A Report on the Impact of Smart Phones on Travel and Tourism

This report explores the significant impact of smart phones on the travel and tourism industries, highlighting how mobile technology has transformed the experiences of both travelers and businesses. It identifies key areas where smart phones have the greatest influence, such as communication, information access, and decision-making, while also addressing the potential drawbacks, including customer over-saturation and the exclusion of older generations. The research employs a positivism philosophy and a deductive approach, utilizing both primary and secondary data to assess the benefits and challenges of smart phone integration within the travel sector. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for businesses to adapt to these technological advancements to enhance customer engagement and overall industry growth.

The Impact of Smart Phones on Travel and Tourism
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................4
Task 2.............................................................................................................................................10
Task 3.............................................................................................................................................25
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................30
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................31
References......................................................................................................................................33
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Introduction
Quite simply, if technological influence on overall society since the last epoch has been
widespread, its impact on the travel and tourism has been massive. That is because mobile
technology is an impeccably appropriate for travel and tourism. By its significance, tourism has
been turned out to be an easily pliable experience, and hence mobile technology is perfectly right
as the best travel companion.
As Tourism presents it, smart phone technology has confirmed that the decision to travel the
globe is no longer a dive into the indefinite and unknown. The Smartphone, and the abilities it
provides to the tourists within their reach, has enabled tourists with levels of autonomy,
flexibility and options than ever before. For these reasons, mobile technologies also leave a huge
portion to play for business related to travel and tourism.
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Task 1
Formulate and record possible research project outline specifications
A noticeable difference has taken place in travel and tourism with the passage of time that has
come hand in hand with technological advancement. More specifically smart phone technology
has a huge influence on travel and tourism and the most significant factor is that both customers
and the business are benefited by the implementation of technology in this particular sector. It
has brought an ease to the entire operation executed from both ends (Xiang et al., 2015).
Aims of the research
The aim of the researcher is to build a precise assessment by properly evaluating the topic of the
research, which empowers the study to shade light on the exact impacts of smart phone on travel
and tourism.
Objectives of the research
The objectives of the research are as follows:
 To identify the areas of travel and tourism where the impact of smart phone is the most
 To inspect how smart phone technology has eased the communication in case of travel
and tourism
 To classify the key factors those have converted more people to travel loving ones
 To understand how smart phone technology can be used in a more proper way to be most
useful for the travel and tourism industry
Rationale of the research
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The topic of research is centred on the overall impact of the smart phone technology. There are
several factors of smart phone technology that impact over travel and tourism. Young people are
having a tendency to go for an adventure now a days and this is highly influenced by the smart
phones. Apart from that, taking the world within the network is helping travellers to make them
well informed about their destinations, and this is causing a fruitful exploration of the place for
them (Schegg and Stangl, 2017). In recent days, travelling has been impacted to such an extent
by the smart phone technology that it has become dependent on it and it is obvious that without
the support of smart phones it will face a drastically sharp fall in its business. The research will
focus on the justifications whether the dependence is beneficial from every aspect.
Research questions
The research questions are as follows:
 What are the areas of travel and tourism where smart phone has its impact the most?
 How has smart phone technology eased the communication in case of travel and tourism?
 What are the key factors those have converted more number of people to travel lovers?
 How can smart phone technology be used in a more proper way to be the most useful in
this specific industry?
Identify the factors that contribute to the process of research project selection
The project is about technological influence on travel and tourism more particularly affect of
smart phone technology on the travel and tourism. In recent days, smart phones have become a
constant partner of human in their every journey and when it comes to travelling, people cannot
just even imagine a single step without it. Not only clicking photos and being prominent in social
media, smart phone technology helps in reducing headache regarding carrying hard copies of
travel related documents as well as booking related hazards. The immediate execution of
decisions taken instantly has been all time possible for travel freaks (Standing et al., 2014).
