Fifth International Conference on Tourism & Leisure Studies

Abstract

McLaren and Agyeman (2015) define a smart city as an urban area that collects information via various electronic data collection sensors. Data collected from citizens, devices, and assets is processed and analyzed in order to monitor and manage traffic and transportation systems, power plants, water supply networks, waste management, law enforcement, information systems, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other services. The smart city design combines Information and Communication Technology and various physical devices connected to a network (the Internet of things) to optimize the efficiency of city operations and services (Peris-Ortiz, Bennett, & Yabar, 2016). Smart city technology allows city officials to interact directly with both community members and city infrastructure, in order to monitor changes in city and community evolution. While smart cities are garnering a lot of positive attention, many criticize the movement. Greenfield (2013) suggested a bias in strategic interest may lead city officials to ignore alternative avenues of promising urban development. Sennett (2012) notes that “real” city development is “haphazard.” A scientifically planned city, Sennett argues, would be unattractive as people would prefer cities they can participate to shape. Graham and Marvin (1996) stated this focus may underestimate the possible negative effects of the development of the new technological and networked infrastructures needed for a city to be smart. The smart cities discussion centers on the usage and implementation of technology rather than on city inhabitants. In this presentation, I look to explore the impact of smart technology on the citizens and visitors to smart tourism destinations.