The concept of smart tourism has emerged as a significant factor in the interplay between digital technology and the tourism industry. As the world continues to embrace digital advancements, smart tourism is evolving rapidly, thanks to supportive policies and active stakeholder engagement. This new phase heralds a transformation in how travel services are delivered, emphasizing not only the importance of technology but also a shift in how tourism experiences are conceived and enjoyed.

Smart tourism is more than just a modern iteration of travel; it encompasses an integrated approach to service provision, management, and marketing strategies aimed at enhancing the overall travel experience. Recently, a suite of pivotal policy documents has been introduced, establishing a multi-faceted framework for smart tourism development. This has generated substantial backing for practical applications within the tourism sector, fostering a conducive environment for growth and innovation. Cities and regions across the country have initiated the creation of comprehensive public service platforms focused on smart tourism, ensuring that management systems are not only robust but are supported by advanced technology.

Throughout the past few years, smart tourism has transitioned into a new stage of innovative growth. Different provinces and municipalities have constructed public service platforms that serve as vital tech infrastructures for tourism management and services. Operators in the tourism sector have significantly improved their online marketing capabilities, enabling them to better cater to the diverse desires of travelers. The internet has undoubtedly become a pivotal force in shaping travel decisions, as more tourists now rely on online platforms to gather essential information about destinations and services available to them. Consequently, there has been a marked shift in focus from merely expanding infrastructures to enhancing operational efficiencies and effectiveness.

A recent announcement by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has unveiled the list of smart tourism solutions for 2024, showcasing innovative approaches such as data-centric management solutions, intelligent guide systems utilizing '3A' technology, and creative narrative technologies designed for diverse cultural tourism destinations. The selected solutions reflect a pragmatic mindset towards actual applications, establishing a roadmap for further innovations in smart tourism offerings, and presenting references for stakeholders to follow.

The impact of smart tourism extends beyond just improving digital infrastructures; it also stimulates increased travel consumption, thus becoming a crucial driver for the growth of the tourism sector. Projections suggest that by December 2024, China will have approximately 548 million online travel booking users. Platforms such as Ctrip, Meituan, and Fliggy have become crucial channels for tourists seeking tickets for travel or services, while social media tags like TikTok and Xiaohongshu have leveraged interest-based e-commerce and live streaming to emerge as powerful forces in online travel marketing. As an integral component of smart tourism, these online platforms have enabled a major push towards travel consumption.

Recent years have witnessed the emergence of various immersive experiences that represent the essence of smart tourism—ranging from large-scale virtual reality settings, immersive travel performances, themed cultural districts, to nighttime light shows. These innovative offerings have reinvented the visitor's journey, as evidenced by the staggering attendance figures during the recent May Day holiday in 2024, where the inaugural series of smart tourism immersive experiences attracted over 4.3 million consumers and resulted in total expenditures surpassing 220 million Yuan. However, despite these advancements, there still remain gaps in expanding new consumer scenarios that are required to further elevate the ability and efficiency of tourism consumption stimulation.

A major area of concern lies in the relative scarcity of high-quality content and the absence of expansive scales or models in immersive products within smart tourism. The essence of these experiences relies on content and the real engagement that they provide. However, current offerings often lack unique intellectual property development, leading to content homogenization and insufficient emotional engagement with consumers. There is a pressing need for interdisciplinary collaboration that incorporates insights from film, gaming, and other creative sectors, to craft immersive cultural and tourism products that resonate deeply with users, ultimately yielding a vibrant and sustainable tourism ecosystem.

Furthermore, uneven regional developments present an ongoing challenge; significant disparities exist in operational capabilities and talent qualifications across different geographic locales. While coastal areas and prominent cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou thrive, other regions lag behind. Stakeholders need to delve deeper into local cultural resources to tailor a branding and specialization strategy that fosters a balanced regional growth of smart tourism products. Establishing industry standards and providing training will aid in bridging these gaps, enabling traditional cultural tourism venues to swiftly adapt to changing market dynamics and deepen their understanding of new smart tourism opportunities.

Another major obstacle encountered by myriads of travelers stems from high acquisition costs pertaining to travel information and strategies; many still depend on social networks for their travel guidance. Although numerous platforms provide personalized recommendations, there still exist inefficiencies in correlating traveler profiles with product attributes. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into tourism, opportunities arise for a smarter alignment of supply and demand based on user preferences and behaviors. This can lead to the creation of effective decision-making frameworks for travelers, facilitated by advancements in wearable technologies and intelligent selling agents, streamlining the process of decision-making and reservations for potential tourists.

The burgeoning market of new tourism formats promises to diversify the traveler experience with innovative offerings, such as drone-assisted self-photography, automated vending cars, and travel-related personal IP merchandise. With advancements in smart technology and low-altitude economies, there exists a profound opportunity for stakeholders to embrace innovation in enriching the supply of smart tourism products. Technical applications, such as AI-generated content (AIGC), stand to lower costs and enhance efficiency; thus, they hold promising prospects for refining overall tourism service delivery and product experience quality.

As we reflect on the current trajectory of smart tourism, it is evident that notable strides have been made, illuminating the very pathway towards a more effective stimulation of travel consumption. Moving forward, it will be essential for smart tourism initiatives to break through existing limitations—transforming operational frameworks, conceptual mindsets, talent cultivation, and innovative models—ultimately driving toward sustainable high-quality growth in the tourism sector.