EFFECTS OF SMART TOURISM APPLICATIONS - DESTINATION IMAGE – TOURISTS' PERCEPTION OF CHOOSING PLACE TO VISIT

This paper investigates how Smart Tourism Applications (STA) and Information Quality (IQ) affect Can Tho destination images as a tourism destination and the decisions of tourists who choose to visit. Based on previous research on smart tourism applications, this paper proposes a model to test the impacts of STA and IQ on enhancing the image of Can Tho destinations and tourists' choice to visit. Based on 400 questionnaires collected from tourists who visited Can Tho between April and June/2023, this paper analyzes the factors that impacted tourists' choices. The findings reveal that (1) Smart tourism applications influence IQ, Affective, and Cognitive image, and three perceptual attributes, namely Attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms of tourists; (2) The three attributes of perception influence the tourists' choice. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed based on the research findings, then future research is suggested.