Decent work and tourism workers in the age of intelligent automation and digital surveillance

Technology is shifting not only how the tourism industry run but also nature of work, working conditions and management control. This article examines potential implications technology-driven transformations on lower-paid lower-skilled workers. With expected to be sector most affected by intelligent automation, greater attention needs given variegated impact workforce. Drawing concepts surveillance capitalism, disruptive innovation techno-solutionism, problematises these unpacks rhetoric used technology companies. Situating discussion within UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG8), explores – without proactive regulatory measures worker-centric approaches expansion automation in workplaces risks exacerbating inequalities precarisation workers, exposing them job losses dislocation, dehumanising their role gradually automating out. Additionally, digital may shift power further towards employers, reducing worker agency impacting wellbeing. Overall, despite clear benefits, unfettered risk disrupting established rights protections inadvertently moving away from ideals decent work for all.