The Smart City Concept for Sustainable Development of a Tourist Destination

Abstract

Purpose – At a time of exceptionally fast technological advancement, smart cities have become necessary for the better management of existing resources in a tourist destination. The aim of this paper is to investigate if the smart city concept has been recognized in micro destinations in the Kvarner region for the purpose of sustainability and raising residents’ quality of life. Design/Methodology – The research has been conducted in the Kvarner tourist destination in December 2019. Citizens were asked their opinions within the scope of the following narrow tourist destinations – Lovran, Opatija and Rijeka. The questionnaire used closed-ended questions. This short research focuses on public perception regarding the smart city concept. Findings – The results show that 67% of the people living in tourist destinations are not familiar with the smart city concept. Most, however, state that its implementation would improve the touristic development of the destinations. The development of smart destinations leaves plenty of room for each community undertaking that step to define the shape and functionality of its environment while respecting the community’s historical, cultural-artistic and social heritage. Originality of the research – There are many papers dealing with the topic of smart cities, but it is rare for authors to explore the transformation of traditional tourist destinations into contemporary sustainable communities. The obtained results can be used to inform policy making towards becoming more proactive, smart and sustainable.