The impact of iBeacon's technique on tourist experience

Smart techniques play a significant role in the tourism experience because of its ability to assist tourists at different stages of the tourism experience, including pre-trip (anticipatory) during trip (experiential), and after-trip (reflection) experiences. One example of smart techniques is iBeacons technique. iBeacons is small wireless transmitter that use low-energy Bluetooth technology to send signals to other smart devices nearby such as smartphones. It is one of the latest developments in location technology and proximity marketing. Simply, it connects and transmits information to smart devices making location-based searching and interaction easier and more accurate. It involves sending a relevant message at the correct time to convince a tourist to visit a certain destination and take a vacation, rather than use fliers and other paper-based ads. Customers benefit from simpler and more targeted ads as a result of this system. iBeacons technique has been recommended to adopt in tourism organizations due to its impact on visitors' satisfaction and providing them with accurate information. The main aim of this study is to explore the impact of iBeacon's technique on the tourist experience. The research applied the quantitative method represented in a questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to 500 domestic and international tourists. The research findings revealed that the iBeacons technique has a positive impact on the tourist experience. The study ended with presenting a set of recommendations for tourism organizations and tourism decision-makers. The study contributes to helping the destination policymakers by providing a set of suggestions were to support the application of the iBeacons technique in the Egyptian Destination.