Artificial intelligence as a catalyst for sustainable tourism growth and economic cycles

Siddik, Abu Bakkar; Forid, Md. Shak; Yong, Li; Du, Anna Min; Goodell, John W.

Abstract

We investigate the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in promoting sustainable tourism growth and its implications for the next technological and economic cycle. Focusing on the top ten global tourist destinations from 2010 to 2022, we investigate the interplay between AI adoption, gross domestic product (GDP), foreign direct investment (FDI), inflation (INF), and urbanization (UB). Utilizing a multi-method approach that integrates artificial neural network (ANN) analysis with traditional econometric models, the findings highlight that AI is a critical driver of tourism efficiency and smart tourism capabilities, significantly enhancing tourism sustainability. The study reveals substantial contributions from GDP, INF, FDI, and UB as well. AI's role as a pivotal technological catalyst in sustainable tourism development underscores its importance in shaping the next economic cycle. These insights provide essential guidance for policymakers and industry stakeholders on leveraging AI to propel tourism growth, aligning with broader goals of economic and environmental sustainability.

Citation

Siddik, A. B., Forid, M. S., Yong, L., Du, A. M., & Goodell, J. W. (2025). Artificial intelligence as a catalyst for sustainable tourism growth and economic cycles. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 210, Article 123875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123875

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 4, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Nov 16, 2024
• Publication Date: 2025-01
• Deposit Date: Nov 18, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 18, 2024
• Print ISSN: 0040-1625
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 210
• Article Number: 123875
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123875
• Keywords: Artificial intelligence adoption, Tourism growth, Economic drivers, Economic cycles