I. Introduction

1. Background and Purpose of the Study

⧠ The tourism industry has emerged as a key driver of economic growth and job creation in the global economy.

⧠ Digital transformation in the tourism industry has intensified borderless competition among tourism enterprises and led to environmental changes in new tourism markets.

⧠ Domestic tourism companies face disadvantages in global competition due to technical limitations and low digital utilization.

⧠ As global competition in the tourism industry intensifies, it is imperative to develop strategies to enhance the technological competitiveness of domestic tourism companies.

⧠ The objective of this study is to analyze global and domestic tourism industry technology trends using patent data and propose strategies to strengthen the technological competitiveness of South Korea’s tourism industry.

2. Scope of the Study

⧠ This study analyzes technology trends in the global and domestic tourism industries based on patent data from major tourism enterprises.

⧠ It proposes strategies and policy recommendations at both the private and governmental levels to enhance the technological competitiveness of the tourism industry.

II. Overview of Patent Data

⧠ Patent data is a highly reliable source of information with a systematic structure.

⧠ It includes a vast amount of technological information from around the world.

⧠ Patents are official documents created to protect inventions and assert legal rights, encompassing both technical and legal details.

⧠ Patent data allows the development of indices to measure technological trends and the technical characteristics of companies and industries.

III. Analysis of Global Tourism Industry Technology Trends

⧠ This study analyzes technology trends in the global tourism industry using patent data from hotel companies, travel-related platforms, and solution providers.

⧠ The patent filings of major global tourism enterprises have shown consistent growth since the early 1990s, peaking in the mid-2010s before gradually declining.

⧠ The diversity of classification codes in patents filed by global tourism enterprises has increased over time, reflecting an expansion in the types of technologies utilized.

⧠ An analysis of classification codes in patents from major global tourism enterprises reveals an increasing trend of technology convergence within the tourism industry.

IV. Analysis of Domestic Tourism Industry Technology Trends

⧠ This study examines technology trends in South Korea’s tourism industry using patent data from major hotel companies and travel-related platform and solution providers.

⧠ Patent filings by major domestic tourism enterprises have shown a gradual increase since the 2000s and remained steady during the COVID-19 pandemic.

⧠ The diversity of classification codes in patents filed by domestic tourism enterprises has increased, indicating an expansion in the range of technologies utilized.

⧠ An analysis of classification codes in patents from major domestic tourism enterprises also reveals an increasing trend of technology convergence within the industry.

V. Strategies for Enhancing Technological Competitiveness in the Tourism Industry

⧠ The following strategies are proposed to enhance the technological competitiveness of South Korea’s tourism industry at the private and governmental levels:

⧠ Expand private-sector investments to promote technological innovation in the tourism industry.

⧠ Foster a vibrant startup ecosystem to drive technological innovation in the tourism sector.

⧠ Strengthen networks to encourage technology development within the tourism industry.

⧠ Expand policy support from the government to reinforce the technological competitiveness of the tourism industry.