Governing Digital Twin technology for smart and sustainable tourism: A case study in applying a documentation framework for architecture decisions

As one of the emerging concepts in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Twin (DT) technology can predict system responses before they occur. Considering the rapid growth of new information and technology (ICT) applications in the tourism industry and the digitisation through IoT, we suggest the potential of DT implementation in smart and sustainable tourism. By utilising Big Data and other supporting resources, stakeholders will be able to create a virtual representation of a relevant region both by analysing the flow of visitor activity and by determining the impact of their geographic and temporal patterns on other aspects and policies. However, we are also aware that compliance with regulations and communication among stakeholders have become important issues for software systems. Therefore, this chapter proposes both a conceptual framework for DT on smart and sustainable tourism and a documentation framework for architectural decisions to govern such a system.