Smartmentality in Ljubljana

Smart tourism has been advocated as a concept to drive co-produced, technology-based design of tourism-related experiences. While it promises interactivity among supply networks, evidence of this outcome is limited. The aim of this paper is to understand how governmentality and power mediate stakeholder engagement and the processes through which smart tourism initiatives become embedded within destination design. To investigate this, the paper draws on Foucauldian governmentality and discourse analysis to examine the technologies of power that serve to position organisations and inhibit or facilitate stakeholder engagement within Ljubljana, Slovenia. As a result, the paper extends resource dependency and collaboration theory in smart tourism.

Automated summary

This paper examines how governmentality and power mediate stakeholder engagement and the embedding process of smart tourism initiatives within destination design, utilizing Foucauldian governmentality and discourse analysis. By investigating the implementation of smart tourism in Ljubljana, it extends resource dependency and collaboration theory in the field of smart tourism.