Xia, Haiyang., Muskat, Birgit., Karl, Marion, & Li, Gang. (2024). Destination Competitiveness and AI-based Methods, In: Pillmayer, M, Karl M. & Hansen M., (Eds.), Tourism Destination Development: A Geographic Perspective on Destination Management and Tourist Demand, Berlin, Boston: (pp. 33-54) De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110794090-003 Destination Competitiveness and AI-based Methods Abstract Over the past three decades, researchers have made significant progress to advance the understanding of destination competitiveness. However, due to the complex and multi-dimensional nature of the phenomenon, there are still several open and under-explored questions. This chapter aims to review the existing knowledge on destination competitiveness, identify research gaps and propose innovative solutions to advance destination competitiveness research and practice both conceptually and methodologically. The chapter provides an overview of common competitiveness theories, definitions, conceptual models and evaluation methods. It then outlines an agenda on how different levels of competitiveness theories can be combined with AI-based methods and Big Data and suggests how to advance future destination competitiveness research - and destination management practice. Keywords: Destination Competitiveness, AI-based Methods, Big Data, Competitiveness Theory, Destination Development 1. Introduction Destination in tourism refers to the geographical area that tourists intend to visit, it is a perceptual concept constructed by tourists and does not follow strict administrative or national boundaries (Ayikoru, 2015). Destinations normally contain a collection of tourism resources such as natural attractions, unique history and culture, special events etc, which in summary provide tourists with an integrated travel experience (Buhalis, 2000). The choice to travel to a specific destination is a decision made by tourists (Mazzarol & Soutar, 2002) and understanding why people choose or reject a destination during the choice process is the fundamental basis of tourist flows between countries or regions (Karl et al., 2015; Karl 2018). Destination competitiveness influences tourist destination choice and thus is considered one of the most important prerequisites for tourism prosperity in destinations (Crouch & Ritchie, 1999). Improving destination competitiveness to direct tourists to choose certain destinations is widely recognised as an important way of accelerating economic, social and environmental development, and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) such as poverty reduction of destinations (United Nations, 2023). So far tourism researchers have made considerable efforts to explore the concept of destination competitiveness to help practitioners understand the competitive positions of their destinations in order to support better destination development (Goffi et al., 2019). Numerous academic studies