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Generative, Agentic, and Explainable AI: Evolution and Future in Tourism

In: Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2026

Author

Listed:
  • Ainhoa Carballido-Risco

    (University of Barcelona, CETT Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality, and Gastronomy)

Abstract

The rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming tourism from a technology-assisted industry into a digitally orchestrated ecosystem. While early applications focused on recommendation systems and chatbots, the emergence of Generative, Agentic, and Explainable AI has opened new debates on trust, authenticity, and governance. Yet, despite this growing interest, research in tourism remains fragmented, with limited theoretical consolidation and uneven methodological rigor. This article presents a scoping review and bibliometric mapping of 938 publications indexed in Scopus (2010–2025) to trace the evolution of AI in tourism and hospitality. Using five layered search algorithms and advanced bibliometric techniques, we examine annual scientific production, citation patterns, core sources, and co-occurrence networks of keywords. Results reveal a sharp increase in publications since 2017, with Tourism Management, Journal of Destination Marketing & Management and Information Technology & Tourism emerging as leading outlets. Highly cited works have laid out the foundations of smart tourism, while recent contributions emphasize human–AI interaction, explainability, and ethical governance. Thematic maps and diachronic analyses confirm a transition from efficiency-driven research to questions of legitimacy, agency, and sustainability. By combining quantitative indicators with a conceptual synthesis, this study offers the first integrative overview of how AI is shaping the present and future of tourism research. The article concludes with a research agenda to guide theory, methodology, and practice in the age of generative and explainable AI.

Suggested Citation

  • Ainhoa Carballido-Risco, 2026. "Generative, Agentic, and Explainable AI: Evolution and Future in Tourism," Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, in: Peter O'Connor & Mattia Rainoldi & Julia Neidhardt (ed.), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2026, chapter 1, pages 3-15, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:prbchp:978-3-032-23925-9_1
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-23925-9_1
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