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Robots in tourism: A research agenda for tourism economics

Author

Listed:
  • Stanislav Ivanov

    (Varna University of Management, Bulgaria)

  • Craig Webster

    (5666Ball State University, USA)

Abstract

The technological advances in artificial intelligence and robotics allow the massive introduction of service robots by travel, tourism and hospitality companies. While research on service robots in tourism is gaining momentum, the economic aspects of robots’ adoption have been quite neglected. This article critically evaluates the current research on the economic aspects of service robots in tourism and the implications of robots for tourism economics as a field of research in three domains: tourism supply, tourism demand and destination management. In that way, the article delves into the economics of service robots from the perspectives of the tourism companies, the tourists and the destinations as a whole. On the basis of this discussion, the article identifies various research directions and develops specific research questions related to the adoption of robots in tourism that need to be answered by future research in tourism economics.

Suggested Citation

  • Stanislav Ivanov & Craig Webster, 2020. "Robots in tourism: A research agenda for tourism economics," Tourism Economics, , vol. 26(7), pages 1065-1085, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:toueco:v:26:y:2020:i:7:p:1065-1085
    DOI: 10.1177/1354816619879583
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xinran Yang & Dashuai Huang, 2025. "Influence Mechanisms of Museums’ Technological Embodiment and Tourist Satisfaction," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(1), pages 21582440251, March.
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    3. Majlinda Godolja & Tea Tavanxhiu & Kozeta Sevrani, 2025. "Strategic Readiness for AI and Smart Technology Adoption in Emerging Hospitality Markets: A Tri-Lens Assessment of Barriers, Benefits, and Segments in Albania," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-36, September.
    4. Yurii Kyrylov & Viktoriia Hranovska & Viktoriia Boiko & Aleksy Kwilinski & Liudmyla Boiko, 2020. "International Tourism Development in the Context of Increasing Globalization Risks: On the Example of Ukraine’s Integration into the Global Tourism Industry," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Albert Fornells Herrera & Agustina Paradela Morgan & Jordi Ficapal Mestres, 2024. "Navigating the Technological Landscape in Hospitality: Added Values and Entry Barriers of Technologies 4.0," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(4), pages 21582440241, November.
    6. Luis J. Callarisa-Fiol & Miguel Ángel Moliner-Tena & Rosa Rodríguez-Artola & Javier Sánchez-García, 2023. "Entrepreneurship innovation using social robots in tourism: a social listening study," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(8), pages 2945-2971, November.
    7. Yunsik Kim, 2023. "Examining the Impact of Frontline Service Robots Service Competence on Hotel Frontline Employees from a Collaboration Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-19, May.
    8. Zhong, Lina & Verma, Rohit & Wei, Wenqi & Morrsion, Alastair M. & Yang, Liyu, 2022. "Multi-stakeholder perspectives on the impacts of service robots in urban hotel rooms," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).

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