How can modern technology be used to develop the tourism industry in Finland : Greater Helsinki Area?

Abstract

The thesis discusses how modern technologies can be used to develop and sustain tourism in Finland in relation to the Greater Helsinki Area. The paper conducts research on the six technology drivers of Growth of the Tourism Industry, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Smart Tourism, Drone Technology, Robotic Systems, and Mobile Applications with the assistance of a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data of 150 respondents were collected using a structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with tourism operators, policymakers, and technology providers were employed in the provision of qualitative information. Data analysis was performed using both SPSS and SPSS descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression with thematic analysis as an addition. It has been shown that Artificial Intelligence is the most significant predictor of tourism development, as it makes tourism products more individual and effective in their work, and Virtual Reality, mobile applications, and smart systems bring people more pleasant experiences despite the negligible statistical impact. A notable implication with relevance to the stakeholders and policymakers is also the study on the contribution of technology in competitiveness, resilience, and sustainable tourism.