologies in smart destination visits. Journal of Tourism Futures, 11(2), 187-202. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-04-2024-0073
Rodrigues, V., Breda, Z., & Rodrigues, C. (2024). The implications of industry 4.0 for the tourism sector: A systematic literature review. Heliyon, 10(11). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31590
Shafiee, S., Ghatari, A. R., Hasanzadeh, A., & Jahanyan, S. (2019). Developing a model for sustainable smart tourism destinations: A systematic review. Tourism Management Perspectives, 31, 287-300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2019.06.002
Shafiee, S., Rajabzadeh Ghatari, A., Hasanzadeh, A., & Jahanyan, S. (2021). Smart tourism destinations: A systematic review. Tourism Review, 76(3), 505-528. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-06-2019-0235
Sim, J., Saunders, B., Waterfield, J., & Kingstone, T. (2018). Can sample size in qualitative research be determined a priori? International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 21(5), 619-634. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2018.1454643
Soares, J. C., Domareski Ruiz, T. C., & Ivars Baidal, J. A. (2022). Smart destinations: A new planning and management approach? Current Issues in Tourism, 25(17), 2717-2732. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2021.1991897
Thanh, N. D., Nhan, D. X., Tuan, N. T., & Nguyet, P. T. M (2024). Current situation and solutions for implementing conditions and processes for developing smart tourism destinations in Vietnam. American Research Journal of Humanities & Social Science, 7(7), 1-11. https://www.arjhss.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/A770111.pdf
To, A. T., & Trinh, T. H. M. (2021). Understanding behavioral intention to use mobile wallets in Vietnam: Extending the tam model with trust and enjoyment. Cogent Business & Management, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2021.1891661
Townsend, K. (2013). Saturation and run-off: how many interviews are required in qualitative research? [Paper presentation]. ANZAM 2013 Conference: Managing on the Edge, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
Truong, T. L. H., Lenglet, F., & Mothe, C. (2018). Destination distinctiveness: Concept, measurement, and impact on tourist satisfaction. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 8, 214-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2017.04.004
Um, T., & Chung, N. (2021). Does smart tourism technology matter? Lessons from three smart tourism cities in South Korea. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 26(4), 396-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2019.1595691
Van Nguyen, T., Van Nguyen, T., & Van Nguyen, D. (2024). Perceived quality of virtual reality and augmented reality technology influences travel intention: The case of Vietnam. Journal of Hunan University Natural Sciences, 51(5), 14-23. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.51.5.2
Vietnam News. (2024). Digital ecosystem helps boost Việt Nam’s tourism growth. https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1689833/digital-ecosystem-helps-boost-viet-nam-s-tourism-growth.html
Wei, W., Önder, I., & Uysal, M. (2024). Smart tourism destination (STD): Developing and validating an impact scale using residents’ overall life satisfaction. Current Issues in Tourism, 27(17), 2849-2872. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2296587
World Economic Forum. (2024). Travel & Tourism development index 2024. https://www.weforum.org/publications/travel-tourism-development-index-2024/
Wu, D., Li, H., Huang, Q., Li, C., & Liang, S. (2024). Measurement and determinants of smart destinations’ sustainable performance: a two-stage analysis using DEA-Tobit model. Current Issues in Tourism, 27(4), 529-545. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2228977
Xu, W., Ismail, M., Shahruddin, S., Quan, W., & Li, Y. (2025). Exploring tourists’ intentions to adopt augmented reality in cultural heritage museums: Insights from a modified technology acceptance model. SAGE Open, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251339936
Yan, Z., Balasubramanian, K., Konar, R., Chen, L., & Wei, Y. (2024). Smart hotel in the eyes of the silver: Developing and testing the silver tourists’ behavioural intention scale. Current Issues in Tourism, 28(19), 3128-3147. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2024.2381249
How to Cite
Nguyễn, Đ. L., & Kiss, R. (2026). From challenge recognition to strategy proposal: qualitative insights in promoting smart tourists for smart tourism destination development in Vietnam. Journal of Finance - Marketing Research, 4(2ene), 43-59. https://doi.org/10.52932/jfmr.v4i2ene.1081