The nexus of MICE tourism in smart cities: understanding its effects and complexities with urban mobility and crime

This study examines the effect of MICE tourism in cities by analysing its relationship with urban mobility practices and crime within current smart city projects. To date, the extant tourism literature on meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism primarily focuses on value co-creation in the tourism industry, overlooking its integration into the urban environment for (i) city (and smart city) projects and (ii) its nexus with social aspects such as crime, which influences and shapes the urban environment. Considering 30 Italian cities over 13 years, this study employs a spatial-panel data approach to disentangle these relationships. The estimated results demonstrate that while urban mobility practices are highly responsive to MICE tourism, they are influenced by imbalances from increased users and visitors, which in turn affects urban security. This dynamic reduces the positive effect of MICE tourism on urban mobility, creating imbalances that public managers and policymakers must address. Practical implications are suggested to harness the potential of MICE tourism in current smart city projects.