Empowering Sustainable Tourism Through Simulation: Evidence and Trends in the Tourism 5.0 Era

Abstract

Digitalization and sustainability are fundamentally transforming the way tourism destinations are planned, managed, and experienced. Among the digital tools supporting this transition, simulation emerges as a key enabler for developing smarter, more adaptive, and sustainable tourism systems. By reproducing complex scenarios, simulation allows for the anticipation of environmental, social, and economic impacts and the testing of strategies aligned with sustainable development goals (SDGs), without exposing destinations to high costs or irreversible consequences. Despite its potential, studies on simulation applied to sustainable tourism remain scattered and lack a consolidated vision. This article therefore aims to systematically review and analyze the existing literature on the use of simulation and hybrid simulation in tourism, identifying the main approaches, application contexts, and scientific contributions developed between 1999 and 2025. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, the review covered publications indexed in databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore Digital Library (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), ScienceDirect, and Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). A total of 34 articles were analyzed, focusing on the role of simulation models in enhancing sustainable destination management and the digital tourist experience. The results show that, although the potential of simulation is widely recognized, challenges persist regarding data quality, methodological fragmentation, and real-world validation. Nevertheless, the review highlights simulation as a catalyst for Tourism 5.0, enabling smarter decision-making and contributing to the sustainability and resilience of tourism destinations in the digital era.