How smart is your tourist attraction?: Measuring tourist preferences of smart tourism attractions via a FCEM-AHP and IPA approach

This study explores a methodological approach of assessing tourist preference of STA, and the strengths and weaknesses of an STA accordingly, and suggests "smart information system", “intelligent tourism management” and “smart sightseeing” are tourists' key evaluation items of STA.

Abstract

Although smart tourism has gained increasing attention, empirical investigations of smart tourist attraction (STA) from a tourist perspective are still limited. The purpose of this study is to explore a methodological approach of assessing tourist preference of STA, and the strengths and weaknesses of an STA accordingly. First, factor analysis was used to determine tourists' key evaluation items of STA. Next, fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and analytic hierarchy process were applied to the STA evaluation of Hongshan Zoo, a popular tourist attraction in China. Then, importance-performance analysis was conducted to diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of Hongshan Zoo's STA construction. Findings suggest that "smart information system", "intelligent tourism management", "smart sightseeing", "e-commerce system", "smart safety", "intelligent traffic", "smart forecasting" and "virtual tourist attractions" are tourists' key evaluation factors of STA. This paper extends previous research on smart tourism, and offers insights into the theoretical investigation and practical development of STA.