Human-centered approaches to technology: a review within a tourism context

Purpose: This paper lays the groundwork for future research by clarifying how a human‑centered perspective can be applied in tourism to harness digital technology for stakeholder value creation and enhanced human experience. Study design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review following the PRISMA protocol was conducted across Web of Science, Academic Search Premier, and Hospitality & Tourism Complete to identify studies addressing human‑centeredness in tourism. Findings: The concept is at an embryonic stage in tourism scholarship. Terminology is inconsistent and few studies apply human‑centered theory in depth; gaps exist around technology‑supported co‑creation, network integration, and human agency in digital environments. Originality/value: By unifying the historical emancipatory view of human‑centeredness with tourism research, the study offers a reference framework for critically assessing digital technology adoption beyond profit‑driven narratives.