الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Nowadays, the tourism industry necessitates increasing investment in new technologies to ensure that the tourist destination remains on the global tourist map. So, this study is mainly focused on understanding the impact of augmented reality (AR) technology in improving the tourist experience within travel agencies in Egypt. For this purpose, the study relied first on the theoretical framework to identify the basic concepts of the study. Second is the analytical framework, which aims to study and analyze the mechanism of AR apps, as well as AR technology opportunities in the tourism sector in Egypt in particular. Third and finally, is the field study, which was conducted to verify the validity of the study hypotheses, which were represented as: (a) There is no relationship between the use of AR apps by tourists and their better understanding of tourism information. (b)There is no relationship between the incorporation of AR technology by Egyptian travel agencies and the enhancement of the experiences of tourists who deal with them. (c) There is no relationship between Egyptian travel agencies’ introduction of AR technology and their achievement of a new competitive advantage. The field study included (402) questionnaires that were distributed to tourists who deal with travel agencies in Egypt, provided that they had used one of the AR applications in the tourism field. To learn their opinions on whether or not AR technology has improved their tourism experiences while using AR applications. In addition, (100) questionnaire forms were distributed to a sample of Egyptian IT experts with the goal of determining whether AR applications help in improving the tourism experience or not, along with the level of knowledge of travel agencies in Egypt with AR technology, as well as the gains that will benefit travel agencies in Egypt who intend to introduce AR technology in their operations. The various outcomes were obtained, such as AR technology improves the tourism experience. Besides, AR applications are used to display important cultural items and locations by superimposing virtual data onto the physical space where they were originally located. Besides, there are a variety of AR devices that can be used in the tourism domain, but smartphones are the most common. Tourists can use AR apps to explore destinations, towns, museums, and historical sites by adding new layers to their reality, creating a new immersive and dynamic experience. Finally, the study provided a number of recommendations, including the need for Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Promotion Authority to spread technological awareness among travel agencies, as they have knowledge of AR technology but it is insufficient. In addition, there is a need to provide incentives and facilities for travel agencies to encourage them to incorporate AR technology into their work, as they are ready but hesitant to do so due to financial concerns. |