Spatial Intelligence – GIS as a Tool for Destination Management Organization
In the context of the digital transformation of the tourism industry, the search for tools that can effectively manage territories based on objective spatial data is becoming particularly relevant. This study aims to determine the importance and role of GIS as a strategic tool in the activities of the Destination Management Organization by systematically analysing their functions and assessing the impact on the effectiveness of tourist management. The study used a comprehensive methodological approach that combined qualitative and quantitative methods. The paper examines how the formation and development of the concept of sustainable development and the digitalization of the economy and the tourism industry led to the transformation of the Destination Management Organization, i.e. a change in their function from marketers to territory strategists. The Destination Management Organization is currently facing fundamentally new challenges: managing flows, predicting loads, and designing experiences. Spatial intelligence, implemented on the basis of GIS, is becoming a key tool for solving these problems. In this regard, a systematic analysis of key GIS functions has been carried out, from the collection and visualization of geodata to predictive analytics and decision support. Based on international cases (Destination Canada, the GEOTURISTA project, Russian tourism clusters) and scientific research, the impact of GIS on the effectiveness of tourist territory management has been assessed. The results of the study demonstrate that GIS has also undergone transformational changes, turning from an auxiliary cartographic tool into the core of strategic planning and allowing DMO to balance economic development, environmental conservation and satisfaction of the local community.
Koroleva, I. S. (2026), “Spatial Intelligence – GIS as a Tool for Destination Management Organization”, Research Result. Business and Service Technologies, 12 (1), pp.
















While nobody left any comments to this publication.
You can be first.
Antipov, S. O. (2016), “Geoinformation monitoring of tourist destinations”, materials of the International conference "nterCarto/InterGIS", 2, 22, pp. 132-136. (In Russ.).
Bakhteev, D. V. and Lednyov, I. V. (2023), “Geographical profiling and geoinformation systems in the study and investigation of crimes”, All-Russian criminological journal, Vol. 17, 6, pp. 577-585. (In Russ.).
Belozerov, V. S. and Antipov, S. O. (2016), “Geoinformation Monitoring of Tourist Destinations”, Materials of the International Scientific and Practical Conference " Historical and Cultural Heritage and Promotion of Tourist Destinations in the North Caucasus" (Stavropol, September 28-29, 2016), pp. 86-90. (In Russ.).
Beritelli, P., Laesser, Ch., Reinhoid S. and Kappler A. (2013), “Das St.Galler Modell für Destinationsmanagement: Geschäftsfeldinnovation in Netzwerken”, Institute for Systemic Management and Public Governance (IMP-HSG)[Оnline] available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265019123_Das_StGaller_Modell_fur_Destinationsmanagement_Geschaftsfeldinnovation_in_Netzwerken (Accessed 08.05.2025).
Bramwell, B., Higham, J., Lane, B. and Miller, G. (2017), “Twenty-five years of sustainable tourism and the Journal of Sustainable Tourism: Looking back and moving forward”, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25 (1), pp. 1–9. (In Russ.).
Buhalis, D. (2000), “Marketing the Competitive Destination of the Future”, Tourism Management, Vol. 21, pp. 97-116. (In Russ.).
Burnyasheva, L.A., Romanko, I.E., Kosenko and O.Yu. (2023), “Tourism as a Driver of Creative Economy Development”, Innovations nd Investments, 12, pp. 444-446.
Chernova, I.Yu., Starovoitov, A.V. and Luneva, O.V. (2012), “Creation of the Historical and Cultural Geoinformation System of the Bolgar Settlement”, ArcReview (GIS: Theory and Practice. ArcGIS 10.1), 3 (62), pp.12-14. (In Russ.).
d’Angella, F. and Go, F.M. (2008), “Tale of two cities’ collaborative tourism marketing: Towards a theory of destination stakeholder assessment”, Tourism Management, 30, 3, pp. 429-440.
Dauletkhanova, E. R., Aktymbaeva, A. S. and Sapiyeva, A. Zh. (2025), “Development of urban ecotourism on the example of the MAZE ecopark in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk”, Central Asian Economic Review, 4, pp. 162-178. (In Russ.).
Dwyer, L. and Kim, C. (2003), “Destination competitiveness: determinants and indicators”, Current Issues in Tourism, 6, 5, pp. 369-414.
Franch, M. and Martini, U. (2002), “Destinations and destination management in the Alps: A proposal for a classification scheme in the light of some ongoing experiences”, Territoires et Marchés, [Оnline] available at: https://ojs.srce.hr/index.php/entrenova/article/view/14096 (Accessed 08.05.2025).
