This study explores the dynamic interplay between tourism ecosystems and smart city ecosystems, focusing on their impact on urban sustainability and digital advancement in contemporary cities. Amid societal transformation, globalization, and technological evolution, cities and tourism are transitioning toward a “smart” paradigm, necessitating a nuanced understanding of their symbiotic relationship. However, despite this contemporary evolution, the dynamic and evolving nature of both ecosystems, accompanied by digital and societal changes, reveals a persistent gap between theoretical discussion and practical implementation. Applying a longitudinal empirical analysis that considers 30 Italian cities across 13 years (2010–2023), this research empirically investigates how these integrations influence digital and sustainable urban pathways. Understanding this interaction has become increasingly critical for the advancement of smart cities and tourism. Therefore, our findings aim to contribute to the academic discourse on smart cities and tourism, offering insights for policymakers and practitioners to orchestrate contemporary and future urban dynamics.
Marchesani et al. (2026) studied this question.