The impact of smartphone usage on domestic travelers' existential authenticity and behavioral perception toward island destinations: A cross-country comparison of Hainan Island and Jeju Island

Abstract

This study explains the motivating process of how smartphone usage influences the behavioral intentions of domestic travelers', considering the impacts of their perceived authenticity and travel experiences gained through smartphones. By reviewing the literature, this research developed a theoretical framework that integrates the concepts of existential authenticity and memorable experiences to determine the impact of the explorative use of smart tourism technologies on travelers' satisfaction and intentions to revisit. An online survey was conducted among domestic travelers visiting Hainan Island in China and Jeju Island in South Korea to test the proposed hypotheses and model while also identifying cross-country effects in the relationships. The results revealed the effects of using smart tourism technologies to enhance travelers' satisfaction and revive revisit intentions based on intrapersonal authenticity and memorable experiences. Based on the results of the cross-country comparison, this research concludes that Korean domestic travelers are more inclined toward seeking memorable experiences through the use of smart tourism technologies, whereas Chinese domestic travelers tend to focus on authentic moments. We recommend that destinations implement and diversify smart tourism technology strategies that align with travelers' cultural backgrounds to enhance both their satisfaction levels and their intentions to revisit.