Besides, it has assisted people in breaking the barriers of language, social cultures and standards
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as before visiting a place a traveller makes himself more aware about the existing culture,
lifestyle, practices, and preferred language of the destination. The communication is no longer a
challenge and a factor that needs to get fixed after reaching the spot neither hotel booking has
remained the same for people of recent time compared to those of one or two decades before. At
the same time, the smart phone technology is such a speedy one that the eldest generation can
hardly cope up with it and they are still dependent on the physical execution of the planning
starting from booking tickets to avail the communication after reaching the spot. As a result, they
are not getting the offers, discounts and several advantages that are offered to the online users
(Wang et al., 2016). This shows a much easier training session and demo videos are required to
take the generation along. Hence, the project is going to present a critical portrayal of all the pros
and cons of the impact of smart phone technology on travel and tourism.
Merits of Smart Phone Technology
Computerization: As websites are all accessible from smart phones, they are full of required
information that a traveller may need to know before packing bags (Dubey, 2016). Travellers can
gather all the information without speaking to any agent or executive or visiting the place
physically.
Less chance to be out of track: As several mapping systems are available on smart phones,
chances to be misguided on the way to adventure has reduced a lot with use of GPS technology
(Dickinson et al., 2014).
Increasing crowd interested to travel: Carrying a smart phone all over also causes a good
connectivity with the outer world via social media. Clicking and uploading pictures are matter of
few seconds in era of speedy networking system (Werthner et al., 2014). Often this is observed
that people who were not really thinking about packing bags soon, they have chalked out a plan
after seeing the photos of friends while their tour.
Demerits of Smart Phone Technology
Risk of over saturating the customers: As with the increasing use of smart phone technology in
travel and tourism, custom-made offer and discounts are always on the way (Bhat and Shah,
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2014). From this, the risk of over saturating the customers personalized offers and promotions
are getting high, as a good customer, relationship is a key factor to success in any industry.
Failed to take all age groups under its umbrella:
As the smart phone technology is being updated every moment, the eldest generation sometimes
finds it difficult to cope up with it (Standing et al., 2014). As a result, they are deprived from
different discounts and promotions that are offered to the online consumers on a regular basis.
1.3. Undertake a critical review of key references
For travel and tourism, considering the Smartphone as each traveller’s trustworthy counsellor is
important. Such technology is by now a part of day-to-day life, but is even more significant for
tourists. It empowers them to take on tasks and accomplish themselves in journey's end in
methods that appeared next to impossible a few years back (Nasr, 2017). They are now the spots
to visit by tourists and executing everything from booking a restaurant or getting a family pass to
visit a theme park, to translating key phrases, looking for directions and accurately guiding them
to explore new places.
Smart phones also work effortlessly in tourism as the huge trend in travellers and tourists
wishing not only going to the places, but explore them. Today’s tourists look for ornately
engaging, genuine and truly impressive tourism experiences that let them to connect passionately
with their destinations and fascinations. Because almost all of them take Smartphone along with
them, they are the exact, non-obtrusive way of presenting unerringly that (Standing et al., 2014).
Smart phone technology advances itself flawlessly with the mobile world and, as such, with
travellers. Using Smartphone cameras, visitors as well as the residents can now virtually explore
destinations through extraordinary perspectives before physically executing the place. The
technology’s uptake and achievement mirror an enormously rising trend in visitors expecting to
plunge into the places they are about to visit, and this previously mentioned craving to truly
“experience” the venue means smart phone technologies for the travel and tourism industry will
remain to ascend in terms of popularity. Smart phone technologies leave a scope to endorse and
improve their offerings for every travel and tourism business.
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Nowadays, more than 25% of UK travellers go on leaves with no lodging that is pre-planned,
rather their Smartphone are used to book hotels of their choice after arriving at the destination.
94% of vacation travellers carry their smart phone; with 97% of business, travellers do the same
while they are on their tour (Lee. and Yuan, 2018).
Smart phones effectively function as a custodian, director and partner for travellers, who depend
on technology all the time.
Smartphone’s are used at every point in the process of travelling: from initial motivation and
research, through to procurements and reservations, and used ever more during the travel period.
