Fortaleza as a Smart Tourism Destination

management challenges and opportunities

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the city of Fortaleza (CE) as a potential Smart Tourism Destination. Initially, the study contextualizes the contemporary panorama of the tourism market, highlighting the importance of sustainability and innovation to differentiate the tourist offer and to compromise economic development with environmental and cultural preservation. The conversion of Fortaleza into a Smart Tourism Destination (STD) is analyzed, highlighting its relevance for local tourism and the strategies adopted to achieve this aim. The study uses the SWOT matrix to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to the transformation of Fortaleza into an STD. Essential elements that compass the Smart Tourism Destination are analyzed, namely the integration of advanced technologies and sustainable practices. The challenges of this approach are also addressed, including resistance to the adoption of emerging technologies and concerns about the privacy of tourists' data. The methodology adopted includes a qualitative approach, followed by an exploratory case study, bibliographic and documentary review, and the SWOT matrix analysis. The article hands over three relevant contributions: (1) the debate stimulus on the process of transforming Fortaleza into an STD, (2) the offer of evidence for the city's diagnosis towards the new federal public tourism policy, and (3) the identification of the prospects for advancement for obtaining the STD Seal of Fortaleza. Thus, the study highlights the importance of Fortaleza becoming an STD to improve the tourist experience and promote sustainable and innovative development.