<span lang="EN-GB">A bibliometric and systematic analysis of artificial intelligence and the transition towards smart geotourism

The rapid digital transformation of tourism has positioned artificial intelligence as a key enabler of destination intelligence, data-driven decision-making, and sustainable tourism management. Although artificial intelligence has become increasingly important in smart tourism research, its application to geotourism remains fragmented, particularly regarding geoheritage conservation, geodiversity management, and territorial planning. Employing a retrospective approach, this study delineates the developmental trajectory of artificial intelligence applications in sustainable tourism while interrogating their integration into the paradigm of smart geotourism. An integrated bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review were conducted to evaluate scientific developments and empirical applications of artificial intelligence within geotourism contexts. Such findings delineate a burgeoning field of inquiry structured through the convergence of three intersecting axes: technological advancement, analytical intelligence, and visitor-focused experiential paradigms. The review study identified four principal domains through which artificial intelligence contributes to geotourism: predictive analytics, smart destination management, geoheritage interpretation, and environmental monitoring and geoconservation. The findings further highlight significant regional differences in technological adoption and reveal a limited integration between artificial intelligence, geoheritage conservation, and sustainable territorial governance. Based on these findings, the study proposes a smart geotourism framework that connects artificial intelligence, smart tourism, geoheritage conservation, and territorial planning within a unified conceptual structure. By delivering an integrated appraisal of artificial intelligence within geotourism, this study contributes to extant scholarship by conceptualizing artificial intelligence beyond its technical dimensions—positioning it as a fundamental enabler of empirical territorial planning, destination analytics, and the sustainable preservation of geological resources. The study objectives were to propose an integrated conceptual framework that connects artificial intelligence, smart tourism, geoheritage conservation, and territorial planning to support the development of smart geotourism.

کلیدواژه ها:

Artificial intelligence (AI) ، Geoheritage ، smart geotourism ، Smart Tourism ، Territorial planning ، Sustainability.