Gdalin, A. D. (2024), “Trends in Population Mobility Research: A Component of Spatial Behavior in the Urban Environment”, Regional Geosystems, 48, 3, pp. 354-367. (In Russ.).
Glagolev, S. B., Volkova, I. V., Dzhalmukhambetova, E. A. and Tsyguta, A. N. (2025), “Use of GIS technologies in the ecomonitoring activity of the Bogdinsky-Baskunchak reserve”, Caspian scientific journal, 2 (7), pp. 2-16. (In Russ.).
Glebova, N.V. (2006), “GIS for the management of cities and territories”, ArcReview, 3 (38), pp. 12-14. (In Russ.).
Goncharova, N.A. (2013), “Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) as a tourism management system at the national, regional and local levels: foreign experience”, Management of economic systems: electronic scientific journal, 11(59), pp. 77-78. (In Russ.).
Kashirina, E. S. Novikov, A.A., Tikunova, I.N. and Shabalina, N. V. (2023), “GIS-technologies in the formation of a model of tourism development in the Orlinovsky municipal district of Sevastopol”, InterKarto. InterGIS, 29, 2, pp. 382-395. (In Russ.).
Kharlamova, N., Rotanova, I. and Selezneva, E. (2024), “Inventory and Systematization of Tourist Interest Objects in the Altai Territory”, Siberian Journal of Tourism and Economic, pp. 18-19. (In Russ.).
Kletskova, E.V., Palamarchuk, G.I., Ershov, E.G. and Otteva, I.V. (2024), “Domestic Tourism as a Driver of Regional Economic Growth in the New Reality”, Economics of Sustainable Development, 2 (58), pp. 125-128. (In Russ.).
Ksenofontova, K. N. (2023), “Geomodeling as a Basis for Assessing the Tourist and Recreational Potential of the Namsky District Territory”, LXXVI Herzen Readings. Geography: Development of Science and Education, pp. 241-246. (In Russ.).
Lane, B. (2018), “Will sustainable tourism research be sustainable in the future? An opinion piece”, Tourism Management Perspectives, 25, pp. 161–164. (In Russ.).
Lavrova, T.A., Uvarov, S.A. and Volkov, S.D. (2022), “Tourism as a Driver of Economic Development of Regions in the Context of the Economic Crisis”, Journal of Legal and Economic Research, 1, pp. 195-199. (In Russ.).
Lee, Y., Seo, Y., Park, S., and Chung, N. (2025), “Regional functions of tourist destination: Application of spatial signatures”, Tourism Management, 111, 105226 p. (In Russ.).
Mazbaev, O.B. (2008), “The Use of Modern Information Technologies in the Management of Tourism and Hospitality”, Proceedings of the International Conference Sustainable Development of Territories: GIS Theory and Practical Experience, 3, pp. 54–57. (In Russ.).
Myadzelelets, A.V. and Luzhkov, N.M. (2022), “Geoinformation support and planning of educational ecotourism for the organization of recreational activities in the specially protected natural areas of Lake Baikal”, Izvestiya of Irkutsk State University, Series: Earth Sciences, 39, pp. 81-98. (In Russ.).
Myshlyavtseva, S.E. and Ryzhova, M.A. (2019), “Spatial analysis of tourism development in the region using GIS”, Geography and Tourism, 1, pp. 69-77. (In Russ.).
Nizamani, M.M., Zhang, Q., Muhae-Ud-Din, Q., Awais, M., Qayyum, M., Farhan, M., Jabran, M. and Wang, Y. (2024), “Application of GIS and Remote-Sensing Technology in Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Conservation”, Learning for Multimedia Processing Application, [Оnline] available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376639511_Application_of_GIS_and_Remote-Sensing_Technology_in_Ecosystem_Services_and_Biodiversity_Conservation (Accessed 08.05.2025).
Nyurenberger, L.B., Sevryukov, I.Yu. and Petrenko, N.E. (2025), “Congress tourism as a driver of growth of regional and national economies”, Innovations and investments, 5, pp. 323-327.
Oborin, M. S. and Sheresheva, M. Yu. (2018), “Modeling of the Resort and Recreational System of Small Cities and District Centers Using Geoinformational Databases”, Bulletin of Perm University. Series: Economics, 13, 4, pp. 572-588. (In Russ.).
Penkina, N.V., Shakhova, O.Yu., Nikiforova, A.A. and Chernyavskaya, O.V. (2020), Tourist and Recreational System: Theory and Practice of Organization, 122 p. (In Russ.).
