Drone tourism: A study of the current and potential use of drones in hospitality and tourism

This study investigates the use of drones by both the managers of hospitality and tourism facilities and by tourists, through assessing their current use, potential concerns and possible future use. From an examination of the sparse literature regarding their current use in hospitality and tourism, a number of issues were explored in two focus groups: industry managers and student-tourist's owners of drones. The research took place in June-July 2015, and suggests that although the providers of tourism and hospitality services were aware of drones, they had given little thought as to their current or future potential use, while the users of drones had a much better understanding of their potential. This study concluded that the hospitality and tourism sectors needs to better understand the potential use of drones, otherwise tourists will develop their own boundaries of what is, and is not acceptable.