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This study aims to provide a summary of the key outcomes and reflections related to the theme issue question, “Smart tourism: what developments and issues are important to the Baltic states?”

This study utilizes a descriptive approach to summarize the key outcomes of the theme issue. The theme issue focuses on the problems, trends and developments of smart tourism in the Baltic states, namely, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

The papers in the theme issue explore the emerging concept of smart tourism and the challenges associated with its implementation at the destination level. They also provide updated data on the adoption of smart tourism and aim to engage academics and industry professionals to identify future developments.

This theme issue provides unique perspectives from a variety of stakeholders, including academics, practitioners, industry professionals and policymakers on the key issues, trends and developments shaping the emergence of smart tourism in the Baltic states.

Provides an overview of the article collection in this theme issue that explores the concept of “smart tourism” and in particular, developments and issues that are important for the Baltic States.

The article applies a thematic approach to exploring the factors affecting the development of smart tourism, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the Baltic region. Overall, the collection reviews the literature, provides an analysis of data and a survey of experts, including tourism service providers. This combines with the practical solutions given in the articles.

The findings and conclusions of this theme issue focus on the factors affecting the development of smart tourism and smart villages, digitalization and innovation opportunities in the Baltic regions, and it provides an insight on the current situation in the smart tourism industry, the possibilities for using digital technologies, and the practical applications.

This theme issue explores the factors influencing and challenges facing smart tourism in the Baltic region, given that all the stakeholders actively want more sustainable and balanced tourism, as well as opportunities to develop innovative, technologically advanced solutions to the development of smart tourism.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and compare the current trends in development of the second largest cities in each Baltic state – Tartu (Estonia), Kaunas (Lithuania), and Daugavpils (Latvia) – as smart destinations, based on publicly available tourism information.

The study uses a case study employing a descriptive research method, and the authors reached their conclusions based on this material. Furthermore, the paper primarily focuses on literature and new research which deals with tourism in the 21st century, its innovations, changes, and trends.

The levels and directions of development of Tartu, Kaunas, and Daugavpils as a smart tourism destination are different. Although all three are the second largest cities in each Baltic State, their initial historical development, availability of resources, locations, and strategic development of the country show differences in development. Tartu conforms to the standards in all four categories. However, the category of digitalization receives the most attention and contributes to the positive smart destination result in the other three categories. Comparatively, Daugavpils records fewer current achievements according to the STDC, although the authors believe that there is potential that can be seen in the strategic policy documents. However, judging by all four categories, Daugavpils, similarly to Kaunas, currently demonstrates the greatest achievements in the culture heritage and creativity category.

This paper presents data and compares smart tourism development trends in the second largest cities in each Baltic country.

The purpose of this study is to provide a thematic literature analysis of smart tourism and the role of stakeholders and synergy relating to the implementation of smart tourism.

The study is based on a review of prior research by various authors on smart tourism and the role of stakeholders and synergy relating to the implementation of smart tourism.

Research studies define the concept of smart tourism as a form of technological, economic and social evolution, which is influenced by such elements as the Internet, social media, smart devices and mobile applications, among others. Stakeholder theory is based on the organizational context, and various individuals and groups within an organization are mutually supported and influenced by the same organizational goals. The research studies have found that cooperation between internal and external stakeholders could involve designing a tourism strategy, coordinating tourism promotion and branding, raising local tourism awareness, standardizing tourist facilities, making ticket price policies and communicating with tourism stakeholders.

The paper provides a thematic literature review of smart tourism, the role of stakeholders and synergy from the perspective of the implementation of smart tourism.

This study aims to examine the main aspects of innovation development regarding digital tools used in the tourism industry in a local area.

A qualitative approach and the descriptive analysis technique was employed to analyse completed semi-structured expert survey questionnaires created in Google Forms. The aim is to examine the opportunities and potential for digital innovation in tourism in the Baltic region. Specialists representing tourism and hotel businesses, the guide profession as well as the disciplines of business and economics were selected as experts.

The experts indicated that digital marketing was very important for tourism development, and it is still considered a new field of science with huge potential. The research results showed that when introducing/developing digital innovations in a local area, tourism companies were faced with low-quality or no data analytics at all. In addition, long-term maintenance of digital tools was not considered, and the investment outweighed the benefits of implementing the technologies.

The study contributes to the development of digital innovation and the identification of problems in a local area.

The aim of the paper is to examine and analyse the thematic literature on tourism seasonality and the causes and effects thereof.

The paper is based on a review of scientific and theoretical research by various authors on tourism seasonality, in order to systematically analyse the causes and effects of the seasonal patterns in tourism activity.

Seasonality is one of the most important features of tourism demand, and it has a significant effect on many aspects of the tourism industry. The literature review suggests that tourism seasonality is caused by natural and anthropogenic factors that have a very significant bearing on the geographical location of a tourist destination, as well as institutional and economic factors. Assessments of the effects of seasonality in the scientific literature differ. The effects of seasonality analysed in the relevant literature can be divided into four major categories: economic, employment, social and cultural as well as ecological.

The paper presents a systematic literature review on tourism seasonality and the causes and effects thereof.

This article aims to adopt a thematic approach to a review of the literature relating to sustainability and its challenges in destinations that highly depend on tourism.

The paper provides a review of scientific and theoretical research studies on the concept and principles of sustainable tourism, the effects of tourism on society and sustainable tourism strategy.

The basic principles of sustainable tourism development apply to all destinations, including Cyprus. The development of tourism is associated with the observance of the principles of sustainable tourism development, which takes the form of balanced environmental and economic development and involves the observance of public interest.

The paper offers a broad-ranging review-based perspective on sustainable tourism and the principles and development thereof.

This concluding article aims to summarize the key points and outcomes from the theme issue question: How could the Republic of Cyprus reduce the impact of seasonal tourism on long-term sustainable development? Which is a follow-up issue to the Cyprus sustainability theme issue published in Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes volume 13 number 6 2021.

The paper summarizes the findings of the theme issue in relation to how stakeholders in the Republic of Cyprus can reduce the impact of severe tourism seasonality on long-term sustainable tourism development.

The findings of the articles in this theme issue explore the depth of the seasonality problem and its impact on the long-term sustainability of the small island state of Cyprus. Further, the articles in this collection explore potential remedies and ways to mitigate seasonality with the help of alternative, special interest tourism activities, improved air connectivity, established cluster-based activities, and improved accessibility to the island.

The articles in this issue provide perspectives from academics, practitioners, industry professionals, and policymakers on what steps could be taken to tackle increasing tourism seasonality that has profound effects on economic, social, and environmental sustainability in the island of Cyprus.