Understanding the Conceptual Framework of Crowdsourcing in Smart Tourism Using Meta-synthesis Approach

Although crowdsourcing is a new business principle in many tourism programs in the modern world, its basic mechanism remains unknown in the tourism industry, especially in Iran. This study aimed to comprehensively determine a crowdsourcing program in the tourism industry at both technical and conceptual levels (i.e., nature, reasons, challenges, and strategies). Cluster analysis for understanding the conceptual framework of the challenges that exist in the field of crowdsourcing in the tourism industry and finally knowing the strategies introduced in crowdsourcing in the tourism industry will help the researchers to develop a comprehensive cognitive framework in this field. This study is qualitative in nature and uses a meta-synthesis approach and a library-based method for collecting the required data. In order to carry out the research, after formulating the research questions, a systematic search based on the related key terms was conducted using the target databases including EBSCO Business Source Complete and Web of Science. The results of the study showed that the pattern of research in crowdsourcing challenges in the tourism industry can be determined in four clusters namely technology, human beings, strategies, and third-generation studies. Moreover, the strategies presented by the researchers in the successful implementation of a crowdsourcing project in the tourism industry can be implemented in four categories of strategies related to vision and strategy, human capital, infrastructure, and external environment. The results of this research can be used as a road map for future studies and provide a more comprehensive understanding of creating crowdsourcing platforms in the tourism industry.