AI-Driven Smart and Sustainable Touristic Cities

Cities have become pivotal hubs for tourism, attracting millions of visitors and generating significant economic activity. This growth has pressured urban destinations to manage resources, infrastructure, and visitor experiences in smarter, more sustainable ways. The concept of "smart tourism" is an extension of smart city principles into the tourism realm (Gretzel et al. 2015). Smart tourism destinations leverage advanced information and communication technologies (ICTs), sensors, and data analytics to enhance service delivery, personalize experiences, and improve management of tourism flows (Buhalis and Amaranggana 2014). In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has risen to the forefront of smart city and tourism innovation, enabling more autonomous, data-driven decision-making and real-time responsiveness. AI is now seen as a transformative force in tourism, with the potential to tackle pressing urban tourism challenges while advancing sustainability goals. This chapter examines the evolution of AI-driven smart tourism in cities, analyzes how AI contributes to sustainability and resource optimization, surveys key applications in tourism management and visitor experience, and discusses the social, ethical, and economic implications. Real-world case studies (Barcelona, Singapore, Kyoto, Dubai) illustrate successes and challenges, and emerging paradigms like regenerative tourism and climate-resilient cities highlight future directions.