Tourism Industry 4.0: Technological Transformation And Innovation In The Hospitality Sector.
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Abstract
Components of Tourism Industry 4.0 Unite fourth industrial revolution technologies, the most significant driver of transformation in tourism & hospitality sector today. This paper extensively reviews the impacts of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, big data analytics, virtual reality/augmented reality and robotics in the tourism ecosystem. This article presents an overview of and summarizes findings from existing case studies and emerging trends to ascertain the ways in which these technologies improve guest experience, as well as what they mean for operational efficacies and emerging business models. This was not just about RPMS. It was required to align with the technology/customer provisioning for digital transformation. AI-Enabled Personalisation, the rise of tech-driven contactless technologies and immersive experiences heralding a new paradigm shift for traveller expectations and the sector. The paper also addresses the challenges and possibilities of implementation including cyber security, adaptable workforce & ethical issue of algorithmic decision making. This research contributes to the innovation literature of tourism by suggesting some practical implications for the industry practitioners when facing or facilitating through this digital conversion.
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