Advancing virtual tourism in urban destinations: current status and future potential in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

Virtual Tourism is Rapidly Expanding worldwide and serves as a practical support for traditional tourism by enhancing tourist experiences. In major cities, virtual tourism is widely utilized to advance smart tourism and promote night tourism activities. In Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City has taken initial steps in this domain, incorporating virtual tourism applications to cater to both domestic and international tourists. However, its development remains limited when compared to other relevant urban destinations. This paper utilizes the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework to evaluate the current state of virtual tourism development in Ho Chi Minh City and its future potential. The research results indicate that tourism businesses that participated in the poll acknowledged that technological advancement is available, but they are not financially or human resource prepared, despite the fact that leaders favor the growth of virtual tourism. Furthermore, the business environment does not support the growth of virtual tourism effectively. Based on the results, several recommendations are proposed to better exploit virtual tourism, positioning Ho Chi Minh City as a key hub for smart tourism in Vietnam.