An investigation of how perceived smart tourism technologies affect tourists' well-being in marine tourism

PLoS One. 2023 Aug 25;18(8):e0290539. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290539. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Tourism industry is the first of the five happiness industries, playing a crucial role in enhancing people's well-being and happiness. Its high-quality development cannot be achieved without the use of emerging technologies, and today people have greatly improved the quality and happiness of tourism through smartphones, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and other technologies. Building smart marine tourism also requires widespread use of smart tourism technology. The study aims to examine the implications of perceived smart tourism technologies for tourist well-being in marine tourism, as well as the mediating role memorable tourism experiences play. We collected 445 valid questionnaires through a combination of offline and online methods and developed a theoretical model based on the results. The SPSS 26 statistical software package and Amos were applied in data analysis. There is a significant positive impact of perceived smart tourism technology on both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being of tourists in marine tourism, which is partially mediated by memorable tourism experiences. This paper provides certain suggestions and insights into the construction of smart marine tourism, so that managers can pay more attention to the experience and well-being of tourists and build a humanized, diversified, intelligent and innovative marine tourism. For smart tourism technology suppliers, it can provide them with new ideas for technological improvement, so that they can provide better services and attract more tourists in a market-oriented environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Intelligence*
  • Data Analysis
  • Happiness
  • Humans
  • Technology
  • Tourism*

Grants and funding

This work was supported by NATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE FUND OF CHINA PROJECT [grant number 19BJY208]. Specifically, funders provide assistance in data collection.