How smartphones enhance local tourism experiences?

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the application of smartphones in providing local tourism experiences in Isfahan, Iran. A self-administrated questionnaire, employing the theory of planned behavior was developed, and distributed among international tourists visiting Isfahan. The results showed that tourists’ attitude towards smartphones positively influences the intention to participate in local tourism experiences. Findings confirmed that tourists’ perceived behavioral control has a positive and direct influence on their travel intention, while surprisingly no association was found between tourists’ beliefs, subjective norms, and travel intention. Findings also revealed that tourists’ beliefs and subjective norms have a positive and direct influence on participation in local tourism experiences.

KEYWORDS:

• Smartphones
• mobile apps
• local tourism experience
• theory of planned behavior (TPB)
• travel intension
• tourist behavior
• tourist attitude
• Smart PLS
• Isfahan
• Iran

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to extend their appreciation to Smart-PLS Sales Team for providing a free-license software to researchers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Pezhman Hatamifar http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8046-7262