1.4. Produce a research project specification
Research philosophy
It is very essential to handpick an investigation philosophy that is going fit the research on the
theme in order to arrange and accomplish it in a proper way. There are diverse types of ideas that
are used for a research execution. The first and foremost philosophy to define is the Positivism
approach. The positivism philosophy is all about the implementation of the research by trusting
on the current exact truths and data as well as statistics. The following one is Interpretative
philosophy, which is concerned with the accomplishment of the research by depending on the
approaches, opinions, outlooks and behaviour of the partakers who are involved in the research.
The researcher suggests fulfilling the Positivism philosophy in the study of the subsequent topic,
since this investigation approach will assist the researcher with the operative implementation of
the research as it depends on the statistically correct details, data and figures as well.
Research approach
Additional research methods are important to be described, as it can be used for exact
assumption of the research. The Inductive approach is the completion of the research by utilizing
latest concepts and copies that deliver pertinent information about the topic of the research. The
inferential approach is another vital one that is concerned with the use of different prototypes and
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models that have been established for actual completion of the research dependant on a definite
topic. This deductive model assists in the formation of research theory former to the start of the
same.
The deductive approach is suggested to be in use by the scholar for continuing with the
proceedings of the entire research procedure.
The Gantt chart will represent the timeline of the research.
Main activities that
were undertaken
1-2
weeks
3-4
weeks
5-6
weeks
7-8
weeks
9-12
weeks
13-15
weeks
16-18
weeks
19-20
weeks
Choice of the subject of
the research
Assortment of
secondary facts
Formation of research
plan
Literature review
Expansion of the
research plan
Selection of the
approaches required
for research
accomplishment
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Primary data
assemblage
Discovery of collected
data and its
clarification
Conscripting a
conclusion
Creation of rough draft
Submission of the
research
1.5. Provide an appropriate plan and procedures for the agreed research specification
Research elements Items used in the research
Research philosophy Positivism philosophy
Research design Exploratory research
Data collection method Primary data collection
Research approach Deductive approach is used
Sampling techniques Probability sampling is applied in the
research
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The researchers use exploratory research since the research emphases on the detection of in
depth perception and concepts for data assemblage that are statistically correct. The positivism
philosophy will enable the study to continue with the exploratory research successfully. Since the
quantitative analysis will be created, it is more appropriate to use prospect specimen in case the
number of partakers cannot be determined at the commencement of the research (Wang et al.,
2016).
Ethical considerations
Several things are mandatory to be considered while gathering the data for continuing the
research. The data assembled by the assistance of the main investigation, in the form of review
should not be implemented. The researcher must confirm that the data that is collected for the
review is correctly. Confidentiality should be maintained I case of keeping data so that any
nonparticipant cannot get access to it unofficially and without authorization.
Task 2
2.1. Match resources efficiently to the research question or hypothesis
Secondary data collection
Objectives Sources
1-4 Lamsfus, C., Wang, D., Alzua-Sorzabal, A.
and Xiang, Z., 2015. Going mobile: Defining
context for on-the-go travellers. Journal of
Travel Research, 54(6), pp.691-701.
2 Nayyar, A., Mahapatra, B., Le, D. and
Suseendran, G., 2018. Virtual Reality (VR) &
Augmented Reality (AR) technologies for
tourism and hospitality industry. International
Journal of Engineering &
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Technology, 7(2.21), pp.156-160.
3 Guttentag, D., Smith, S., Potwarka, L. and
Havitz, M., 2017. Why tourists choose
AirBNB: a motivation-based segmentation
study. Journal of Travel Research,
p.0047287517696980.
1, 4 Guttentag, D., 2015. AirBNB: disruptive
innovation and the rise of an informal tourism
accommodation sector. Current issues in
Tourism, 18(12), pp.1192-1217.
The primary research has been conducted among 50 students of UKCBC College.
2.2. Undertake the proposed research investigation in accordance with the agreed
Specification and procedures
Eleven questions were asked to the students regarding the impact of mobile technology on travel
and tourism.
1. What is Your Gender?
Options Frequency of
Respondents
Percentage Total Number of
Respondents
Male 20 40 50
Female 30 60 50
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