Author(s)

Weichen Ke

Corresponding Author

Weichen Ke

Abstract

The burgeoning trend of intelligent tourism is gradually emerging as a pivotal force within the global travel sector, harnessing information technology and big data analytics to optimize travel experiences and elevate service standards. This study endeavors to delve into the potential ramifications of intelligent tourism's evolution on the employment structure within the tourism industry, alongside the transformative impact of novel technologies on the skillset demands of practitioners. Employing a blended methodology of quantitative and qualitative approaches, the research unveils the specific shifts in job roles across various segments of the tourism workforce. Primary revelations encompass the emergence of novel vocations such as smart guides and data analysts, underscoring the growing significance of roles requiring technical and data processing proficiencies. Moreover, intelligent tourism has exerted profound repercussions on traditional employment paradigms, ushering in a prevalence of remote work and flexible employment arrangements. Regarding employment structure, high-tech positions are progressively supplanting certain conventional roles, eliciting a realignment effect within the labor market. Furthermore, intelligent tourism imposes heightened requisites on employment skills, with digital literacy and technological aptitude emerging as fundamental competencies for practitioners. Conclusions underscore that the advancement of intelligent tourism engenders multifaceted transformations and opportunities within the tourism industry, yet concurrently necessitates policymakers and enterprises to bolster training and re-education initiatives for professionals. Governments should actively steer and support the development of intelligent tourism at the policy level while fostering adjustments within the educational framework to meet evolving employment demands. Collaborative efforts among stakeholders within the tourism industry are advocated to collectively construct an ecosystem conducive to intelligent tourism, thereby mitigating employment shocks during the transition phase and safeguarding the rights of workers within this new landscape.

Keywords

Smart tourism; Tourism industry; Employment impact; Technological innovation