Recent Advancements in Tourism Business, Technology and Social Sciences (eBook)

The book features the second volume of the proceedings of the 10th International Conference of the International Association of Cultural and Digital Tourism (IACuDiT), with the theme 'Recent Advancements in Tourism Business, Technology, and Social Sciences,' which was held from August 29 to 31, 2023, in Crete, Greece. It showcases the latest research on Tourism Business, Technology, and Social Sciences and presents a critical academic discourse on smart and sustainable practices in the tourism industry, stimulating future debates and advancing readers' knowledge and understanding of this critical area of tourism business in the post-COVID-19 era.

COVID-19 produced dramatic effects on the global economy, business activities, and people, with tourism being particularly affected. The book discusses the resulting digital transformation process in a range of areas, including its effect on the social sciences combined with special forms of tourism. This accelerated digitalizationencourages the emergence of new digital products and services based on the principle of flexibility. The book focuses on the knowledge economy and smart destinations, as well as new modes of tourism management and development, and includes chapters on emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, big data, and robotics in connection with various tourism practices.

Vicky Katsoni is Professor in Tourism Marketing and e-Tourism modules at the University of West Attica, Athens, Greece, and Director of the Tourism Distant Learning Programs of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Business and Social Sciences. She has published over 16 books on tourism, many chapters in edited volumes, and numerous papers in highly academic journals. She is President of the non-profit 'International Association of Cultural and Digital Tourism' and Member of the Editorial Board of many journals in tourism and marketing. She has directed and participated in several European and National research projects and works as expert, evaluator, and reviewer of projects requesting European Commission funding such as Horizon 2020, Erasmus + KA2, and Cost. Her research interests include e-tourism, tourism marketing, tourism destination strategies, DMOs, cultural tourism, tourism consumer behavior, and sustainability in tourism.

George Cassar is an Associate Professor at the Department of Tourism Management at the Facultry of Economics, Management & Accountancy of the University of Malta. Prof. Cassar is a historical sociologist whose main research interests include the history and sociology of education; the pedagogy of heritage, history and social studies; the history of history teaching; the study of the Order of St John (SMOM); the history and culture of Malta; heritage and culture; cultural tourism; and the culture and sociology of food. He is the author or editor of numerous books and academic journals, and has contributed many papers in journals and chapters in books related to his areas of interest. In recognition of his work Prof. Cassar was awarded the 'Gieh il-Mosta' by the Mosta Local Council in 2007, the 'Commendatore pro-Merito Melitensi' by the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta in 2009, the 'Grazzi Badge' by The Scout Association of Malta in 2009, and a 'Rikonoxximent'by the Hamrun Local Council in 2021. Between 2017 and 2020 he sat on the Board of Directors of the Malta Tourism Authority. He has participated and managed a number of EU projects related to heritage and cultural tourism.