The ‘Smart’ Recalibration of Indian Tourism

Abstract

Recalibrating tourism in India translates to much more than merely pumping in government resources or investing in overnight technology-led solutions that will put urban landscapes on the global map. The nationally led ‘Smart City’ movement needs to be a participatory process that models a collaborative approach as seen in international cases that have truly taken the concept from paper to practice and beyond. This chapter considers basic definitions of Smart City and Smart Tourism and presents what it takes for the seamless orchestration of smart experiences. This article first traces the evolution of Smart City practice with a sampling of global intelligent destinations that have exhibited successful intersections of urban development with tourism, whilst considering a brief overview of Indian initiatives, efforts and successes.

Motivating factors to become smart and sustain the effort are also discussed to highlight hurdles faced and opportunities that await potential Smart Cities, given the growing appetite for such innovation. The chapter concludes with recommendations arising out of this analysis and reiterates how stakeholder inclusion and co-creation play an indispensable role in making this concept a responsible, sustainable and feasible reality for Indian destinations.

Citation

Venkat-Kishore, S. (2022), "The ‘Smart’ Recalibration of Indian Tourism", Chowdhary, N., Billa, S. and Tiwari, P. (Ed.) Indian Tourism, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 173-186. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-937-820221012