This chapter seeks to consolidate insights into the role of smart technologies in enhancing the religious tourism experience. The chapter uses a qualitative approach to lead secondary sources with literature reviews to provide objectives and replicable conclusions based on prior studies addressing similar study inquiries. The findings underscore a significant contribution to integrating smart technologies and the quality of the religious tourism experience. Attributes such as informativeness and interactivity emerge as pivotal factors influencing this relationship with security and privacy concerns for attention and improvement in religious tourism destinations. The chapter aims to equip destination managers within religious tourism sites with a comprehensive understanding of the transformative potential of smart technologies in enriching tourist experiences. Furthermore, it provides actionable insights to implement measures that enhance visitor satisfaction, foster loyalty, and promote the development and promotion of religious tourism destinations.
TopIntroduction
Technology has become a crucial and essential part of almost every business. It is very difficult or almost impossible for any business to survive and, most importantly, grow without technology. Businesses began with a simple barter system, but business techniques have transformed a lot over the years due to the use of technology. It has provided a faster, more convenient, and efficient way of performing business transactions. Depending on the size and type of business, the extent of use of technology varies from business to business, but they use it. Businesses use technology for many operations, such as communication, marketing, record keeping, customer relationships, and so on (Cuesta-Valiño et al., 2020). A presence on the World Wide Web has become necessary for every business, even if it does not offer e-commerce services.
A key growth factor can be incorporating smart technologies into developing and marketing religious tourism sites. Intelligent technologies increase efficiency and effectiveness, broaden market reach, simplify operational procedures, and support well-informed strategic choices (Shekari et al., 2021). Companies in this industry must strategically identify the areas where adopting technology can yield the most significant benefits. Several industries have embraced innovation to improve their products and services as a sign of the promise of smart technologies. The Information Technology (IT) industry significantly contributes to providing technology solutions in several sectors. The IT sector generated substantial income internationally in the 2019 fiscal year, demonstrating its role in propelling economic development (Isaac & Dodeen, 2023).
Numerous technologies have been recognized for their potential to revolutionize religious tourism locations. Mobile apps, cloud computing, sophisticated analytics, and other things are among them (Koba, 2020). These technologies are projected to transform services in several areas, such as administrative procedures, infrastructure management, and visitor experiences. Forecasts show that smartphone and mobile internet usage will increase significantly worldwide, underscoring the significance of digital connectivity in religious tourism. Furthermore, many tiny and midsize companies are anticipated to create an online presence and use cloud services to improve operational efficiency.
Additionally, projections indicate a rise in electronic transactions as more retail locations adopt digital payment options (Jankova et al., 2023). Moreover, developments in intelligent transportation systems are expected to improve accessibility and mobility in religious tourism locations (Jeong & Shin, 2020). To sum up, the thoughtful integration of intelligent technologies has great potential to advance the growth and marketing of religious tourism sites across the globe (Arora & Sharma, 2020). Through the appropriate utilization of innovation, industry participants can open up fresh avenues for expansion and enhance the entire experience of tourists.
Figure 1.
Reference model from the Asian Academic Consortium
In the realm of religious tourism, the integration of smart technologies can profoundly influence visitor experiences and destination promotion. By leveraging smart technologies, religious destinations can revolutionize tourism models, personalize experiences, and enhance overall visitor satisfaction (Liberato et al., 2024). Furthermore, incorporating smart tourism in underdeveloped religious destinations can provide a structured approach to tourism development, assisting in planning and organization within and beyond these destinations (Kuchumov et al., 2024). Applying smart technologies in tourism, including religious tourism, offers opportunities to enrich visitor experiences, optimize destination management, and enrich industry growth. By gearing the latest advancements in ICTs, stakeholders in the tourism sector can develop innovative solutions that cater to the evolving needs of modern travelers.