THE ROLE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY IN DESTINATION MARKETING AND IMPACTS ON TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Smartphones have totally changed the way people travel. They are not only gadgets in pockets – they are travel partner tourists rely on before, during, and after the trip. This study explores how tourists use their gadgets at every stages of travel and what means for tourism industries trying to attract visitors. The COVID-19 pandemic advanced digital habits, so the research studies how mobile apps became the main way destinations talk directly to tourists. To get an understanding of what is happening, a survey was conducted from 110 Portuguese and looked at how people use destination apps. Here is what was noticeable: Smartphones stand right at the center of the modern travel experience. Tourists use them to obtain information instantly, wherever they are, which tourists can change their plan and get in touch with hotels or guides before travelling. For tourism businesses, well-designed apps are not just tools – they are powerful channels for sending personal messages that actually reach people. That is a big win for all participants. Apart from this, it is clear that mobile technologies are not just a nice-to-have, they are altering travel itself. All tourism industries that understand how to use this tools to contact directly and personally with travelers, are getting ready for the prosperity of the modern digital world.