This study used bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review (SLR) to examine how the tourism and hospitality industries use generative artificial intelligence (GAI), identifying developed patterns, theoretical frameworks, strengths and limitations, and future research challenges. We conducted a systematic review using the Scopus database, adhering to PRISMA principles. We analyzed a sample of 25 articles published between 2019 and 2023 through narrative synthesis and bibliometric analysis using the VOSviewer software, a tool for visualizing network analysis. The USA, China, India, and Saudi Arabia are the major countries engaged in GAI research in tourism and hospitality. Significant research topics emphasize decision-making, chatbots, deep learning, and sentiment analysis, mainly through the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R), and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) frameworks. GAI applications demonstrate strength in improving user experience and operational efficiency, though gaps exist in scope, ethics, technology performance, and collaboration between humans and AI. This study, therefore, provides a fundamental foundation for understanding the current status of GAI research in tourism and hospitality by pointing out some trends and areas that require further investigation to ensure the responsible and effective integration of AI within the industry.

This research explores the extent to which Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices in the Egyptian hotel sector contribute to the adoption of Circular Economy (CE) practices and, eventually, organizational resilience. Using a sample of 402 employees from green-certified Egyptian hotels, the current study applied Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) on the data collected. The results show the positive effect of GHRM on the adoption of a circular economy that significantly enhances both internal and external organizational resilience. In addition, high Green Organizational Culture (GOC) strengthens the positive relationship of GHRM with the adoption of a circular economy. From this work, some empirical evidence is provided to show that circular economy practices can play a partial mediating role between GHRM and organizational resilience. These findings also present valuable insights for hotel managers and policymakers on how to achieve sustainability and resilience by means of integrated GHRM and circular economy strategies.

The study investigates how information asymmetry affects customer satisfaction in the tourism industry by examining trust and perceived value as mediating factors. The research implements an integrated model to test and prove information asymmetry’s direct and mediating effects on customer satisfaction by examining the literature gap. The research used a quantitative approach based on opinion polls distributed to 408 customers of hotels, tourism companies, and travel agencies who were in Egypt. SmartPLS 3 software implemented the data analysis process using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Previous studies have developed scales to measure information asymmetry and its related constructs, including customer trust, perceived value, and customer satisfaction. Multiple tests showed that the measurement tools possess both reliability and validity. Results strongly support all hypotheses: information asymmetry demonstrated significant direct negative effects on customer satisfaction (β = −0.187), trust (β = −0.520), and perceived value (β = −0.453). Conversely, customer satisfaction received significant positive direct effects from both trust (β = 0.273) and perceived value (β = 0.263). Importantly, trust (indirect effect β = −0.142) and perceived value (indirect effect β = −0.119) acted as powerful mediators, confirming that information asymmetry diminishes satisfaction largely by eroding these crucial factors. Crucially, the results demonstrate that the negative impact of information asymmetry on customer satisfaction is significantly mediated jointly through two parallel pathways: the erosion of customer trust and the impairment of perceived value. The research adds theoretical support to information asymmetry theory with its findings while also extending trust theory, perceived value theory, and expectancy disconfirmation theory in the field of e-commerce. E-commerce entities must establish clear communication to gain customer trust and create perceived value that helps compensate for information asymmetry to create enhanced customer loyalty and superior market position.

In the rapidly changing environment of the tourism business, building digital trust and rapport has appeared as a critical factor for sustaining profitable customer relationships and confirming long-term business survival. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the research landscape with respect to digital trust and rapport establishment within the tourism context using techniques for bibliometric analysis in conjunction with visualization. This research paper explores publication trends, identifies key journals and authors, and determines the most productive countries, academic institutions, and primary research keywords. It involves analyzing publications from the Scopus database focusing on the duration between 2014 and 2023. The findings show that the digital trust and rapport-building literature expands its importance within the tourism industry due to factors such as competition pressure; customers’ high expectations; the incorporation of technology; and, most recently, the occurrence of pandemics like the COVID-19 pandemic. The US, in particular, can be identified as the most productive country in this research area. The International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management and the International Journal of Hospitality Management appear to be popular scientific publications on this topic. They present the following main research themes: customer engagement, employee conduct, and technology in the construction of trust. This study also underscores the practical role of the findings in successful endeavors within the field, detailing how cultural sensitivity, technological incorporation, and accessibility in service provision would contribute to building digital trust with international customers. Potential future research directions are proposed to advance the understanding of culture, technology, the effects of crises, and the application of other research methods.

The present study investigates the association between perceived authenticity (PAU), GCON, and behavioral intention within heritage restaurants in Hail, Saudi Arabia. By integrating cognitive appraisal theory (CAT) and the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) framework, this research explores how authenticity perceptions influence both cultural and gastronomic experiences and contribute to sustainable consumption behavior. Also, it investigates the moderating role of consumer knowledge (CKNOW) in enhancing GCON and its subsequent impact on the behavioral intention (BINT) to dine at heritage restaurants. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study first conducted a content analysis on online reviews to identify key attributes that shape authenticity perceptions. Subsequently, Smart PLS software was employed to conduct an analysis of 417 valid customers of heritage restaurants in Hail. The current study aims to investigate the customers of heritage restaurants in Hail, Saudi Arabia. The current findings showed that students formed a significant market share of heritage restaurants in Hail, Saudi Arabia. The findings confirm that perceived authenticity significantly enhances consumers’ cultural and gastronomic experiences, which in turn fosters GCON and strengthens the behavioral intention to visit authentic restaurants. Furthermore, GCON mediates the association between authenticity, cultural experiences, and purchase intention. Consumer knowledge further moderates this relationship, amplifying the positive effect of GCON on behavioral intention. This study contributes to the growing literature on sustainable gastronomy tourism by demonstrating the crucial interplay between authenticity, sustainability, and consumer knowledge in the heritage restaurant sector. It also offers practical recommendations for restaurant managers, policymakers, and tourism marketers to enhance the authentic dining experience while promoting environmentally responsible behavior. By fostering an awareness of cultural and environmental values, heritage restaurants can serve a critical role in advancing sustainable tourism development in Hail and beyond.