Authors:  Sarah Johnson Affiliation:  Independent researcher Received 20 April 2025; Revised 5 June 2025; Accepted 15 June 2025; Available online 18 July 2025; Version of Record 18 July 2025. Abstract Digital twin (DT) technology, understood as the creation of virtual replicas of physical environments and processes, is gaining increasing attention in tourism research and practice. This article offers a critical and structured review of the emerging role of digital twins in to