Metaverse and Tourism: From a New Niche to a Transformation

Metaverse is named among the technologies that are predicted to transform everyday life. The proliferation of such technologies as the Internet and smartphones has triggered major transformations in the tourism industry. This paper conceptualises the phenomenon of Metaverse towards the phenomenon of tourism. It applies a semi-systematic literature review methodology to identify existing alignment between the phenomena. The paper concludes that there is a conceptual alignment between the critical dimensions of the Metaverse and tourism. Tourism should be ready for the reciprocal effects of metaverse development on tourism and vice versa, from new opportunities to enhance tourist experience to a possible dissolution of the contemporary understanding of tourism.

Automated summary

This paper examines the conceptual alignment between the phenomenon of Metaverse and tourism through a semi-systematic literature review. The study concludes that critical dimensions of Metaverse and tourism align with each other. It suggests that the tourism industry should be prepared for the reciprocal effects of Metaverse development, including new opportunities to enhance tourist experience and a possible transformation of the contemporary understanding of tourism.