Exploring the Determinants of Smart Tourism Destination Governance
an approach using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7784/rbtur.v20.3381Keywords:
Governance, Smart Tourism Destinations, Governance Attributes, Tourism Management, Hierarchical Structural ModelAbstract
The development of this article is based on the recognition that, although the Smart Tourism Destination (STD) lies at the center of the contemporary transformations experienced by many destinations, studies addressing governance as a structuring element of this process remain scarce. In response to this gap, this study identified and hierarchically classified the factors influencing STD governance and analyzed their structural relationships of influence and dependence. Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Cross-Impact Matrix Applied to Classification (MICMAC) were employed as methodological tools to conduct the analysis. A total of 20 key governance factors were identified, hierarchically organized, and validated with the participation of 21 Brazilian and international experts. The resulting hierarchical model revealed that Multilevel Integration, Stakeholder Participation, Leadership, Coordination, and Cooperation are structuring variables that exert greater influence on destination governance, whereas variables such as Technology and Innovation are characterized by higher levels of dependence. In addition to contributing to the advancement of ISM-MICMAC applications in tourism research, the study offers a systemic perspective on smart destination governance, demonstrating how different factors are organized and influence dynamics. These findings provide guidance for public managers and other institutional stakeholders to identify priority variables, guide planning processes, and strengthen collaborative structures aimed at consolidating Smart Tourism Destinations.
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