Reflections of Technological Developments on Tourist Guidance: Mobile Tourist Guide Applications

Abstract

Technology is spreading to all areas of life day by day and has a significant impact on the tourism system, which consists of many different components. The profession of tourist guiding is also affected by technology and innovation. Advanced GPS-supported map applications, applications that offer detailed, written and audio descriptions of museums and protected areas can now offer tourists the alternative of travelling without a guide, even in destinations they visit for the first time. In this study, the effects of mobile tourist guide applications on the field of profession were examined by giving sample technological applications. The research conducted is a review study and the applications related to the subject in the field have been examined. The most preferred or most common 3 mobile tourist guide applications in the field were evaluated together with their features and their effects on the guiding profession. It has been determined that mobile tourist guide applications provide tourists with many different and rich information during their trips and facilitate tourists' trips.Technology is spreading to all areas of life day by day and has a significant impact on the tourism system, which consists of many different components. The profession of tourist guiding is also affected by technology and innovation. Advanced GPS-supported map applications, applications that offer detailed, written and audio descriptions of museums and protected areas can now offer tourists the alternative of travelling without a guide, even in destinations they visit for the first time. In this study, the effects of mobile tourist guide applications on the field of profession were examined by giving sample technological applications. The research conducted is a review study and the applications related to the subject in the field have been examined. The most preferred or most common 3 mobile tourist guide applications in the field were evaluated together with their features and their effects on the guiding profession. It has been determined that mobile tourist guide applications provide tourists with many different and rich information during their trips and facilitate tourists' trips.