Navigating the Blockchain Landscape in Leisure Tourism: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

The convergence of blockchain technology (BCT) and tourism presents a transformative pathway by offering a fruitful potential to enhance the travel lifecycle. Yet, the extant literature remains fragmented and lacks a cohesive and comprehensive evaluation of the benefits and challenges associated with BCT adoption in the leisure tourism industry. To address this gap, this study conducts a systematic literature review of 53 peer-reviewed papers retrieved from the Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases, covering the period from 2018 to 2025. By employing the PRISMA guidelines, this review synthesises the advantages of BCT integration into a chronological framework comprising pre-travel arrangements, on-site experiences, and post-trip engagements. Simultaneously, it provides a critical assessment of adoption barriers, categorised into inter-institutional, intra-institutional, operational, and technological challenges. By bridging the gap between BCT's transformative potential and its current embryonic state, this review offers a strategic roadmap for stakeholders and establishes an agenda for future academic research.