This study delves into the intricate process of predicting tourism demand, explicitly focusing on econometric and quantitative time series analysis. A meticulous review of the existing literature is carried out to comprehensively understand the various methods for forecasting “unpredictable” shocks of tourism demand on an ex-ante basis. The PRISMA method has been implemented. Drawing on scholarly research, this study pinpoints the critical challenges in accurately predicting tourism demand, making it a valuable resource for tourism professionals and researchers seeking to stay on top of the latest forecasting techniques. Moreover, the study includes an overview of published manuscripts from the current decade, with mixed results from the 32 manuscripts reviewed. The study concludes that virtual tourism, augmented reality, virtual reality, big data, and artificial intelligence all have the potential to enhance demand forecasting in time series econometrics.