Chapter 8: The Transformative Impact of Digital Technology on Geographical Indications Tourism

The chapter discusses the convergence of Geographical Indications (GI) tourism and digital technology, an emerging niche in the tourism industry. GI products link geographic origin to cultural heritage, providing potential to promote local economies, safeguard traditional knowledge, and enhance tourist experiences. This research showcases how digital technology—such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), social media, and AI—is transforming how tourists learn and interact with culture. Digital transformation allows for direct communication between international audiences and local artisans, producing customized and sustainable tourism experiences.

The chapter also discussed about the international and national case studies to illustrate the strength of this integrated approach. It discusses how digital platforms have facilitated the promotion of GIs such as Kashmiri handicrafts and Darjeeling Tea, helping in the preservation of heritage. It also discusses major challenges such as digital illiteracy, cybersecurity risks, and intellectual property issues that come with tech-enabled tourism. Finalizing with forward recommendations, the essay supports ethical digitization and originality as the key principles to establish a sustainable and culturally deep bond between GI tourism and technology.