Accessibility and smart tourism: tourism for all and reducing inequalities: a tourism agenda 2030

Abstract

Purpose

This study analyses the role of tourism in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the need to integrate sustainability into tourism policies, which contribute to the development and accessibility of technologies and the quality of society.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviews the accessibility of the tourism industry and the expansion of smart tourism in terms of sustainability, reviewing a wide range of research papers and analysing the concepts, findings and approaches suggested by scientists from various countries, as well as examples from the Baltic States.

Findings

The results reveal that the tourism industry is capable of adapting to changing conditions in modern society in a short enough period, thus contributing to the expansion of smart tourism and their active implementation at tourist attractions. In view of the goals set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the accessibility of tourist attractions to various social groups should be provided through cooperation between public and private organizations.

Originality/value

This study explores the accessibility of tourism attractions and the development of smart tourism in the context of sustainability. Further, the article analyses some best practice examples from the Baltic States, which underpin the adaptation of the tourism industry to the changing conditions, as well as indicating the adaptation of the industry to the demands of modern society.

Citation

Arbidane, I., Puzule, A., Znotina, D., Narkuniene, R. and Daubariene, J. (2023), "Accessibility and smart tourism: tourism for all and reducing inequalities: a tourism agenda 2030", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 15 No. 5, pp. 497-506. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-06-2023-0078