The implications of industry 4.0 for the tourism sector: A systematic literature review

Abstract

The tourism sector is presently facing new challenges resulting from the increasing digitalization of society. Boosted by industry 4.0, new tourism dynamics are emerging. Nonetheless, the real significance of this revolutionary trend and its implications still lack further development. Aiming to assess the state-of-the-art about the digital transformation on the tourism sector, triggered by the 4.0 paradigm, the present study followed a systematic literature review approach, adopting the PRISMA protocol guidelines. A total of 44 manuscripts were considered relevant for analysis. The findings illustrate that the 4.0 paradigm is being embraced from three main perspectives: the visitor-technology interaction and its influence on decision-making, the digital competencies in tourism students, and the technology penetration in different sub-sectors of the supply chain. However, studies conceptualizing the 4.0 paradigm in the tourism sector are lacking, beyond empirical research on areas such as digital skills, pros and cons of industry 4.0 technologies, and spatial consequences.