Destination Smartness Revisited: Sustainability’s Influence and the New Destination Smartness Scale (DSS)

As digitalization accelerates across the tourism industry, destinations are embracing smart technologies and innovative strategies to advance sustainability objectives. However, the rapid proliferation of these initiatives has exposed a critical gap in both theoretical clarity and practical assessment tools, particularly those that reflect how visitors evaluate “smartness” in destinations. This study responds by introducing and validating the Destination Smartness Scale (DSS), a visitor-oriented, eight-item measure developed through four empirical studies with a combined sample of 1,148 participants. The research identifies three central dimensions as the primary factors shaping visitor perceptions of destination smartness: innovation, connectivity, and environmental consciousness. We show that these factors positively influence visitors’ overall identification and satisfaction with a destination, as well as their willingness to revisit and spread positive word-of-mouth. In short, our findings expose the integral role of ecological sustainability in visitor perceptions of destination smartness. With the Destination Smartness Scale (DSS), both managers and researchers now have a valuable tool for assessing and managing perceived destination smartness, and a strong incentive to invest in sustainable destination strategies.