Smart Technology Attributes and Tourist Satisfaction: Exploring the Mediating Influence of Tourist Experience

Abstract

The rapid advancement of smart technology has transformed the tourism industry, offering tourists enhanced experiences through accessible, informative, interactive, personalized, and secure services. This conceptual paper explores the impact of key smart technology attributes—accessibility, information, interactivity, personalization, and security—on tourist satisfaction, with a particular focus on the mediating role of tourist experience. By synthesizing existing literature, this study proposes a comprehensive framework to understand how these technological attributes contribute to tourist satisfaction directly and indirectly through the overall tourist experience. The proposed hypotheses suggest that each smart technology attribute positively influences tourist satisfaction, and that tourist experience mediates these relationships. This framework aims to provide actionable insights for destination managers, policymakers, and tourism service providers to optimize their technological offerings and enhance tourist satisfaction. The study highlights the critical role of smart technology in shaping positive tourist experiences, ultimately contributing to sustainable tourism development.