Creative Tourism Development in the Digital Era: A Literature Review and Policy Implications for Vietnam

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital transformation has significantly reshaped the global tourism industry. Tourism development is gradually shifting from traditional resource-based models toward experience-driven and innovation-oriented approaches. Creative tourism has emerged as a promising development trend by encouraging tourists to actively engage in local cultural activities and co-create value with host communities. Meanwhile, digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and digital platforms have fundamentally transformed tourism product design, destination management, and visitor experiences. This study employs a literature review approach to synthesize theoretical perspectives on creative tourism, identify major development trends in the digital era, and analyze opportunities and challenges for Vietnam. Based on the findings, several policy implications are proposed to promote sustainable creative tourism development in Vietnam.