Mapping the Impact of Technology on Tourist Experiences: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review

Abstract

The study aims to investigate how emerging technologies are transforming the modern tourism experience, through a systematic literature review combined with a bibliometric analysis of 137 scientific articles published between 2015 and 2025 in the Web of Science database. The results reveal a consistent rise in scholarly interest in the digitalisation of tourism, particularly during the period of the pandemic, when technological solutions became crucial for the industry's resilience. The study reveals a clear dominance of positive perceptions of the impact of technology on the tourism experience, while marginal critical perspectives signal potential risks. Keyword analysis reveals high connectivity within the network, suggesting a well-established theme with multiple interconnections between technology, tourism, experience, and user behaviour. Internationally, research is highly collaborative and globalised, dominated by contributions from Western Europe, Asia and North America, with limited participation from Africa and South America. Over the last decade, research has been dominated by technologies such as virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), artificial intelligence (AI), mobile applications and online platforms, while studies dedicated to the Metaverse and blockchain technologies are limited. From the perspective of the co-authors' network, there is a tendency for the network to present a fragmented structure, consisting of several closely related groups (clusters) that collaborate frequently. This shows thematic specialisation and collaboration in small groups, led by leaders in specialized literature who facilitate interdisciplinarity and the exchange of ideas. Overall, the study provides a comprehensive synthesis of the technological transformation of tourism, emphasising the need for the ethical, sustainable, and human-centred integration of digital innovations so that technology enriches, rather than substitutes, the authentic tourist experience.