Smart technology, tourist delighting and re-intentions

A study was conducted to examine the relationship between smart technology, tourist delight, and tourists’ re-intentions in the context of the tourism industry. It examined the impact of smart technology on tourists' levels of satisfaction, their intentions to revisit a destination, and their likelihood of recommending it to others. An extensive review of the relevant literature highlights the growing significance of smart technology in the tourism sector, including the use of mobile applications, augmented reality, and personalized services. It underscores the role of tourist delight as a crucial factor influencing satisfaction and re-intentions. Previous studies consistently indicate that the adoption of smart technology positively influences tourist delight and satisfaction. To further investigate the issue of how smart technology influences tourists’ delight with destinations and their intentions to revisit them, a survey was administered to a large sample of respondents. The sample consisted of tourists staying at six luxury hotels in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that were chosen based on their online ranking and positive reviews. Six hundred questionnaires were distributed to tourists staying at the targeted hotels, and 482 valid responses were obtained. Overall, the findings highlighted the positive impact of smart technology on tourist satisfaction and revisitation intentions, underscoring the importance of integrating smart technology into tourism practices to enhance tourist experiences and foster destination success.