Understanding Travelers’ Behavior for Sustainable Smart Tourism: A Technology Readiness Perspective

Meena Kumari Pradhan, Jungjoo Oh and Hwansoo Lee
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Meena Kumari Pradhan: Royal Institute for Tourism and Hospitality, Tourism Council of Bhutan, 1147 Kawang, Dajo (Upper Motithang), 1147 Thimphu, Bhutan
Jungjoo Oh: Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in IT Law, Dankook University, 152 Jukjeon-ro, Suji-gu, 16890 Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 448-701, Korea
Hwansoo Lee: Department of Convergent Security, Dankook University, 152 Jukjeon-ro, Suji-gu, 16890 Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 448-701, Korea

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: Smart tourism has contributed to making people’s travels easier and more enjoyable, but sometimes has a negative impact on their travel experience. The challenges travelers face while using smart devices have not been researched in detail and are relatively unknown. While most studies have considered the usefulness of smart devices in tourism, negative perceptions of smart tourism have rarely been discussed. Thus, this study investigates travelers’ risk perceptions of smart tourism from a technology readiness perspective. It examines the impact of optimism, innovativeness, insecurity, and discomfort on travelers’ usage intentions of smart devices through their perceived risks and benefits. To test the proposed model and corresponding hypotheses, a partial least squares analysis was performed on data collected from 250 survey respondents. The results showed that the perceived benefits of smart devices had a significant effect on usage intentions of smart devices while traveling. It was also confirmed that the influence of perceived risks depends on the characteristics of travelers. This study is significant as it is the first empirical study applying the TRI (Technology Readiness Index) model that examines the negative effects of smart devices on tourists during travel. The results of this study provide meaningful insights into smart tourism to companies and governments.

Keywords: smart tourism; smart device; technology readiness; perceived benefits; perceived risks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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