Blockchain for Tourism and Hospitality Industries

This insightful book is the first to explain the basics of blockchain and its applications in the service industry, as well as potential future implementations of the technology. Embellished with explanatory diagrams throughout, this book predominantly focuses on blockchain as a prominent driver of digital transformation within the service sector and explores its potential applications within the tourism and hospitality industries. Expert-led and logically structured, the chapters explore a plethora of concepts within the service industry and explain the possibilities of blockchain technology and its pros and cons. Key topics include blockchain and its current and potential future impact on food and agricultural supply chains, the sharing economy, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), financial systems and payments, medical tourism, sustainability, and smart contracts. The book seeks to inspire and influence industry figures to plan ahead and develop business strategies using blockchain. International in scope, this engaging volume will be of pivotal interest to industry experts as well as researchers and tourism, hospitality, and technology students interested in learning more about blockchain and its potential for the service industry.

Irem Onder is an associate professor at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at University of Massachusetts Amherst. She obtained her PhD from Clemson University, South Carolina, and her master's degree in information systems management from Ferris State University, Michigan. Her main research interests include information technology and tourism economics, specifically big data analysis, smart destinations, decision support systems, blockchain, and tourism demand forecasting. She serves in the editorial boards of Journal of Travel Research, Tourism Economics, and Journal of Information Technology and Tourism. Her research has been published in journals such as Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Management, Journal of Travel Research, Tourism Economics, and Journal of Information Technology and Tourism. Fulya Acikgoz is a PhD candidate at the University of Bristol, UK. Her research focuses on technology marketing, information management, and social media. Her work has been published in journals, including Journal of Business Research, Psychology & Marketing, Technovation, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, International Journal of Consumer Studies, Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Behaviour & Information Technology, International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, and International Journal of Technology Marketing.

1. Introduction: The Role of Technology in Transforming the Industry. 2. Blockchain Technology in Tourism and Hospitality Industry. 3. Exploring Blockchain in Food and Agricultural Supply Chains. 4. Blockchain Technology in Sharing Economy. 5. Transforming Tourism and Hospitality: The Innovative Potential of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). 6. Revolutionizing Tourism Payments: The Formation of Decentralized Tourism Financial Systems. 7. Unlocking the Potential of Blockchain Technology for Medical Tourism in Albania. 8. Enhancing Sustainable Tourism through Blockchain-based Tokenization: A Novel Approach for Revenue Generation. 9. Application of Blockchain-Based Smart Contract in Sustainable Tourism Finance. 10. The Future of Blockchain Technology for Tourism and Hospitality.