Editorial

Abstract

The global impact of the pandemic and climate change events is in various ways shaping discussions about sustainable tourism developmentespecially in locations like Cyprus where tourism is a substantial contributor to employment and national income. This issue investigates the challenges and opportunities for tourism sustainability in the Republic of Cyprus, and I am delighted to welcome the theme editors Zanete Garanti and Galina Berjozkina and their team. Tourism plays a vital role in the economic development of Cyprus, but it is concentrated in the coastal zones, and this causes overcrowding and over tourism in the summer season. How then could tourism be encouraged throughout the year in a way that is beneficial to the economic, social, cultural and environmental life of the island? I would like to thank Zanete, Galina and their colleagues for their thought provoking analysis of this issue and other changes that could assist with a transition to a more sustainable tourism future.Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) aims to make a practical and theoretical contribution to hospitality and tourism development, and we seek to do this by using a key question to focus attention on an industry issue. If you would like to contribute to our work by serving as a WHATT theme editor, do please contact me.Richard Teare Managing Editor, WHATT

Introduction: smart tourism: what developments and issues are important to the Baltic States?

“…The writing team have examined in-depth, aspects of ST in the context of the Baltic States, applying various scientific research methods and approaches. These reviews are published in the form of both data reviews and research papers and include the following:Garanti (2023) considers Value co-creation in smart tourism destinations and focuses on the concept of ST, emphasizing the ST ecosystem and the concept of value co-creation within the system at the destination level.Zvaigzne et al. (2023a, b) explore Smart tourism: the role and synergies of stakeholders – this is a thematic literature review of ST, the role of stakeholders and synergy from the implementation of ST.Litavniece et al.…”

“…Garanti (2023) considers Value co-creation in smart tourism destinations and focuses on the concept of ST, emphasizing the ST ecosystem and the concept of value co-creation within the system at the destination level.…”

Smart tourism: what developments and issues are important to the Baltic states?

“…The theme issue opens with two in-depth literature review articles. The literature review: “ Value co-creation in smart tourism destinations ” by Zanete Garanti (2023) provides a critical literature review of the concept of a smart tourism ecosystem and its implementation at the destination level. Smart tourism provides numerous benefits to stakeholders; however, the value is co-created among stakeholders.…”