Tourist Experience at Cultural Destinations: An Empirical Study on the Role of Smart Tourism Technologies

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between Smart Tourism Technologies (STTs) and Overall Tourist Experience at cultural destinations. It further considers tourist experience through five dimensions: Satisfaction, Engagement, Learning and Knowledge, Convenience, and Emotional Experience. A quantitative, descriptive-analytical design was adopted. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale and convenience sampling. Data from 61 valid responses were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, exploratory factor analysis, and linear regression in SPSS. The findings indicate a positive and statistically significant relationship between STTs and Overall Tourist Experience (β = .590, R. = .349, p < .001). Significant positive relationships were also observed across all five dimensions, with the strongest relationship found for Satisfaction (β = .592, p < .001) and the weakest for Convenience (β = .376, p = .003). The study provides empirical evidence for understanding technology-enhanced tourist experiences in cultural destinations. Drawing on the technology-enhanced tourism experience perspective, the findings suggest that the role of smart technologies extends beyond functional convenience to include tourists’ evaluative, engaging, cognitive, and emotional experiences.