Tourists’ happiness: are there smart tourism technology effects? |
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Authors: | Hanna Lee Jimin Lee Namho Chung |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Hotel Management, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea;2. Department of Convention and Exhibition Management, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea;3. College of Hotel and Tourism Management, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea |
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Abstract: | The purpose of this study is to develop a research model demonstrating tourists’ value-seeking processes through the tourism services and travel experiences of a destination. The model suggests that tourist happiness is assessed by tourists’ perceived experiences, which are formed by two motivational values: smart tourism technology (STT) and destination value. Despite a large quantity of research attention on destination tourism, the relation between tourists’ destination experience and STT has been less enthusiastically studied. Therefore, this study proposes to test an integrated model with attributes of STTs and destination values that contribute to tourists’ life happiness. The results of this study, from a survey of 191 foreign tourists in Seoul, South Korea, indicate that tourists are likely to put more value on what they perceived from their destination travel experiences than what they perceived from their experiences with STT services when they evaluate their overall happiness. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. |
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Keywords: | Tourist happiness Smart tourism technology Perceived value Tourism satisfaction Destination experience Seoul tourists |
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