Enhancing Sustainable Tourism Management in Thailand through Blockchain: Future Research Directions and Strategic Recommendations

Abstract

The COVID-19 crisis has posed significant challenges to the sustainability of the tourism sector, particularly affecting policy makers in various countries. This crisis has had cascading effects on the related business sectors, with Thailand's tourism industry heavily reliant on the purchasing power of international tourists. The sudden absence of this foreign demand has resulted in a liquidity shortfall, leading many businesses within the sector to bankruptcy. This situation raises crucial questions about strategies for financial recovery: How can the financial status of the tourism sector be restored to its former state? A consensus among nations suggests that sustainability can be achieved by boosting domestic tourism consumption. Although the solution is recognized, Thailand continues to face challenges in stimulating domestic tourism demand. Previous research on innovations suggests that policy makers should support the integration of smart tourism concepts and blockchain technology to help revitalize the sector sustainably. This article proposes the use of blockchain as part of smart tourism initiatives for sustainable tourism development and highlights potential directions for future research.