This special issue examines how technology can be integrated into tourism experiences by blending physical and digital elements with tourists' needs at the center. The emerging concept of phygital tourism recognizes that tourist journeys increasingly span both online and offline spaces, starting with digital research and culminating in physical visits. Rather than viewing phygital purely as a marketing strategy, this issue adopts a framework that prioritizes understanding tourist behaviors and preferences across these hybrid environments.
The issue addresses significant gaps in current research, which tends to focus on technological capabilities rather than tourist perspectives. It seeks contributions exploring how technology integration can enhance tourist satisfaction, loyalty, and well-being while creating positive outcomes for destinations and employees. Contributions may employ quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methodologies from any discipline, examining topics ranging from virtual reality applications to sustainable practices, cultural heritage preservation, and accessibility enhancements.