Chapter 11: Enhancing Prosperity Through Smart Tourism: A Competitive Analysis of Gulf Cities Using STCCI

This chapter introduces the Smart Tourism Cities Competitiveness Index (STCCI), an innovative benchmarking tool developed in collaboration with the Seoul Tourism Organization and the Smart Tourism Research Center at Kyung Hee University. The STCCI evaluates cities on smart tourism using a comprehensive framework that covers five key dimensions: attractiveness, accessibility, digitalization readiness, sustainability, and co-partnership, further detailed into 17 categories and 51 specific indicators. The application of STCCI to the Gulf cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha reveals their strengths and areas for enhancement in the realm of smart tourism. Dubai shines in attracting visitors and embracing digital technology, while Abu Dhabi leads in online visibility and the accessibility of tourism information. Doha is recognized for its superior accessibility. Despite these strengths, each city faces unique challenges that need addressing. The STCCI not only provides a deep dive into the current state and potential growth of smart tourism infrastructures in these cities post-pandemic but also positions them on a global scale in terms of competitiveness in smart tourism. The index suggests strategic improvements, supporting the evolution of these cities into advanced smart cities in the Gulf region, characterized by innovation, development, transformation, and prosperity. This chapter contributes valuable perspectives for ongoing smart cities research and development across the Gulf, emphasizing the significance of this approach in guiding the future of urban tourism in a smarter, more connected world.