Blockchain Technology in Tourism Management: Potentialities, Challenges, and Implications

Abstract

The tourist activity realized early on the advantages in the adoption of technology for the performance of its activities. With the emergence of the technological environment provided by Industry 4.0, blockchain technology emerges as the most disruptive and consequently more challenging technology for the tourism industry, since it has excellent potential to leverage innovation in this activity, whether in terms of products, processes, management, marketing, or institutionally. A bibliometric analysis was carried out to investigate affected studies in the tourism area, including the hotel, restaurant, marketing, and other sectors. Application of blockchain technology may be the key to boost tourism since its applicability presents several opportunities for tourism stakeholders, adds security and confidence in business transactions, can influence changes in the tourism value system, in terms of the value creation for customers, value creation for business, and in the tourism distribution chain.