ChatGPT can generate coherent text with unprecedented fluency by processing massive amounts of text data. Given the chatbot's remarkable accuracy in responses to a wide range of topics, this research aims to examine the evolution, present status, and future directions of tourism research using ChatGPT. A total of 15 interview questions were developed and semi-structured interviews were conducted with ChatGPT. The responses were qualitatively analyzed to identify the main themes associated with the issues of tourism research, such as key topics of previous research, forces to influence the evolution, achievement and limitations of research, and under examined areas of research. The use of ChatGPT provided valuable insights into the latest progressions within tourism research. For example, unlike the widely held view adopted by most tourism studies, ChatGPT indicates that the interdisciplinary nature of tourism research strongly contributes to the development of other academic fields, suggesting the maturity of tourism research.