This paper aims to explore the diffusion of the smart destination (SD) model in Latin America. It helps fill the gap created by a scarcity of tourism policy transfer studies that explain how and why destination planning and management models spread.
The process of SD transfer in Latin America is explained using exhaustive analysis of sources to detect the mechanisms of policy transfer. This analysis combines secondary and primary information for a more accurate validation of the transfer process.
The paper provides an overview of the process of SD transfer in Latin America. Far from a mere question of adoption, SD application contributes to a policy learning process that entails better adaptation of the model to Latin American settings, with positive outcomes in areas such as governance. The study identifies the key factors influencing the transfer of the model, as well as the main stakeholders involved in the process, highlighting both the potential benefits and the risks that may compromise the long-term viability of the model.
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is one of the few studies on policy transfer in tourism. The paper complements comparative studies, classical models and traditional frameworks of destination planning and management. It does so by examining the transfer to the Global South of a model created in the Global North, which shapes diffusion transfer networks that challenge traditional tourism policy structures. In addition, it offers practical insights for adapting the model to the Latin American context, mitigating the risk of failure due to inadequate transfer.
