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which have exposed the extreme vulnerability of tourism destinations to external
shocks (Prayag, 2020).
In response to these systemic risks, tourism destination resilience has become a
central concept in both academic and policy debates (C.Hall, 2021). Resilience extends
beyond the notion of simply "bouncing back" after a crisis; it encompasses the capacity of
tourism systems to anticipate, adapt, reorganize, and innovate under conditions of
uncertainty (Prayag, 2020). Furthermore, there is a necessary paradigm shift from
traditional sustainable tourism towards regenerative tourism - a model focused on
actively revitalizing and restoring the socio-ecological systems and communities impacted
by human activities (Debreceni & Janos, 2023). AI plays a pivotal role in this transition by
providing advanced tools for intelligent resource management, waste reduction,
transportation optimization, and environmental monitoring, ensuring that tourism
actively benefits people, places, and nature (Suriyankietkaew et al., 2025).
Despite the recognized potential of smart technologies, a critical research gap
persists in the literature. The majority of existing studies on AI and smart tourism
predominantly focus on macro-level destination governance or technology adoption
within large multinational corporations and luxury hotel chains (Bulchand-Gidumal, 2020).
Consequently, there is limited empirical evidence exploring the role of small and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs) and local communities, treating them mainly as passive
recipients of digital platforms. In many developing and community-based destinations,
SMEs form the fundamental backbone of the tourism supply chain. Yet, their "AI
readiness" - their capacity to adopt and leverage AI tools to enhance adaptive capacity -
remains underexplored as a micro-foundation for macro-level destination resilience.
In Vietnam, SMEs play an indispensable role, accounting for over 90% of businesses
and significantly contributing to the national economy (Ha & Nong, 2021). Within this
landscape, Ho Chi Minh City stands as a major economic and tourism hub. However, the
tourism SMEs here are highly sensitive to crises, having faced severe financial strain,
disruptions, and massive closures during recent systemic shocks. Currently, the recovery
of many travel SMEs in Ho Chi Minh City remains slow due to the absence of clear,
comprehensive strategies to regain market share (Ngoc & Ng, 2023). While the city is
pushing towards a smart economy, the extent to which these grassroots enterprises
possess the "AI readiness" to adapt to rapid changes and contribute to the broader
destination resilience remains a critical, yet unexplored, area of inquiry.
To bridge this gap, this study aims to empirically investigate the impact of AI
readiness on destination resilience and regenerative tourism practices among tourism
SMEs. Specifically, the study explores how AI capabilities at the grassroots level enhance
organizational adaptability and facilitate both post-shock recovery and ecological
regeneration. Theoretically, this research contributes to the literature by bridging smart
tourism and socio-ecological resilience perspectives, establishing AI readiness as a critical
micro-level driver of sustainable destination recovery. Practically, it offers actionable
insights for policymakers to foster inclusive AI infrastructure and support mechanisms,
ensuring that SMEs act as proactive agents of resilience in the AI-driven digital economy
2. Literature review and conceptual framework
2.1. Theoretical foundations: Resource-based view and socio-ecological resilience
This study integrates the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory with socio-ecological
resilience theory to explore how technological capabilities at the micro-level influence
macro-level destination outcomes (Bec et al., 2016). The RBV posits that a firm's unique,

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