User Proficiency as a Bridge to Memorable Experiences: Investigating the Mediating Role on Smart Tourism Technologies in Religious Destinationss

Abstract

Religious tourism has benefited significantly from smart tourism technology, enabling tourists to enrich their tourism experience seamlessly. Extant literature vouches for these benefits, but more research is necessary to examine the influence of user proficiency in using smart tourism technologies to create memorable experiences. This research study investigates this gap, drawing upon Kolb’s learning theory to understand the interplay of the indicators of smart tourism technologies, user proficiency, and the creation of memorable experiences in religious tourism. The quantitative data was collected through a structured questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale using a purposive sampling method from 280 religious visitors during their course visit to the religious destination from six religious sites in Karnataka State, India. Awareness programs, user-centric training programs and personalised and curated solutions tailored to suit the user’s needs, knowledge and technological usage experiences, paving the way for creating more immersive, personalised encounters in religious tourism to create a sense of satisfaction in the tourist destination visit. By identifying the mediating role of user proficiency, this study provides valuable insights to industry, technology partners and policymakers.

Keywords: Memorable Experience, Smart Tourism Technology, Personalized Experience, User Proficiency

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