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Immersive Technologies in Tourism and Hospitality Education: A Systematic Review of Opportunities, Barriers, and the Amplification-Division Paradox

In: Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2026

Author

Listed:
  • Rawabi Aldawsari

    (Bournemouth University Business School)

  • Dimitrios Buhalis

    (Bournemouth University Business School)

  • Gelareh Roushan

    (Bournemouth University Business School)

Abstract

Tourism and hospitality education faces persistent challenges in aligning graduate skills with evolving industry demands. Key gaps include intercultural competence, digital fluency, and the ability to respond to complex service scenarios. Immersive technologies, including VR, AR, and XR, are increasingly used to simulate authentic environments for learning and professional training. This review examines how these tools are adopted to support skill development in tourism and hospitality education. It highlights their pedagogical potential and the barriers to institutional integration. A PRISMA-guided systematic review was conducted using Scopus and Web of Science. Empirical studies published between 2020 and 2024 focusing on immersive technologies in tourism or hospitality education were screened. Forty-four studies met the inclusion criteria and were thematically analyzed. To interpret these disparities, this paper introduces the Amplification-Division Paradox, which categorizes adoption outcomes according to institutional capacity and user readiness. Immersive technologies enhance engagement, recall, and applied learning but remain unevenly adopted. Cost, infrastructure, and digital skills deficits continue to limit scalability. The findings offer practical guidance for educators, curriculum designers, and policymakers. Institutions must align infrastructure, training, and governance to ensure that immersive technologies support scalable and inclusive innovation in tourism and hospitality education. This is the first tourism-specific systematic review to examine immersive technology adoption through a socio-technical lens. It contributes to a new conceptual framework and a roadmap for sustainable integration of immersive learning in tourism and hospitality.

Suggested Citation

  • Rawabi Aldawsari & Dimitrios Buhalis & Gelareh Roushan, 2026. "Immersive Technologies in Tourism and Hospitality Education: A Systematic Review of Opportunities, Barriers, and the Amplification-Division Paradox," Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, in: Peter O'Connor & Mattia Rainoldi & Julia Neidhardt (ed.), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2026, chapter 12, pages 169-182, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:prbchp:978-3-032-23925-9_12
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-23925-9_12
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