Ponomarkov, M. Ya. and Panov, M. A. (2024), “Analysis of the Dynamics of Visiting Tourist Sites Using Geographic Information Systems and the Python Programming Language”, Digital Models and Solutions, 3, 3, pp. 5-23. (In Russ.).
Prikhodchenko, D. V. (2016), “Conducting Geological and Geoinformational Monitoring of Mining Facilities as Part of the Development of Geotourism in the Regions”, Trends and Problems in the Development of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 43-45. (In Russ.).
Pudovkina, O.E. and Sharokhina, S.V. (2019), “Modern Trends in the Formation of the Tourism Industry in the Electronic Environment as a Driver for the Development of the Russian Economy”, University Bulletin, 11, pp. 89-96. (In Russ.).
Quevedo, L., Herrera, R., Aldaz, S., Godoy, S. and Merino, K. (2024), “Stakeholders’ Perceptions About a Destination Management Organization (DMO): A Case Study in Chimborazo, Ecuador”, Journal of Educational and Social Research, Т. 14, 1, 234 p.
Roxas, F. M. Y., Rivera, J. P. R. and Gutierrez, E. L. M. (2020), “Mapping stakeholders’ roles in governing sustainable tourism destinations”, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, pp. 387–398. (In Russ.).
Shebolkina, O. I. and Mirzoyan, S. V. (2024), “Comparative Analysis of Russian and Foreign Approaches to Understanding the Role of DMOs in Tourist Destinations”, Modern Problems of Service and Tourism, 4, [Оnline] available at: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/sravnitelnyy-analiz-rossiyskih-i-zarubezhnyh-podhodov-k-ponimaniyu-roli-dmo-v-turistskih-destinatsiyah (Accessed 08.05.2025).
Shirinova, M. M. K. (2025), “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Automating the Management of Tourist Flows and Reducing the Anthropogenic Load on Natural Objects”, Raqamli iqtisodiyot, 10, pp. 745-758. (In Russ.).
Simakov, A. V. (2022), GIS Technologies in Land Management and Cadastre, 254 p. (In Russ.).
Šoltésová, M., Iannaccone, B., Štrba, Ľ. and Sidor, C. (2025), “Application of GIS Technologies in Tourism Planning and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Gelnica”, ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf., 14, 120 p. (In Russ.).
Sulimin, V.V. (2025), “Creative Industries as a Driver of Sustainable Growth in the Rural Economy: Integration of Gastronomic Tourism and the Agro-Industrial Complex”, Bulletin of the Voronezh Institute of High Technologies, 2 (53), pp. 1-5. (In Russ.).
Sun, J., Chen, S., Huang, Y., Rong, H. and Li, Q. (2025), “Harnessing GPS Spatiotemporal Big Data to Enhance Visitor Experience and Sustainable Management of UNESCO Heritage Sites: A Case Study of Mount Huangshan, China”, ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf., 14, 396 p. (In Russ.).
Sviridova, E. P. and Gunya, A. N. (2022), “Tourist and Recreational Zoning of the Territory of the Republic of Adygea on a Geoinformation Basis”, Proceedings of the International Conference "InterCarto. InterGIS, 28, pp. 499-509. (In Russ.).
Taskaeva, S.V. (2022), “Tourism as a Driver of Post-Crisis Recovery and Economic Development”, Eurasian Union of Scientists. Series: Economic and Legal Sciences, 5 (98), pp. 3-5. (In Russ.).
Tokarchuk, S. M. and Polivach, K. A. (2024), “Algorithms for Inventorying Historical and Cultural Values of a City Using Geoinformation Technologies (Based on the Example of Grodno)”, Proceedings of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation "Geography, Ecology, and Tourism: New Horizons for Research.
Tokarchuk, S. M. and Polivach, K. A. (2022), “Inventory of Historical and Cultural Values of the City of Grodno for the Purpose of Developing Tourism of Impressions”, Bulletin of Pskov State University. Series: Natural and Physical and Mathematical Sciences, 4, pp. 90-102. (In Russ.).
Trifonov, K.S. (2002), “Application of GIS for Property Accounting and Management”, ArcReview, 2 (21), pp. 7-8. (In Russ.).
UN. (2015), “Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from”, [Оnline] available at: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustain able-development-goals/ (Accessed 08.05.2025).
Vasilyeva, V. D. and Avdienko, I. M. (2025), “Digitalization of Tourism Territory Management: Creating Sustainable Ecosystems in the Republic of Adygea”, Proceedings of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation "Trends in Sustainable Development of Tourism Territories: A Comprehensive Approach, pp. 16-20. (In Russ.).